How to Improve a School Club: Practical Tips That Work

Want your school club to be more than just a box to check off? Start by asking the people who matter most—the members. A quick online poll or a few sticky notes on a classroom wall can reveal a lot about what everyone actually wants. Maybe folks are bored with the same old activities, or maybe meetings are dragging on with too much talking and not enough doing. Listening to what your members are saying (and not saying) is the easiest way to spot what needs fixing.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to do everything the way it's always been done. Even small changes can shake things up. Change your meeting location to somewhere unexpected, set up friendly competitions, or let different people lead parts of a meeting. The goal is to make the club feel like something everyone owns—not just the president or the teacher sponsor.

• Figure Out What Members Want
• Mix Up Meetings and Activities
• Make Leadership a Team Thing
• Spread the Word and Grow

Figure Out What Members Want

Before making changes to your after-school club, check in with your members. If you skip this step, you could end up planning stuff nobody wants to do. The easiest way? Ask direct questions: What makes you excited about the club? What would you change? What’s missing? You’ll get more honest answers with anonymous surveys—Google Forms and Microsoft Forms are both free and super easy to use.

If people aren’t sharing ideas, try this: use sticky notes or a quick brainstorm session. Give everyone two minutes to jot down ideas or complaints. Then talk through them as a group. Sometimes the best feedback comes out when it isn’t on the spot or super formal.

Watch for clues outside of surveys, too. Are more folks playing on their phones than paying attention? That’s a huge signal your meetings need a refresh. Plus, the most engaged clubs usually share one thing: school club improvement efforts that come from inside the group, not just from the top down. The more your members feel heard, the more they’ll show up and join in.

• Use regular check-ins, like a monthly "what’s working, what’s not" chat.
• Let everyone vote on upcoming activities or meeting themes.
• Bring snacks or let people pick the music—it’s amazing what little ownership does for motivation.

When you focus on what your members really want, you’ll spot quick wins and deeper issues at the same time. This isn’t one-and-done—keep checking in so your club stays relevant and fun.

Mix Up Meetings and Activities

If your meetings feel like a snooze, you’re definitely not alone. Students in over 70% of after-school clubs say they want more variety and energy in what they do (Source: National Afterschool Association, 2023).

Break up the routine—switch the agenda, location, or activity every now and then. Even something as simple as having a meeting outside or doing a group brainstorm on a whiteboard can spark new ideas. Instead of sticking with the classic "updates and announcements" model, throw in:

• Team challenges or trivia games connected to your club’s focus
• Workshops where someone teaches a new skill (could even bring in a guest speaker for a Q&A)
• Service projects or club-wide competitions
• Mini field trips, even if it’s just a walk around the school to get inspired

Don’t forget food. It might sound obvious, but a snack table can make meetings something members actually look forward to. In a 2022 survey, clubs that offered snacks saw up to 30% higher attendance throughout the year.

Here’s a quick look at activities and how they affect club engagement, based on a real survey of school clubs:

Bottom line: mix things up regularly and your school club improvement plan will start working fast. Ask members for their ideas, rotate the fun stuff, and you’ll hold everyone’s attention longer—no magic tricks needed.

Make Leadership a Team Thing

Clubs work way better when leadership isn't just about one or two people in charge. Instead, split the work so lots of people get involved. This doesn’t mean every decision drags on forever—it simply creates more buy-in and less stress for club heads. The school club improvement process is a lot smoother when members actually want to step up.

There's actual research showing this works. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) found clubs with shared leadership increase participation by up to 30%. When more people get to plan events, run meetings, and lead side projects, they’re way more likely to stay interested and spread excitement to others.

"When students have real tasks in club leadership, not just fancy titles, you see happier and more engaged clubs." – Dr. Emily Foster, School Activities Advisor, NASSP

The easiest way to get this going? Break big roles into smaller tasks. You can try job rotations, mini-teams for specific events, or simple committees like:

• Social Media Crew (handles Instagram or TikTok updates)
• Event Planners (plans one-off or monthly events)
• New Member Buddies (helps welcome new faces)
• Fundraising Team (finds creative ways to raise cash for the club)

Here’s a simple table showing benefits that schools commonly report when they switch from a traditional single-leader model to a shared leadership model:

Handing over small bits of responsibility also prepares members for bigger jobs next year. If your club usually scrambles to find new leaders, this is a game-changer. And the best part? The work actually gets done, meetings run smoother, and no one feels like they're just tagging along for the ride.

Spread the Word and Grow

If you want your club to take off, you can’t just hang one poster in the hallway and hope for the best. These days, smart clubs get noticed because they mix a bunch of ways to reach students where they’re already paying attention.

First, get your club on social media. According to Pew Research Center, about 95% of teens have access to a smartphone and over 70% use platforms like Instagram or TikTok every day. Even a single club post with fun photos or a short challenge can get people talking. Don’t skip school-based platforms—schools with digital boards or email newsletters can get the word out fast without you doing everything by hand.

But social posts aren’t magic by themselves. Clubs need a vibe. Open meetings or try-it-out sessions give people a no-pressure way to check things out, especially when there are snacks or games. Some schools even saw a 30% growth in club sign-ups after holding a “Club Rush” with every group showing off their best moment at lunch. If your school hosts one, don’t just stand behind a table. Bring something to catch attention—maybe a selfie booth or a quick demo.

• Feature real members’ stories or projects in morning announcements.
• Make short video clips of recent activities and put them on the club’s social or school platforms.
• Work with teachers to give little shout-outs to students who show up consistently or bring friends.

The more students see that joining isn’t a big deal, the easier it becomes to add members—especially if your group looks like it’s having a good time. Don't underestimate the classic, too: word of mouth. According to a 2023 survey of high schoolers, 60% joined their club after a friend invited them personally.

Here’s a quick look at how different ways of spreading the word actually helped clubs boost their numbers last year:

So, if you want your school club improvement strategy to work, use as many different ways as you can, make it easy to join, and make it fun to stick around. That’s how clubs really grow.