Preparatory schools offer a variety of athletic experiences for young men and women, including cross country and track, swimming, volleyball, soccer, golf, wrestling, basketball, baseball and softball, tennis, rowing, lacrosse, and even bowling. Such athletics help students build teamwork skills, discipline, and a well-rounded resume for college. They also help students build healthy lifelong habits of regular exercise and eating well. At most preparatory schools, students try out for teams and compete within their district, state, and even nation. Preparatory schools know that a strong athletic record can help students get into college.
Many students in prep schools have the opportunity to take music classes and private lessons, visual arts courses, and participate in theater and performance. All of these arts activities can take the form of both academics and extracurricular activities. There are even preparatory schools that focus exclusively on artistic endeavors, such as the Denver School of the Arts. Involvement in preparatory school arts programs can help students get into an arts program in college or provide them with a well-rounded resume for any college education.
Students in preparatory schools can participate in their own chapters of national organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, Oxfam, Rebuilding Together and Kapnek Trust. Other organizations include chess clubs, fencing clubs, art clubs, yearbook, and National Honor Society. These organizations provide opportunities for student leadership through officer positions and managing projects. Many of them also fall under the realm of community service, so that students not only earn leadership experience, but service experience as well. Student government is also an option, through which students can run for office and participate in a democratic decision-making process within their prep school. Students have opportunities to create their own projects and organizations too, as shown by Brehm Prep School students, who created their own recycling program.
Campus student services at prep schools provide opportunities and assistance to help students succeed. Greystone Preparatory School, for example, offers a campus activity center that includes a fitness center, conference center, and recreation area for students. Many prep schools offer counseling and medical centers for student health. Tutoring and academic services provide academic aid for students, while the financial aid office helps with money matters. There is also often a chapel for campus worship and ministry, should students choose to participate. Greystone Preparatory School even has a "free speech area" in which students are allowed to demonstrate and speak. Every campus differs, but many preparatory schools offer these services and more.