Understanding factors that contribute to students’ success is of great interest to educators.
Research indicates that participation in extracurricular activities positively correlates with students’ development both academically and personally. Students who participate in extracurricular activities have greater academic success, greater character development,
especially in the areas of time-management and leadership skills, more positive social
development, and greater interest in community involvement. The educational system can use
such information to encourage students to participate in activities that will enhance their
personal and academic achievements.
Participating in extracurricular activities has positive effects on students’ success. More than
80% of youth participate in extracurricular activities (Fredricks, 2011, p. 379). Being involved in
extracurricular activities offers important opportunities for adolescent development (Blomfield &
Barber, 2009), such as peer relations, appropriate social conduct, and basic skills for academic
achievement (Metsapelto & Pulkkinen, 2012). Students’ academic achievements are the basis
of most of the curricular outcomes that teachers use to evaluate students’ success. However, it is becoming increasingly important that students have opportunities to learn much more than just the curricular outcomes. Adolescents who participate in extracurricular activities demonstrate higher levels of academic achievement, greater character development, greater social development, and a greater sense of the importance of community involvement.
Academic Achievement
Students who participate in extracurricular activities experience higher levels of academic achievement. These effects have been researched since the early 1930s. Students who participate frequently in extracurricular activities tend to have
higher grades, better test scores, and more positive educational experiences in general. For example, participation in extracurricular activities is associated with a 2%
increase in math and science test scores. Furthermore, students
involved in activities have a 10% increase in their expectations of attaining a college degree, as compared to non-participants. Therefore, students should be
encouraged to participate in such activities throughout their school years.
Adolescents practice skills while participating in the extracurricular activities that contribute
to their academic success. First. through organized games, students learn to follow instructions.
They learn to listen to instructions and apply them to achieve a desired outcome. Second, also
through organized activities, students learn the importance of persistence and motivation. They understand that accomplishing goals often requires focus and hard
work. Third, students learn goal setting and problem solving (Wormington, Henderlong Corpus. Following instructions, persistence, motivation, goal setting, and problem
solving are all skills that are acquired during extracurricular activity participation and that
transfer to students’ academic success.
The type of extracurricular activity participated in has different effects on students’ academic success. For example, students who participate in athletic clubs tend to have increased math and science and literacy scores. Extracurricular
participation in arts and crafts also results in higher academic scores and better working skills. Additionally, participation in academic clubs yields higher
academic attainment. Understanding how participation in a variety of different

Claudette Christison