Every spring, schools report participation data to their state athletic associations. Those
numbers are then compiled and submitted to the NFHS, which publishes a national participation
report each year.

At first glance, that may feel like just another administrative deadline. In practice, the data
matters. It helps shape conversations around participation trends, gender equity, funding, and
the future of high school athletics.

If you are responsible for submitting or validating your school’s numbers, accuracy matters more
than most people realize.

This guide walks through what the NFHS participation survey measures, what data schools are
typically asked to report, when submissions usually happen, and where schools tend to make
mistakes.

What the NFHS Participation Survey Measures

The NFHS participation survey tracks sport participation at the high school level by sport,
gender, and state.

The 2024-25 survey reported 8,266,244 total participations—the highest number in the survey’s
history. That included 4,726,648 boys and 3,539,596 girls, both record highs. The data is
compiled from 51 NFHS member associations, including the District of Columbia.

One point that often causes confusion: the survey counts participations, not individual students.

That means a student who plays football, basketball, and baseball counts as three
participations, not one. The goal is to measure how many sports opportunities are being filled
across seasons and programs.

Source: NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 2024-25

Why Accurate Reporting Matters

These numbers do more than populate a report.

Title IX and Equity Conversations

Participation data is often part of broader discussions around access and gender equity. If your
reporting is incomplete or inaccurate, that can affect how your program is viewed.

Funding and Program Support

Participation trends help school leaders, boards, and state organizations understand where
programs are growing, shrinking, or under pressure. The 2024-25 survey showed an increase of
198,589 participations from the previous year (topping the previous record of 8,062,302 set in
2023-24)—growth that influences budget and policy conversations at every level.

National Advocacy

The NFHS uses aggregate data to advocate for education-based athletics. Strong reporting
helps show the scale and value of school sports.

Research and Trend Analysis

Participation data is also used by researchers and policy groups looking at long-term sports
trends, access, and student engagement. The NFHS participation survey has been running
since 1971, making it one of the few consistent longitudinal datasets on high school athletics in
the country.

What Schools Usually Need to Report

 The exact format may vary by state, but most schools are asked to provide:

• Total participations by sport
• Breakdown by boys and girls
• States may ask for all applicable grade or team levels, including varsity, JV, freshman, and modified when relevant

The key is to report every sport participation accurately, not just the number of unique athletes in your program.

When the Survey Is Due

Deadlines vary by state association, but the general cycle usually looks like this:

• Schools report data to their state association in the spring
• State associations compile and submit to the NFHS in the summer
• NFHS publishes the national report later in the year

Because timelines are state-driven, the most important step is to confirm your own association’s
deadline and submission method early.

Common Mistakes Schools Make

Athletic departments tend to run into the same reporting mistakes each year.

Counting Athletes Instead of Participations

This is the most common reporting issue. If one student plays multiple sports, each season
should be counted separately.

Leaving Out Non-Varsity Levels

JV, freshman, and other levels often count toward the total. Schools sometimes underreport by
focusing only on varsity rosters.

Gender Coding Errors

Because participation data feeds larger conversations about equity, it is worth reviewing these
numbers carefully before submission.

Missing the Deadline

Even accurate data becomes a problem if it is submitted after the deadline. Putting the due date
on your calendar early helps avoid a last-minute scramble.

How Digital Registration Makes This Easier

Schools that manage athletic registration digitally often have an easier time preparing this
report.

Instead of piecing together participation numbers from paper files, spreadsheets, and rosters
from different systems, staff can usually pull the needed data from one place.

Joe Wallace, from Portage Central High School in Michigan, described it this way: “The ability to
export data instantly is gold.”

Working with Your State Association

Your state association is the link between your school and NFHS. They set deadlines, specify
the format, and handle submissions.

That is especially true if your school has unusual roster structures, cooperative programs, or
questions about how to count specific teams.

If you’re not sure about the process:

• Check your state association website for instructions
  
• Call them directly if you have questions about format or timing
  
• Ask whether they can pull data from your registration system automatically

Building a relationship with your state association makes this smoother every year.

The Bigger Picture

It’s easy to think of the NFHS survey as administrative busywork. Another form to fill out,
another deadline to meet.

But the data matters. It shapes policy. It influences funding. It determines whether high school
athletics remains a priority worth investing in.

Your school’s numbers are part of that picture. Take the time to get them right.

For schools using digital registration, participation reporting can be much easier to
organize and export. FinalForms is one option schools use to streamline that process.