While athletic teams and individuals in the North Kitsap School District had another successful year of accomplishments, its recently released Title IX report shows there is a 7% difference in total gender participation with girl athletes underrepresented.

The report shows the difference in sports participation between boys (58%) and girls (42%) based on overall school gender data, NKSD documents read. The rate is disproportionate to the district’s overall female student enrollment at the secondary level, currently 49%. 2021 data showed a 10% discrepancy, 2022 4%, and 2023 5%.

An additional 239 female participants are needed to reach equal proportionality across the secondary schools. Participation has returned to pre-pandemic levels of 2018-19. NKSD did not introduce any new programs last school year, but its offerings for boys and girls to play sports remains equal, per NKSD. A decrease in female turnout for high school track, basketball, cross country and swimming was noticed in 2021, 2022 and continued for 2023.

Potential remedies include identifying potential new female sport opportunities and/or reducing offerings for male “C” team sports. North Kitsap High School has a girls flag football club and Kingston High School plans to have a club in 2024. It is not considered a sport as the WIAA did not approve it as one.

NKSD school board president Mike Desmond said at the governing body’s June 27 meeting that the numbers are a little misleading since they don’t include the district’s cheerleading/dance participants since the Office of Civil Rights doesn’t recognize those as sports.