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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Extracurricular activities

Overview

  • Influence: Extracurricular activities
  • Domain: Technology, School, and Out-of-School Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Out-of-school
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have a small positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Extracurricular activities such as music classes, sports, visits to science centers, botanic gardens, and museums

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 9
  • Number of studies: 180
  • Number of students: 233,515
  • Number of effects: 1,075
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.13
  • Robustness index: 3

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Dissertation Marshall Is there an Academic Benefit to Participating in Extracurricular Activities? A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis 1997 Extra curricula activities 5 42,546 5 0.04
Dissertation Lewis & Samuels Read more–read better? A meta-analysis of the literature on the relationship between exposure to reading and reading achievement 2003 General activities 10 NA 10 0.47
Dissertation Lewis & Samuels Read more–read better? A meta-analysis of the literature on the relationship between exposure to reading and reading achievement 2003 Sports 5 NA 5 0.10
International Review of Education Shulruf Do extra-curricular activities in schools improve educational outcomes? A critical review and meta-analysis of the literature. 2010 Extra curricula activities 29 NA 148 0.19
Report Chappell, Nunnery, Pribesh & Hager Supplemental educational services provision of no child left behind: A synthesis of provider effects. 2010 Supplemental education services out of school 28 140,345 801 0.03
Journal of College Student Development Gellin The Effect of Undergraduate Student Involvement on Critical Thinking: A Meta-Analysis of the Literature 1991-2000 2003 UG student involvement in clubs etc. 18 NA 18 0.08
Review of Educational Research Lauer, Akiba, Wilkerson, Apthorp, Snow, & Martin-Glenn Out-of-school-time programs: A meta-analysis of effects for at-risk students 2006 After school programs on reading and math 30 15,277 24 0.10
Report Kidron & Lindsay The Effects of Increased Learning Time on Student Academic and Nonacademic Outcomes: Findings from a Meta-Analytic Review 2014 Increasing time outside school 30 35,347 39 0.04
Education Development Research Shanshan & Xiangdong Meta-analysis of the effect of extracurricula tutoring on student's academic performance. 2015 Out of school tutoring 25 NA 25 0.27
TOTAL/AVERAGE 180 233,515 1,075 0.15
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