While nearly eight million students suited up for high school sports last year, the numbers reveal a story of resilience, shifting demographics, and the ongoing legacy of Title IX that goes far beyond the scoreboard.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-23 school year, 7,857,969 students participated in high school sports across 51 state associations, a 0.9% increase from 2021-22.
- Total high school sports participants reached 7.8 million in 2021-22, with boys at 4,531,232 and girls at 3,318,727.
- High school athletic participation totaled 7,937,522 in the 2018-19 school year before the pandemic decline.
- In 2022-23, boys outnumbered girls in participation by 1,438,251.
- Boys' participation rate was 60.9% of total high school athletes in 2022-23.
- Girls made up 39.1% of participants with 3,209,859 in 2022-23.
- Boys track & field led with 612,234 participants in 2021-22.
- Outdoor track & field girls: 488,782 in 2021-22.
- Basketball boys: 551,373, girls: 413,522 in 2021-22.
- White students comprised 54.2% of high school athletes in recent NFHS data.
- Hispanic/Latino students: 22.5% of participants.
- Black/African American: 12.1% of high school sports participants.
- Participation increased 2.5% overall from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
- From 2018-19 peak of 7.9M to 7.6M in 2020-21, down 5% due to COVID.
- Girls' participation up 1,106% since 1971-72.
High school sports participation has rebounded and stabilized near eight million students.
Demographic Breakdown
- White students comprised 54.2% of high school athletes in recent NFHS data.
- Hispanic/Latino students: 22.5% of participants.
- Black/African American: 12.1% of high school sports participants.
- Asian students: 3.4% representation in athletics.
- Multiracial: 5.3%, Native American: 1.2% of participants.
- In football, 68% white, 22% Black, 8% Hispanic.
- Basketball: 47% white, 37% Black, 12% Hispanic.
- Track & field: 55% white, 20% Black, 18% Hispanic.
- Soccer: 60% white, 20% Hispanic, 10% Black.
- Volleyball girls: 70% white, 15% Hispanic, 8% Black.
- California: Hispanic 45% of athletes vs. 39% enrollment.
- Texas: Hispanic 40%, white 35%, Black 15%.
- NY: white 50%, Black 20%, Hispanic 20%.
- Florida: Black 25%, Hispanic 30%, white 35%.
- Illinois: white 55%, Black 20%, Hispanic 20%.
- Underrepresented minorities in lacrosse: 80% white.
- Swimming: 75% white participants.
- Wrestling: 65% white, 20% Hispanic, 10% Black.
- Girls' sports: similar demographics, slightly higher white %.
- Urban schools have higher minority participation rates.
Demographic Breakdown Interpretation
The numbers suggest that while athletic fields can be powerful melting pots, the particular flavor of the potluck varies dramatically by sport and region, revealing that access and tradition still have a very strong home-field advantage.
Gender Breakdown
- In 2022-23, boys outnumbered girls in participation by 1,438,251.
- Boys' participation rate was 60.9% of total high school athletes in 2022-23.
- Girls made up 39.1% of participants with 3,209,859 in 2022-23.
- Female participation grew 2.0% in 2022-23 to 3.5 million since 2018-19.
- Boys' sports teams sponsored: 208,438 in 2022-23.
- Girls' teams: 191,444 sponsored in 2022-23.
- In 1971, only 294,015 girls participated vs. 3.7 million boys.
- By 2022-23, girls' participation up 1,106% since Title IX in 1972.
- Boys' participation increased 5.3% from 1971 to 2022-23.
- In basketball, 551,373 boys vs. 412,388 girls in 2022-23.
- Track & field: 605,354 boys, 487,527 girls.
- Soccer: 459,028 boys, 390,070 girls in 2022-23.
- Volleyball girls: 453,403, boys: 66,147 in 2022-23.
- Softball girls: 367,230 vs. baseball boys 482,740.
- In California CIF, girls were 47% of participants in 2022-23.
- Texas UIL: boys 55%, girls 45% of 873,000 athletes.
- New York NYSPHSAA: nearly equal, girls 49% in 2022-23.
- Florida FHSAA girls: 42% of total participation.
- Illinois IHSA boys 52%, girls 48%.
- Per Aspen, 3.4 million girls in high school sports in 2019.
- Boys football dominates with 1 million, girls no equivalent.
- In 2021-22, girls' participation up 0.5% post-COVID.
Gender Breakdown Interpretation
While Title IX has propelled girls' participation an astounding 1,106% since 1972, closing the gender gap from a canyon to a stubborn crack, the persistent 1.4 million athlete deficit and the towering shadow of boys' football underscore that true equity on the field remains a work in progress.
Overall Participation Numbers
- In the 2022-23 school year, 7,857,969 students participated in high school sports across 51 state associations, a 0.9% increase from 2021-22.
- Total high school sports participants reached 7.8 million in 2021-22, with boys at 4,531,232 and girls at 3,318,727.
- High school athletic participation totaled 7,937,522 in the 2018-19 school year before the pandemic decline.
- In 2019-20, participation stood at 7,937,948 students nationwide.
- Pre-COVID peak was 7,980,886 participants in the 2017-18 school year.
- 7.6 million students played high school sports in 2020-21 despite disruptions.
- Participation rebounded to 7,849,824 in 2022-23 from pandemic lows.
- 11-player football had 1,004,872 participants in 2022-23.
