Student Well-Being

H.S. Athletes Seen as Having Leg Up

By Karla Scoon Reid — September 27, 2005 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Former high school athletes who were team captains or the most valuable players in their sports are more likely to have a college degree, earn a higher income, and remain more physically active than their nonathletic classroom peers, according to a study released this month.

“What is the Status of High School Athletes 8 Years After Their Senior Year?” is available from the National Center for Education Statistics.

The study, looking at athletes eight years after their senior year, was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics. The study’s authors used a representative sample of 10th graders in 1990 who were seniors in 1992, from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988.

The study examined high school athletes based on their levels of participation in sports, comparing elite athletes (those who were team captains or MVPs), varsity athletes, and junior-varsity or intramural athletes with one another and with nonathletes.

Those who participated in sports at any level while in school were more likely to be physically active and less likely to be smokers eight years after high school graduation, according to the study.

Still, the study did find that athletes were more likely to binge-drink in 2000 than their nonathletic peers.

The report’s findings are consistent with the conclusions of numerous studies about the benefits of high school athletic programs, said Bruce Howard, the director of publications and communications for the National Federation of State High School Associations, based in Indianapolis.

While most of the federation’s studies examine currently enrolled students, he said the association has always believed that participation in sports activities is a predictor of later success.

Mr. Howard said that students who participate in sports tend to have higher grade point averages, better attendance records, lower dropout rates, and fewer discipline problems than students in general.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the September 28, 2005 edition of Education Week

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reimagining Grading in K-12 Schools: A Conversation on the Value of Standards-Based Grading
Hear from K-12 educational leaders and explore standards-based grading benefits and implementation strategies and challenges
Content provided by Otus
Reading & Literacy Webinar How Background Knowledge Fits Into the ‘Science of Reading’ 
Join our webinar to learn research-backed strategies for enhancing reading comprehension and building cultural responsiveness in the classroom.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Innovative Strategies for Data & Assessments
Join our webinar to learn strategies for actionable instruction using assessment & analysis.
Content provided by Edulastic

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Student Well-Being Spotlight Spotlight on Student Health & Safety
This Spotlight will help you explore the relationship between replacing air filters and student test scores and more.
Student Well-Being Lunchables Are Coming to School Cafeteria Menus. We Unwrap the Reasons Why
A retooled version of the product has gotten the OK to be served on school lunch lines.
4 min read
Students eat lunch in the cafeteria at Tonalea K-8 school in Scottsdale, Ariz., Dec. 12, 2022.
Students eat lunch in the cafeteria at Tonalea K-8 school in Scottsdale, Ariz., Dec. 12, 2022.
Alberto Mariani/AP
Student Well-Being Letter to the Editor Schools Must Combine Exercise and Learning in the Classroom
It’s important for students to add movement into their daily school routine, says this letter to the editor.
1 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Student Well-Being Letter to the Editor Better Sleep and Breathing Habits May Improve Mental Health
A parent and yoga instructor explains the importance of good breathing and sleep in this letter to the editor.
1 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week