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District says esports linked to higher attendance, lower suspensions and better grades
Summary
Moreno Valley Unified presented data showing middle‑school esports participants had higher attendance (7.8 more days), lower suspension days (7% less), higher GPAs and better CAASPP outcomes than nonparticipants; staff framed esports as an engagement strategy linked to student connectedness.
District staff told the board that participation in middle‑school esports is associated with higher school attendance, lower suspension days and improved academic indicators, and they demonstrated the program with student stations and a hands‑on rotation for board members.
Director Nick Stearns explained that the district now tracks students participating in esports across classroom instruction and after‑school clubs (1,508 students tracked last year). Staff cited an average of 7.8 additional days of attendance for esports participants compared with nonparticipants and said that difference equated to an estimated $901,284 in additional ADA captured. The presentation also reported a 23.1% lower absence rate, 7% fewer suspension days, and that 60.2% of esports participants had never before participated in a school extracurricular activity.
Academic indicators highlighted by staff included higher grade‑point averages (65% of esports middle‑school students had GPAs above 3.0; 91% were passing) and better CAASPP results in ELA (49% meets/exceeds for participants vs. 34% for nonparticipants) and math (33% vs. 18%). Staff connected those outcomes to increased engagement, SEL components within esports and opportunities to build school identity.
After the data review, principals and students from multiple middle schools showcased program elements including marketing/graphic design using Canva, Minecraft building, video production, event planning, competition gaming and an all‑girls league. Board members and the superintendent rotated through the stations in timed five‑minute demonstrations.
Staff said the program includes a girls league and efforts to increase female participation (28% female last year) and emphasized that many esports participants joined school activities for the first time. No formal motion or funding vote occurred during the session; staff indicated the program is integrated into district extracurricular and expanded‑learning efforts.
