Extracurricular Types and Academic Success

Abstract

Previous research has already determined that there is a positive correlation between extracurriculars and academic performance. Extracurriculars establish personal connections with others and increase motivation for many. However, there is limited research on the individual types of extracurriculars. Not all extracurriculars are the same. Therefore, I have decided to examine this issue through my research question: “Which extracurricular types were the most beneficial to academic success for 9th through 12th graders in School X in the 2020-2021 school year?” To ensure that I do not explain connections between variables, I establish an explore approach through a non-experimental survey. I ask students to list their top three extracurriculars to prevent an influx of data. After collecting my data, I organize my results into ten categories and explore recurring trends and themes. I examine mean GPA, mean class rank, personal connections with peers and adults, time spent, skills, passion, and correlating academic classes. In the end, I conclude that activities focused on leadership resulted in the highest scores overall. Student government and youth development programs may have been the most beneficial to overall academic success due to this leadership. I also determined that academic or professional organizations, the arts, and school sports may have been the most beneficial to academic success in correlating academic courses due to increased knowledge and passion. Overall, this is an essential issue to consider because over half of American students today are involved in at least one extracurricular. By establishing which extracurriculars are the most beneficial to one’s success, they can better understand which activities they should be joining to make the best use of their time.