Involving U.S. students in community service activities is one of the objectives established under the third National Education Goal for the year 2000, which seeks to prepare students for responsible citizenship. Trends suggest that the percentage of U.S. high school seniors who participated in community affairs or voluntary work in any given year was relatively stable from the mid-1970's through the early 1990's, and the percentage of students aged 12 through 17 who volunteered in 1995 was similar to the percentage who volunteered in 1991. However, schools appear to have become more interested in promoting community service. In 1984, 27 percent of high schools offered community service opportunities to their students, and by 1999, over 80 percent of public high schools were doing so. Students in grades 11 and 12 were more likely to participate in community service activities than students in grades 6 through 10 for both 1996 and 1999. Females were more likely than males to participate, as were those whose primary language was English. Students in church related private schools were more likely to participate in community service. Parents' highest level of education was positively associated with community service. (Contains 14 references and 3 tables.) (LB)