When the school day ends, extracurriculars are just getting started! Whether students are into sports, academics, hobbies, service and leadership, or the arts, this huge roundup of extracurricular activities for high school has something for everyone.
What are the benefits of extracurricular activities for high school students?
There are so many terrific reasons to offer and participate in extracurriculars. They offer kids the chance to meet others with similar interests, encouraging them to make friends outside of their normal groups. Extracurriculars can encourage leadership and a sense of community and school pride too. Students get the opportunity to explore new interests and dive deeper into their personal favorite subjects or hobbies.
Plus, extracurricular activities look great on college applications and high school résumés. When kids participate in a mix of clubs and teams, they show their excitement in learning new things and serving their community. These are traits that universities and employers really value.
Schools should make an effort to offer extracurricular activities that appeal to a wide range of skills, interests, and talents. Encourage diversity with a range of clubs, sports, and organizations that anyone can join and enjoy. This big list will help you find creative new offerings to consider.
Athletics and Sports for High School
Sports extracurriculars can help students keep fit and learn to value a healthy lifestyle. These ideas include both team sports and individual competitions, from long-standing favorites to newer athletics opportunities.
- Archery
- Badminton
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Billiards/Pool
- BMX
- Bowling
- Capture the Flag
- Cheer Team
- Crew/Rowing
- Cricket
- Cross-Country
- Curling
- Cycling
- Dance Team
- Disc Golf/Frisbee Golf
- Dodgeball
- Drill Team
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Figure Skating
- Flag Football
- Football
- Gaga Ball
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Ice Hockey
- Jai Alai
- Kickball
- Lacrosse
- Martial Arts
- Pickleball
- Polo
- Quidditch
- Rugby
- Sailing
- Skateboarding
- Skating (Inline or Roller)
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Soccer
- Speed Skating
- Squash
- Surfing
- Swimming & Diving
- Synchronized Swimming
- Table Tennis/Ping Pong
- Tennis
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Academic Clubs and Teams for High School
These extracurriculars offer opportunities for students to explore their favorite subjects more deeply. Some are competitive, while others simply give kids a chance to learn and make like-minded friends.
Academic Competitive Teams
- Academic Decathlon
- American Mathematics Competitions
- Battlebots
- Chemistry Olympiad
- Debate Team
- FIRST Robotics Competition
- Mock Trial Competition
- Model United Nations
- Science Olympiad
- National History Bee
- National Science Bowl
- Physics Bowl
- Quiz Bowl
- Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee
- VEX Robotics Competitions
FEATURED PICK
The Edit
For students interested in journalism and video production, check out The Edit, a digital storytelling challenge from NBCU Academy and Adobe. Schools can offer this contest as an extracurricular activity or integrate it into the regular curriculum. Students will build critical communication and collaboration skills as they plan, script, and produce their own 90-second video news reports on wellness topics. Winners earn prizes!
Academic Clubs by Interest or Achievement
- Astronomy Club
- Book Club
- Creative Writing Club
- Economics Club
- Green Club
- History Club
- Language Clubs (French, Chinese, Latin, etc.)
- Math Club
- National Honor Society
- Robotics
- STEM Club
- Video Production Club
Arts Extracurriculars for High School
Tap into teens’ creative sides with extracurricular activities that explore fine, visual, and performing arts.
Performing Arts Extracurriculars
- A Capella Choir
- Barbershop Quartet
- Chamber Choir
- Concert Band
- Dance Club
- Drama Club
- Film/AV Club
- Flag Team/Color Guard
- Glee Club
- Jazz Band
- Marching Band
- Men’s Chorus/Women’s Chorus
- Mixed Choir/Chorus
- Orchestra
- Show Choir
- Vocal Jazz Choir
Visual and Fine Arts Extracurriculars
- Ceramics Club
- Comedy/Improv Club
- Drawing Club
- Fashion Design
- Graphic Design
- Literary Magazine
- Newspaper
- Photography Club
- Puppetry Club
- Slam Poetry Club
- Visual Arts Club
- Yearbook
Hobby Clubs for High School
When students meet up with others who share the same interests, they’ll find new friends and learn so many new skills. Any hobby can become a club, including these ideas.
- Birding Club
- Bridge Club
- Chess Club
- Cooking Club
- Croquet Club
- Dominoes Club
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Equestrian Club
- Esports/Video Games
- Fishing Club
- Foodie Club
- Geocaching Club
- Geology Club
- Hiking Club
- Historical Reenactment Club
- Horticulture/Gardening Club
- LARP Club
- Magic Club
- Makerspace Club
- Minecraft Club
- Nature Club
- Orienteering Club
- Philosophy Club
- Scale Model Club
- Sewing/Quilting/Needlework Club
- Tabletop Gaming Club
- Toastmasters/Speech Club
- Woodworking Club
- Yoga Club
Career-Focused Extracurriculars for High School
These clubs and activities support students who already have careers in mind, or those who want to see if a particular job or field is the right fit for them.
- Anthropology/Paleontology Club
- Architecture Club
- Auto Mechanics Club
- Business Professionals of America
- Computer Science/Coding Club
- DECA
- Economics/Investment Club
- FFA (Future Farmers of America)
- Forensic Science Club
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
- Future Educators of American
- HOSA Future Health Professionals
- Inventors Club
- Junior ROTC
- SkillsUSA
- Technology Student Association
- Women in Science and Engineering
- Young Entrepreneurs Club
Leadership, Service, and Community Clubs
Try these clubs to encourage students who want to make a difference in their school or community.
- 4-H
- Amnesty International
- Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts
- Cultural Clubs (Asian Students Association, Association of Latin-American Students, etc.)
- Ethics Bowl
- Gay-Straight Alliance
- Habitat for Humanity
- Key Club
- Multicultural/Diversity Club
- NAACP
- National Organization for Women
- Political Affiliation Clubs (Young Democrats, Young Republicans, etc.)
- Red Cross
- Social Justice Club
- Spirit Club
- SPCA Club
- Student Government
- Student Union
- Tutoring Club
- Volunteer Club
Thinking about starting some new extracurricular activities at your high school? Come ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, Meaningful Service Learning Projects for Kids and Teens.
