At PLT4M, we are firm believers in the importance of participation in PE for all students. Participation in PE classes can support physical, mental, and emotional health among students now and into their adult lives.
We explore what student participation in PE means, how school districts can create a lasting impact, and provide actionable strategies to apply in schools.
Participation In PE By The Numbers
The U.S Report Card on Physical Activity For Children and Youth from the Physical Activity Alliance has long served as a trusted resource for measuring and monitoring data surrounding overall physical activity and more specifically, physical education.
In the most recent report from 2024, the overall grade and key findings have stayed disappointingly the same:
“The 2024 Overall Physical Activity Grade remains a D-. The updated sources generally show similar level of physical activity since the last Report Card, but the overall implication remains unchanged, namely, that American children and youth are insufficiently active.”
“Few children and youth report meeting the physical activity guidelines: Between 20% and 28% of children and youth ages 6-17 years participate in 60 minutes of physical activity every day (NSCH 2021- 2022 and NHANES 2017-2020).”
And when it comes to data on student participation in PE, a few numbers from the report stand out. The percentage of high school students who attend physical education on one or more school days drops dramatically each year of high school:
Grade 9: 71.1%
Grade 10: 53.3%
Grade 11: 40.2%
Grade 12: 33.0%
Beyond grade level, there is a stark difference between male and female participation in PE,
“31.4% of males participate in PE all 5 days of the week, whereas only 23.1% of females participate for all 5 days of the week. Additionally, 54.7% of males participate in at least one day per week of PE as opposed to 44.6% of females (YRBSS 2023).”
Defining Participation in PE – Quantity & Quality
There are multiple elements to defining participation in PE that can help school districts create a playbook for success.
Physical education is more than just a scheduled block in the school day—it’s an opportunity for fostering lifelong health and fitness habits. However, not all PE programs are created equal. Schools must prioritize quantity and quality in their physical education offerings to truly make an impact.
Quantity Matters
Research consistently shows that the benefits of physical activity extend far beyond the gymnasium. Students need consistent opportunities to move, develop skills, and build their fitness levels. Offering PE classes only once a week is not enough to create meaningful change.
Instead, PE should be a regular part of the curriculum at every grade level, starting in elementary school and continuing through high school. This ensures that students of all ages and abilities are exposed to a steady stream of opportunities to enhance their physical well-being and develop a foundation of fitness for life.
Quality is Key
The success of a PE program lies not just in how often students participate but in how engaging and inclusive the lessons are. Gone are the days of a one size fits all approach to PE. Today’s PE classes must go beyond mandatory participation to actively engage students with fun and diverse lesson plans that promote skill development, confidence building, and personal growth.
Quality PE programs should:
Include activities adaptable to various skill levels so that all students feel capable and successful.
Focus on teaching lifelong skills in various domains and units to prepare students for an active future.
Be designed to show that physical education is for everyone, not just the athletically gifted.
When students feel included and see the value of PE, they’re more likely to approach it with enthusiasm and commitment. For this to happen, educators must create an environment where all students feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow.
By ensuring consistent and engaging participation in PE, schools can empower students to embrace fitness as a vital part of their lives—setting the stage for healthier, happier futures.
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Participation in PE – A Playbook For Success
It is incumbent on school districts to create a plan and playbook to maximize participation in PE for all students. Below is a strategy, specifically for secondary schools, to increase participation in PE to help serve middle school and high school students as they prepare for a life of health and wellness beyond school walls.
The playbook for participation in PE requires two core elements:
Core Element 1: Build A Strong Foundation Via Intro To Fitness – Every student should develop a strong foundation of the basic components of fitness and physical literacy through a combination of physical activity and cognitive PE lessons that promote the basics of fitness, health, and exercise.
Core Element 2: Encourage Structured Student Choice – After establishing a foundation of physical literacy, school districts should provide ample resources and support so students can explore different paths for lifelong fitness. Fitness is not one-size-fits-all, nor should physical education classes. By creating an elective-based physical education model, more students will actively participate in physical education classes that excite and inspire confidence and exploration.
Check out this on demand webinar that comes fully loaded with insightful tips and tricks to increase student participation in PE.
More On An Intro To Fitness Philosophy
An introduction to all things movement and fitness. The aim of an introduction to fitness unit is to provide every student a foundation upon which they can develop their personal fitness journey. By helping every student build these skills and confidence, schools see an increase in participation in PE, both in an intro course and into future electives and opportunities.
All students, can and should know how to perform foundational human movements:
Movement Skills
Squat
Lunge
Hinge
Press
Pull
“From some type of introduction to general fitness, health, and wellness in early stages of middle and high school PE, students will become ready and equipped to navigate on different paths with structured student choice.”
In An Intro To Fitness Unit or Semester You Have:
Exposed students to general concepts
Built confidence and comfort in exercise
Shown students that fitness can fit all backgrounds and experiences
Encouraged exploration and independence with scaling and modifications
Prepared students for new avenues via a strong foundation
More On Student Choice For Participation in PE
Elective Based PE – Providing a catalog of different course options that suit student needs, interests, and motivations for increase participation in PE, especially in upper grade levels of high school.
Advantages:
Students have an entire semester to sink their teeth into specific fitness topics.
Even within structured electives, teachers can still allow students to take student choice a step further within the topic area.
Challenges:
School-wide adoption is required and administrators, counselors, and fellow PE teachers all need to support an elective-based model.
Teachers need to be equipped with skills and resources to teach specific electives they might not be comfortable with.
“We have football players in the class doing dance fitness. We have female athletes doing strength training. Everyone explores different types of fitness that help them pursue for overall wellness.” – Ron Ford
Key Takeaways On Participation in PE
The best way to support our young people’s physical, mental, and emotional wellness is through PE classes that both excite and inspire. The foundation to choice model allows for an increase in student participation in PE that leads to lasting results.
More Key Takeaways Include:
STRUCTURED Student Choice empowers students to take ownership of their fitness, health, and wellness NOW and into the future.
In the age where PE time is constantly on the chopping block, engaged and excited students will become your best advocates for more classes and resources.
Don’t go at it alone! Just like any other subject, PE should advocate for and have access to high quality resources, curriculum, and technology.
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