AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

This study investigated the effect of school-sponsored athletic participation on the Grade Point Average (GPA) of high school students in Northwest Ohio. The 857 students included were from high schools ranging in average daily enrollment size from 325 to 508 students in rural and suburban settings. A survey was conducted to obtain and analyze the results of participant and non-participant students. Data analysis was conducted by the researcher using two-tailed t-tests, single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey honest significant difference (HSD) post-hoc tests. The results of the study indicate a significant relationship between students that participate in school-sponsored athletics and grade point average. After data analysis of the results, it proved inconclusive as to any significant relationship between any particular sport and increased academic achievement. Other variables of athletic participants including gender, age, race, household income, household arrangements, weekly practice time commitment, and weekly time spend on completing homework were included within the data to study a significant relationship. Females performed better than males, sophomore and juniors achieved higher GPA than freshman, white and Hispanic students scored better than multi-racial participants, higher income was associated with better GPA, and students living in traditional household settings outperformed those from single parent mother households and households considered “other” living arrangements. A limitation of this study is the small sample size of 857 students from only five school districts in Northwest Ohio. Based on the results on this study, the researcher concluded that participation in school-sponsored athletics is valuable to high school students and school districts should continue to find alternative methods for funding to offer these programs to all students. Advisors/Committee Members: McIntosh, Julie (Committee Chair).