Engagement in extracurricular activities increases students’ behavioral and cognitive skills yet despite their ability to help improve academic performance, students from low-income communities are at least 10 percent less likely to participate. Addressing this disparity is vital to maximizing educational outcomes.
The segregation of students along racial and socioeconomic lines seen in American schools mirrors the income segregation seen in neighborhoods across the country, and it is critical to consider these divides when responding to it. To address this intensifying issue properly, a public discussion of school integration along with policies that increase neighborhood diversity, enhance district autonomy, and promote socioeconomic diversity in schools are needed.