Ohio Ranks Third in High School Sports Participation
Ohio recorded 347,994 high school student-athletes in the 2025-26 school year, behind only Texas and California nationally.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Ohio ranked third nationally in high school sports participation for the 2025-26 school year, with 347,994 student-athletes. Texas and California led the country with 911,405 and 859,022 participants, respectively.
Why it matters
The ranking reflects broad student engagement in athletics across Ohio's high schools, which the Ohio High School Athletic Association oversees through 813 member schools. Growth in girls wrestling and girls flag football also contributed to a national participation record.
Ohio had 347,994 high school student-athletes in 2025-26, and 525 high schools fielded a girls wrestling team and 517 fielded a boys bowling team. The source does not detail year-over-year growth figures for Ohio specifically.
The players
Ohio High School Athletic Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the state body that governs interscholastic athletics for its 813 member schools.
NFHS
The National Federation of State High School Associations publishes an annual participation survey tracking high school athletics across the United States.
The details
Ohio's total participation placed it behind only Texas and California, even though Ohio ranks seventh in total population. Ohio also leads the nation in the number of high schools fielding teams in three sports, and national participation reached a record through growth in girls wrestling and girls flag football.
Timeline
2025-26 school year: Ohio recorded 347,994 high school student-athletes, ranking third nationally.
November 9, 2026: NFHS participation survey results were published.
Season Trajectory
The NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey provides the annual baseline against which Ohio's third-place finish is measured. The national record set this year follows the continuing growth of girls' sports, notably wrestling and flag football.
Families considering Ohio high schools can look to the strength of athletic offerings across the state's 813 member schools. Students interested in girls wrestling or flag football may find more programs available than in previous years.
The takeaway
Participation in high school sports continues to expand, with more students engaging in a wider range of activities. Ohio's position among the top three states suggests strong access to athletic programs for student-athletes.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education for context on how high school athletics fit into student life.
Source note: This article includes information reported by People's Defender.
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