Mentes Sanae in Corporibus Sanis? Evaluating Achievements on and off the Playing Fields in Ohio’s High Schools

• In Event: Research That Improves Education in the Context of Sport: “To Know Is Not Enough”

Abstract

We examine the relationship between high school athletics and academic outcomes in the State of Ohio. With the use of five years of interactive Local Report Card (iLRC) data from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and MaxPreps, we investigate how variations in schools’ sports winning percentages as well as student participation levels relate to school-wide academic achievement and student promotion. After controlling for student demographics and per pupil expenditures, winning percentages as well as proxies for student participation are positive and statistically significant variables in association with higher school-wide achievement and attainment. More importantly, these results provide evidence that call into question prior research concluding that success and dedication to athletics comes at the expense of academics.

Authors

• Daniel Henry Bowen, University of Arkansas

• Jay Phillip Greene, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

• Jennifer Ash, University of Arkansas