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6.2.2 Share of 8th, 10th, and 12th Grade Students in Public K-12 Schools Who Participate in After School Activities
Why is this important?
Participation in school activities can also build character, encourage teamwork, and improve students' levels of self-confidence. A related benefit is that many colleges and universities prefer students who have been involved in activities besides schoolwork alone. The more a young person is involved in his or her school, the less idle time they have after school, and therefore, the less likely he or she is to engage in risky or illegal behaviors.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, participation in extracurricular activities increases the likelihood of success in high school and fosters the expectations of continuing on through college. Beyond academics, participants in extracurricular school activities have fewer unexcused absences and generally have a higher grade point average (GPA).
The Washington State Healthy Youth Survey measures health risk behaviors among youth in Washington State. The survey is administered every two years to students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. Students answer questions about safety and violence; physical activity and diet; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; and other related risk and protective factors. Data collected from the survey are used to identify trends in behavior over time, to compare data to state and national-level data, and to guide policy and programmatic decision-making.
This indicator measures the percent of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in Walla Walla County who say that they participate in school activities, via their responses to questions in the Washington State Department of Health's Healthy Youth Survey. The survey question specifically asks: "During the average week, on how many days do you participate in supervised after-school activities either at school or away from school? Include activities such as sports, art, music, dance, drama, or community services, religious, or club activities." All affirmative answers were included in this analysis. Accuracy is limited to the truthfulness of the youths' response but is estimated to be fairly accurate. Washington State is offered as a benchmark.
Where are we?
.During 2023 in Walla Walla County, the share of students who participated in after school activities and were in the:
- 8th grade was 63% , increasing slightly from 66.2% in 2006.
- 10th grade was 63%, matching the rate in 2006.
- 12th grade was 60%, decreasing from 62.7% in 2006.
By comparison during 2023 in Washington State, the share of students who participated in after school activities and were in the:
- 8th grade was 62%, decreasing from 68.9% in 2006.
- 10th grade was 64%, decreasing slightly from 64.4% in 2006.
- 12th grade was 61%, decreasing from 64.5% in 2006.
Data Sources
Washington State Department of Health: Healthy Youth Survey - HYS Fact Sheets
- Select appropriate year and county. Under "Risk and Protective Factors", mark the appropriate grades under "Community Protective Factors".
Notes:
1) According to the State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) “measures health risk behaviors that contribute to morbidity, mortality, and social problems among youth in Washington State. These behaviors include alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, behaviors that result in unintentional and intentional injuries (e.g., violence), dietary behaviors, physical activity, and related risk and protective factors.” In 2016, over 230,000 students from over 1,000 schools, in all 39 counties participated in the HYS. Accuracy is limited to the truthfulness of the youths' response.
2) This information comes from a survey so the data presented are estimates. Each point has a margin of error (high and low estimates), and while not presented here, they are offered by the source.
3) This indicator does not include students in private or home schools.
Learn more about the Healthy Youth Survey here.