The purpose of this study was two-fold in nature. First, this study sought to identify whether extracurricular participation for students in a rural, Grades 7-12 building created significant differences when examining academic performance, attendance, gender, lunch status, and student discipline compared to their non-participant peers. Secondly, this study examined the impact extracurricular participation, attendance, gender, lunch status, and discipline has on academic performance for rural students. These three factors were then compared to determine the overall rank-order of impact on academic performance. Based on this study, there was a significant difference between extracurricular participants and non-participants in language arts standardized testing performance. There was a significant difference between extracurricular participants and non-participants in mathematics standardized testing performance. There was a significant difference between extracurricular participants and non-participants on the number of days not in attendance. There was a significant difference between extracurricular participants and non-participants on the number of student discipline contacts. Extracurricular participation, attendance rate, and number of discipline contacts were significant predictors for language arts standardized assessment scores. Gender and lunch status were not significant predictors of language arts standardized testing performance. Extracurricular participation, attendance rate, and number of discipline contacts were significant predictors for mathematics standardized assessment scores. Gender and lunch status were not significant predictors of mathematics standardized testing performance. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]