Report: Competitive High School Cheer Participation Numbers

What we know as cheerleading today has grown far beyond its roots as a college activity! Check out these participation numbers, based on the National Federation of High School Associations’ (NFHS) 2010-11 High School Athletics Participation Survey (which is based only on a competition level for high schools in the United States): Competitive Spirit Squads Participation The sport ranks in the top 10 most popular girls programs in both number of participating schools and number of participants. 4,266 schools participate in Competitive Spirit Squads for girls, with 96,718 participants 433 schools participate in Competitive Spirit Squads for boys, with 2,846 participants For girls’ Competitive Spirit Squads, the top 3 states are: #1. North Carolina with 382 participating schools and 11,460 student members #2. California with 327 participating schools and 9,356 student members #3. Illinois with 298 participating schools and 8,331 student members In North Carolina, there are more competitive spirit squad participants than there are participants in either of the top 2 most popular girls programs, basketball and cross country! For boys’ Competitive Spirit Squads, the top 3 states are: #1. California with 113 participating schools and 470 student members #2. Arizona with 319 student members #3. Kentucky with 46 participating schools and 319 student members