Here’s what students grades 3-12 are getting from esports at Modesto City Schools

Students of various backgrounds and ethnicities cheer, clapping loudly wearing their esports jerseys as they enter the esports gaming lab. Large-screen gaming computers with lighted keyboards that change colors every few seconds are turned on and prepped to start. Half the students put on headsets and grow quiet, trying to strategize to win a “League of Legends” game, while the other half are louder as they try to defeat their opponents in “Overwatch II.” The lab is filled with chatter and the constant tapping of keys.

These teenagers, along with students gaming in the 34 Modesto City Schools campuses, are among the approximately 1,750 participants in an esports program launched by the district in spring 2022.

Esports, short for electronic sports, is competitive video gaming and is rising in popularity among GenZ.

In October 2021, two students from Davis and Modesto high schools approached district administration about creating after-school esports clubs. Modesto City Schools’ Information and Educational Technology Services staff began researching gaming clubs, and the principals at Modesto and Davis found a couple of teachers at each site willing to be club advisers.

By March 2022, a charter was approved to launch esports at all 34 schools for students in grades three through 12. A month later, a pilot esports program began at the Modesto and Davis High campuses.

“I believe esports is important to have in schools because it brings a new community of people together under one love,” Beyer High senior Izaac Maia said. “In school, it’s hard to make friends at first and it’s even harder to know if there are people out there that like the same thing as you. Having esports in the schools makes it easier to bring people together and to have a safe space to go after school or before.”

What skills, talents do esports teach students?

Modesto City Schools spokeswoman Linda Mumma Solorio said the district has heard from quite a few parents expressing gratitude for starting the esports program as they’ve seen a positive attitude change in their children. In addition, Solorio said high school and collegiate esports programs often may focus on academic and career development for students interested in the gaming industry, including game design, esports management, video production and broadcasting.

“Esports is more than just playing video games,” she said. “Esports provides other valuable skills, such as leadership, critical thinking, teamwork and communication. It can lead to college scholarships and careers after high school and college. More importantly, esports reaches students that traditional sports do not, it keeps them engaged in school and on track to graduate, and may lead to scholarships and intern opportunities in college.”

Organizations including the National Association of Collegiate Esports have given over $16 million toward esport scholarships and aid.

According to Statista, by 2025, there are expected to be over 318 million esport enthusiasts worldwide, up from 215.2 million in 2020.

The popularity has risen so much that in March, the International Olympic Committee worked to create the Olympic Esports Series 2023. In addition, the global esports market is projected to grow from $1.72 billion in 2023 to $6.75 billion by 2030, according to Fortune Business Insights.

What does the esports program in Modesto entail?

“Significant educational research points to the benefit of ‘interest-driven learning’ – essentially, the more interested you are in a topic, the more likely you are to learn about it and to retain the knowledge,” said Claire LaBeaux, chief marketing officer for the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federation. “We leverage massive interest in esports to teach life and career skills in a fun environment.”

There are two types of esports programs at Modesto City Schools: competitive teams for students in high school and open gaming labs for all students between third and 12th grades.

Students in third through eighth grades have esports as an afterschool activity called “Esports Jr.” Modesto is the only school district in California with junior esports teams — one at each elementary and middle school. Because of this, they compete among themselves.

For students in high school, open gaming labs are conducted before and after school. To participate on a competitive team, students need a parent or guardian to sign the Modesto City Schools Responsible Player Agreement. They also must attend weekly tournaments or practices and hold a minimum of a 2.0 GPA with good citizenship and attendance.

The high school competitive teams are part of the Central California Esports League, which has over 24 participating schools.

As for the games students play within the program, Modesto City Schools follows the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, also known as the ESRB rating. Students in grades three through eight are able to play only games rated “E for Everybody,” but students in high school may play games rated up to “T for Teens.” No student is allowed to play games rated “M for Mature”

Third- through sixth-graders are able to use the Nintendo Switch and play “Minecraft Education.” Seventh- and eighth-graders may use Nintendo Switch and play “Minecraft EDU,” “Rock League” and “Brawhalla.” Finally, students in high school may play “League of Legends,” “Rocket League”,“Valorant” and “Overwatch II”.

There are two competitive seasons for high school gamers. In the fall, esports participants play “League of Legends” and “Overwatch II.” In the winter, they will play “Rocket League” and “Valorant.”

“...If your child is gaming anyway, and most are, isn’t it better for them to develop relationships with schoolmates with similar interests rather than strangers, to be in a club environment with a coach, to evaluate and learn about career pathways? NASEF clubs offer all of that,” LaBeaux said.

Not everyone sees the value of esports. There are skeptics who worry increased time online can affect students negatively.

During the public comment period at an MCS Board of Education meeting in July, Gladys Williams expressed her wariness of esports and video gaming in schools

“We already do a lot of computer face time in the classroom and these kids are on these computers nonstop a lot,” Williams said. “I think we need to question: What is that doing to their social skills because they’re spending so much time in front of a computer?”

Angel Jimenez Sanchez, a senior at Davis High, participating in the esports program has improved his problem-solving skills and taught him patience, because people learn at their own pace.

How did esports come to Modesto?

It has been more than a year since MCS’s esports pilot program lifted off in July 2022. The program is funded by the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund for the initial hardware, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program funding for grades three through eight and LCAP funding for high school.

Claire Barros, a teacher at Davis High who also enjoys gaming, said the program has been transformative for her students.“Esports players have been working on how to critique another player’s play with positivity instead of belittling or demeaning,” Barros said. “They really want their team to win and try to find ways to support newer players with positive advice and inclusivity.”

The esports program rolled out for all schools during the 2022-23 school year.Thirteen schools have fully furnished gaming labs where students go to participate in activities on gaming computers and consoles. Those without the full lab go to the classroom of the coach.

In Modesto City Schools, around 79% of high school students participating in esports are not involved in any other school activity, according to a report by Chief Technology Officer Russ Selken and Director of Educational Technology Matthew Ketchum.

Richard Woodruff, the commissioner for the Central California Esports League, said as an autistic kid growing up, esports helped him. “It saved my life and helped me socially and emotionally,” he said. “That type of environment helped me to communicate.”

What’s the future hold for esports in Modesto?

As the second year of esports begins, the school district wants to focus on building career and technical skills in shoutcasting which is someone who commentates on esports, digital journalism, marketing, video production, streaming, game design, computer science and STEM.

Modesto City Schools plans to host parent and community game nights, host league tournaments and invite guest speakers in the game publishing and pro players field.

“I love that we are bringing esports to school and giving the kids who want to be professional gamers a chance,” said Maia, the Beyer senior. “I also love that I have an impact on whether or not we keep it in schools and possibly help raise funds for it in the future.”

As for Sanchez, the Davis High senior, his journey with esports will end once he graduates because he does not have access to a PC at home for gaming, and has other responsibilities to take care of, he said.

“I hope for the very best for everyone who has been there for me and others throughout the journey in esports,” he said. “I hope for them to have a successful future and for them to work hard, nothing comes easy, so I want them to push through hard times.”