High School Sports Participation Hits Record Levels for Boys and Girls

High school athletics participation hit an all-time record of 8,266,244 students during the 2024-25 school year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. This marks an increase of over 200,000 students compared to the previous year, signaling a robust recovery for school-based sports programs. Both boys, with 4,726,648 participants, and girls, with 3,539,596 participants, reached record highs in 2024-25, marking a recovery of more than 645,000 participants since the initial post-pandemic survey.

Shifting Trends in Student Play

The growth across various disciplines highlights a broader trend toward diversified athletic engagement. Girls' football participation has surged 27% from the prior year and now sits 78% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, boys' football has seen a modest rise, currently 3% above its pre-pandemic participation levels. Volleyball has emerged as the fastest-growing sport for high school boys, posting a 13% increase in 2024-25, with total roster numbers rising 51% over the last six years to reach 95,972 spots.

As these numbers rise, schools and communities are adapting to a new environment defined by 2025 trends. Participation is increasingly supported by tech-driven training, a heightened focus on mental health awareness, and an emphasis on multi-sport participation. Esports growth and stronger institutional support for girls' teams continue to shape the way districts approach resource allocation.

Local infrastructure projects continue to support this athletic expansion. In the downtown core, the MNP Community & Sport Centre in Calgary is undergoing an $87.5 million expansion to add leisure water facilities, with work scheduled to finish in late 2026. Similarly, the City of Port Coquitlam has substantially completed its $132 million community centre, which is set for an official grand opening on October 2. While larger projects like these move forward, school administrators are focusing on how to maintain these record-high participation rates by leveraging new digital tools and maintaining a strong commitment to broad, inclusive student engagement.