Chronic absenteeism is a growing crisis in U.S. schools draining both instructional time and vital funding. But one surprising solution is making a measurable impact in New Jersey: scholastic esports.

A 2025 impact study conducted by Garden State Esports (GSE), an official Gameplan partner, and Monmouth University found that high school students participating in esports programs not only missed fewer days of school, but also helped districts recapture thousands in ADA funding, all while gaining future-ready skills in digital media, tech, and game design.

Here’s what the study revealed and how you can use esports to boost attendance and engagement in your district.

“Esports participation is associated with fewer absences and meaningful gains in instructional time.” - GSE Whitepaper, 2025

Esports Research: Real Gains in Attendance & Instructional Time

The study tracked 229 students at Barnegat, Carteret and Woodbury high schools. All three schools offered esports as a competitive after-school program, but their academic integration varied. Carteret fully adopted Gameplan’s CTE-aligned curriculum, Woodbury piloted select Gameplan modules within a locally developed course, and Barnegat focused solely on after-school competitive league play.

The results of esports in education were clear:

• Average absences dropped from 10.84 to 9.10 per student

• Schools regained 259.5 instructional days

• Schools recaptured $20,106 in attendance-based funding

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the results: 

Scholastic Esports Helped Schools Regain $20,000 in ADA Funding

Every student day equals about $77.48 in state funding in New Jersey. Schools face corrective action plans (CAPs) that drain time and resources when absenteeism passes 10%.

CTE esports curriculum programs tackle the problem of low engagement and chronic absenteeism, and introduces students to new career pathways that are aligned with their interests. CTE-aligned esports curriculum equips students with the skills necessary for high-demand, high-paying, and high-need jobs. Besides the technical skills, Esports helps students find their passion and interests and take control of their future setting them up for success.

With Scholastic Esports:

• Students find a direct path to the workforce

• Find community and motivation to show up and contribute

• Strengthen technical and strategic thinking tied to CTE pathways

• Reducing chronic absenteeism helps districts avoid costly Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)

How to Start Your Own High School Esports Program?

You can start small with one club, elective, after school program or an enrichment program using the resources available, and grow into a CTE-aligned esports program. When students feel connected, they will start showing up.

Gameplan’s esports curriculum is aligned with Arts, Entertainment, & Design CTE programs, ensuring students gain future-ready skills in high-need, high-wage careers. High School esports serves as a relevant context to introduce these skills, while industry partnerships provide students with hands-on learning, certifications, and real-world experience in competitive fields.

Gameplan makes your setup simple: 

• Full educator support and PD

• Workforce-aligned certifications

• Standards-aligned CTE Curriculum

• Teacher-ready LMS tools for lesson delivery, grading, and progress tracking

90% of future jobs will require digital skills. Let’s make sure your students have them. 

Download the Full Research Whitepaper

See how three NJ high schools used esports to improve attendance and reclaim over $20K in ADA funding.

Esports in education is more than playing video games,  it’s a pathway to better attendance, stronger engagement, and workforce readiness.

Want the full details of how New Jersey Schools made it work? Download the whitepaper to access the full year-long study and implementation insights. ⬇️

Or, Schedule a 15 minute call with us to explore starting your own high school esports program.

*Source: Dennis & Raj, “The Impact of Scholastic Esports on Student Attendance: Year 1, Evidence from Three New Jersey High Schools Participating in Garden State Esports”, 2025