Ashs to As: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mandatory Athletic Study Hall in Improving High School Athletes’ Academics

During the 2023-2024 academic year, this action research study was conducted at local, mid-sized high school in South Carolina using a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the efficacy and impact of a mandatory athletic study hall (ASH) program on high school athletes’ academic performance. Through this program, during each academic quarter, any in-season athletes with any grades below 69% to either attend after-school study hall sessions or complete tutoring. The study both reviewed the academic performance of athletes and nonathletes and collected qualitative data from stakeholder surveys completed by nonathletes, athletes, teachers, coaches, and parents. The findings revealed a significant difference was present in the athletes’ academic performance in comparison with nonathletes’, with athletes obtaining higher GPAs and overall passing rates. Stakeholders positively reviewed and perceived the program, and they identified as the program’s key strengths its clear expectations, impact on athlete accountability, and tutoring support. This study concludes that the ASH program effectively supports athletes’ academic progress and provides recommendations for program improvement and expansion to other schools both within and outside of the school district.