- Across 19,279 high schools, average sports sponsorship was 20.72 teams per school in 2022-23.
- Total sponsored teams numbered 399,882 in the 2022-23 school year.
- High school participation rate was 11.08 students per 100 total enrollment in 2022-23.
- Boys' participation totaled 4,648,110 in 2022-23, up 1.2% from prior year.
- Girls' sports saw 3,209,859 participants in 2022-23.
- In 2010-11, total participants were 7,628,676.
- 7,980,886 total athletes in 2017-18 across all NFHS member associations.
- Participation dipped to 4,538,058 in fall 2020 sports only due to COVID.
- 7.9 million high schoolers in sports in 2019, per Aspen Institute.
- Nearly 8 million students played sports in 2018-19.
- In California, 2022-23 saw over 800,000 high school sports participants.
- Texas high schools had 873,000 athletes in 2022-23.
- New York state reported 412,000 participants in 2022-23.
- Florida's FHSAA counted 445,000 high school athletes in 2022-23.
- Illinois IHSA had 390,000 participants in 2022-23.
- Ohio OHSAA reported 360,000 athletes.
- Pennsylvania PIAA had 310,000 high school sports participants.
- Michigan MHSAA counted 280,000 in 2022-23.
Overall Participation Numbers Interpretation
Despite a slow and steady post-pandemic recovery, the nearly eight million high school athletes lacing up across America prove that the spirit of competition is stubbornly resilient, much like the last parent left standing in the rain at a Friday night football game.
Sport-Specific Participation
- Boys track & field led with 612,234 participants in 2021-22.
- Outdoor track & field girls: 488,782 in 2021-22.
- Basketball boys: 551,373, girls: 413,522 in 2021-22.
- 11-player football: 1,006,013 boys in 2021-22.
- Baseball: 491,790 participants in 2021-22.
- Softball girls: 370,738 in 2021-22.
- Girls volleyball: 454,936 in 2021-22.
- Soccer boys: 459,616, girls: 391,404 in 2021-22.
- Wrestling: 268,325 boys in 2021-22.
- Spirit squads (cheer/dance/poms): 196,401 girls.
- In 2022-23, lacrosse boys: 113,313, girls: 96,562.
- Competitive spirit: 12,328 participants in 2022-23.
- Girls swimming & diving: 173,615 in 2022-23.
- Bowling grew to 21,499 participants total.
- Flag football girls emerging with 15,235 in 2022-23.
- In California, basketball most popular with 90,000+ boys.
- Texas football: 170,000 boys participants annually.
- NY volleyball girls: 55,000.
- Florida track & field: over 60,000 combined.
- Illinois football: 65,000 boys.
- Ohio wrestling: 20,000 boys.
- Pennsylvania soccer: 30,000 girls.
- Michigan basketball: 45,000 total.
- Emerging sport girls lacrosse: 102,000 nationwide.
- Boys volleyball up 10% to 61,000.
Sport-Specific Participation Interpretation
The statistics paint a clear picture of a nation where Friday night football still reigns as a massive cultural institution for boys, while track and field and volleyball quietly dominate as the workhorses of widespread female participation.
Trends and Changes Over Time
- Participation increased 2.5% overall from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
- From 2018-19 peak of 7.9M to 7.6M in 2020-21, down 5% due to COVID.
- Girls' participation up 1,106% since 1971-72.
- Boys steady at ~4.5M since 2000s.
- Football peaked at 1,086,996 in 2008-09, now 1M.
- Girls' basketball from 100K in 1971 to 400K+.
- Lacrosse up 200% since 2000, now 200K+ combined.
- Bowling doubled from 10K to 22K since 2000.
- Boys volleyball +67% since 2009.
- Decline in wrestling from 250K to 240K post-2010.
- Post-COVID rebound: +4.5% in 2022-23 over 2020-21.
- Flag football girls +20% year-over-year.
- Overall participation flat since 2010 at ~7.8M.
- Hispanic participation +50% since 2010.
- In CA, participation recovered 95% post-COVID.
- TX football stable at 160K-170K yearly.
- NY girls soccer +15% decade.
- FL track steady at 50K+.
- IL basketball up 5% post-pandemic.
- OH wrestling down 10% since 2015.
- National participation per capita down from 12% to 11% enrollment.
Trends and Changes Over Time Interpretation
High school sports are staging a resilient, if uneven, comeback from the pandemic’s blow, as proven not by a single booming trend but by the quiet persistence of football in Texas, the explosive growth of girls’ flag football, the steady rise of Hispanic athletes, and the fact that girls’ participation has skyrocketed over a thousand percent since Title IX leveled the playing field.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NFHSnfhs.orgVisit source
- Reference 2ASPENPROJECTPLAYaspenprojectplay.orgVisit source
- Reference 3PROJECTPLAYprojectplay.orgVisit source
- Reference 4CIFSTATEcifstate.orgVisit source
- Reference 5UILTEXASuiltexas.orgVisit source
- Reference 6NYSPHSAAnysphsaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 7FHSAAfhsaa.comVisit source
- Reference 8IHSAihsa.orgVisit source
- Reference 9OHSAAohsaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 10PIAApiaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 11MHSAAmhsaa.comVisit source
- Reference 12USLACROSSEuslacrosse.orgVisit source
- Reference 13WOMENSSPORTSFOUNDATIONwomenssportsfoundation.orgVisit source