Blaming school sports for academic inattention and bloated budgets is a popular move, but the evidence shows sports have a positive effect for students. 

Today just over half of all high school students in the U.S. indicate that they are involved in a school-sponsored sport.  Yet, despite the perceived benefits and high levels of support from students and parents, interscholastic athletics constantly come under attack.

A recent article in Phi Delta Kappan magaine takes a look at the history of school sports and the evidence that school sports help students win.

The love of high school football in Texas is hard to quantify. But to get an idea, have a look at the price tag on one of its newest temples. Voters in McKinney, Tex., have given the go-ahead to spend nearly $63 million on building a high school football stadium after months of contentious debate in the suburb north of Dallas.

“Down South, football is a really big deal, and playoff football is a really big deal,” said Jennifer Gray, the chairwoman of Vote for McKinney’s Future, a pro-stadium group.