Credit: philasd.org
The Philadelphia School Board examined data on student participation in co-curricular activities and arts programs during Thursday's Goals and Guardrails meeting, revealing both promising trends and concerning disparities in student engagement across the district.
Under "Guardrails 2" district officials presented comprehensive data showing that about a quarter of K-12 students participated in athletics and co-curricular activities last year. The presentation, led by Dr. Tony B. Washington and Dr. Tonya Wolford, highlighted significant variations in participation rates based on school level, race, and school size.
You can view more of the presentation below:
Mixed Results Across Grade Levels
The data revealed a troubling pattern: while K-8 schools showed high involvement with slight increases in arts participation, high schools experienced lower involvement with a slight decline. District officials noted that most K-8 schools mandate visual or performing arts classes, while high schools offer arts and humanities requirements that can be fulfilled through alternative courses, potentially explaining the disparity.
The district offers an extensive range of creative opportunities, including theater, modern dance, African dance, playwriting, jazz, and ceramics courses. Co-curricular offerings span from National Honor Society and DECA to Chess Club, Anime Club, Social Justice clubs, theater, choir, intramural sports, and robotics programs.
Racial and Size Disparities Emerge
Perhaps most concerning were the racial disparities in participation rates. The data showed lower participation among Black students, while Hispanic and Asian student groups demonstrated higher engagement levels. Non-English learners also showed reduced participation rates.
School size emerged as another factor, with smaller schools reporting lower participation rates than larger institutions. Schools with 250 to 499 students appeared to hit the "sweet spot" for peak participation rates.
Extended Day Programs Show Promise
A bright spot in the presentation was the Extended Day/Extended Year (EDEY) program results. In the 20 participating schools, 3,234 students enrolled in before- and after-school programming, with 100% exposed to enrichment programs. Seventy-five percent of these schools offered intramural sports, and 75% of participating students maintained 90% or higher attendance rates.
Future Strategies and Expansion Plans
The district outlined ambitious plans to address participation gaps, including expanding the EDEY program to 30 schools by 2025-2026. Other initiatives include creating a public-facing database of all district partnerships, piloting new theories of change with partner organizations, and assessing stadium and facility renovations.
Safety improvements for athletic programs and expanded intramural offerings through EDEY partnerships were also prioritized.
The Access vs. Choice Debate
During discussion, board members grappled with a fundamental question: whether declining engagement reflects lack of access or lack of student interest.
Board Member Whitney Jones raised budget concerns during the meeting.
"How do we make a dollar out of 15 cents?" she inquired. Board Member Cheryl Harper praised the administration's efforts.
The 2024-2025 Philadelphia School Experience Survey indicated that school leadership has increased focus on Guardrail 2 since 2022-2023, suggesting growing awareness of the importance of well-rounded educational experiences.
As the district moves forward, balancing resource constraints with equitable access to enriching activities remains a central challenge in ensuring all Philadelphia students receive comprehensive educational opportunities.
All comments, testimonies, and facts were taken from the Aug. 7, 2025 Philadelphia School Board Goals and Guardrails Meeting recording available on the Philadelphia School District website.
