Does Participation in Enrichment Activities Affect Overall Performance of Elementary and Middle School Students?: An Evaluation of the Relationship Between TCNJ Bonner Center and Hedgepeth-Williams K-8 School

Abstract

The purpose of this evaluation is to determine if Hedgepeth-Williams students' participation versus non-participation in enrichment activities (notably the Academic Sports Academy afterschool program, or ASA) affect the students' academic outcomes, and if the number of times a student participates in enrichment activities leads to a better outcomes. Based on records of participation in enrichment activities collected by the Bonner Center for Community Engagement (BCCE) and on grade reports, this study finds statistically significant higher science grades for students who participated in enrichment activities when compared to those who did not, and that more participation produced higher science grades in a linear fashion. There is some evidence to suggest that grades in language arts were also improved, but the data is much less conclusive. We were unable to find any significant differences for participants and non-participants in terms of overall grades, math grades, social studies grades, or technology grades; we also found no difference in reported absences and tardies. Nonetheless, significantly higher science grades denote an unequivocal and positive effect of participation in enrichment activities, which is particularly compelling given the low quality of data available (and thus the exclusion of many potential cases). Better record-keeping of participation in enrichment activities would greatly facilitate future evaluation efforts and is likely to demonstrate a stronger positive impact.