Information Brief 2013-18
Trends in High School Extracurricular Activity Participation: 2006 and 2012
In the last seven years, participation in high school extracurricular activities by ACT test takers has remained fairly stable. The greatest increase in participation was in social organizations such as fraternities or sororities, which increased from 8% in 2006 to 12% in 2012. Political organizations, on the other hand, were among the least popular in 2006 (5%) and decreased further in 2012 (3%).
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Participating in Extracurricular Activities, 2012 and 2006
| Activity | 2006 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Radio/TV | 5% | 4% |
| Race/Ethnic Organizations | 5% | 4% |
| Political Organizations | 5% | 3% |
| Debate | 6% | 6% |
| Fraternity, Sorority, or Other Social Clubs | 8% | 12% |
| Student Government | 15% | 14% |
| Publications | 15% | 13% |
| Drama or Theater | 16% | 15% |
| Vocal Music | 17% | 15% |
| Instrumental Music | 20% | 20% |
| Religious Activities | 22% | 21% |
| Varsity Athletics | 42% | 45% |
| Service Organizations (School or Community) | 43% | 45% |
Note: Data are based on 1,666,017 ACT-tested 2012 high school graduates.
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