In 2005, a greater percentage of female than male students in kindergarten through 8th grade were involved in arts, clubs, community service, religious activities, and scouts after school, but the pattern of participation was reversed for sports.

This indicator looks at kindergarten through 8th grade (grades K–8) students’ participation in various afterschool activities in 2005. Parents whose children were in grades K–8 were asked whether their children had participated in each of a series of specific activities (either primarily for supervision,¹ or enrichment) outside of school hours since the beginning of the school year.

In 2005, among all students in grades K–8, some 43 percent of students participated in at least one activity. Of these students, 31 percent participated in sports, 20 percent in religious activities, 18 pecent in arts (e.g., music, dance, or painting), 10 percent in scouts, 8 percent in community service, 7 percent in academic activities (e.g., tutoring, mathematics laboratory), and 6 percent in clubs (e.g., yearbook, debate, or book club) (see table 29-1).

Rates of participation varied by poverty, sex, and parents’ education. A greater percentage of students from nonpoor families (56 percent) than from near-poor (30 percent) and poor (22 percent) families participated in at least one activity. In addition, students from nonpoor families were more likely to participate in each of the seven specific activities than students from near-poor and poor families. Females were more likely than males to participate in at least one activity (45 vs. 42 percent). By activity, a greater percentage of females than males were involved in arts (24 vs. 12 percent), clubs (7 vs. 5 percent), community service (9 vs. 7 percent), religious activities (21 vs. 18 percent), and scouts (11 vs. 9 percent). However, a greater percentage of males than females participated in sports (34 vs. 28 percent). Students whose parents had a bachelor’s degree or higher were more likely to participate in at least one afterschool activity than students whose parents had some college or less. In addition, students whose parents had a graduate or professional degree were more likely to participate in each of the seven specific activities than students whose parents had some college or less.

¹ In some cases, children participate in afterschool activities not only for enjoyment or enrichment; they also participate so that their parents, who are often working, can be assured that their children are being supervised by adults in a safe setting. (back to text)