Developing School Connectedness in Diverse Youth Through Extracurricular Programming

School connectedness has been found to be highly related to both school success and decreased dropout rates. One way to promote school connectedness is through student participation in extracurricular activities. However, most studies on extracurricular participation have largely been conducted on European American youth. Since the prevailing values in our educational system reflect the dominant European American majority, minority students may feel isolated and not supported in the school setting. Therefore, inclusion in extracurricular activities may facilitate a positive school-related experience and a sense of belonging, leading to greater school connectivity and retention.

Using data from a diverse sample of 1,739 middle and high school-aged students, the authors examine the relationship between extracurricular involvement and school connectedness, as well as hourly participation rates. Extracurricular involvement could include sporting activities, fine art activities, in-school activities, and out-of-school activities. This article concludes with examples of what can be done to encourage involvement and reduce barriers to participation among diverse students.