Private Schools in the State Tournament

htownclone · 03-10-2008, 09:38 AM

I haven't seen any threads about this, but...

If you followed the Boys State Basketball Tournament this last week, you probably noticed the large number of private schools participating. 1A, 2A, 3A champs were all private schools. In fact, the semifinals in 2A were 3/4 private schools.

Now I have NOTHING against private schools. I have some friends who teach at private schools and I have family members that went to private schools. However I do have a problem with the fact that the same rules don't apply to both private and public schools. So why do they play each other at state in the same class?

If you look at all the state qualifiers and the champions of recent years, a ridiculous percentage of them are private schools. But the ratio of private schools to public schools in Iowa is nothing near the ratio of private schools to public in the state tournament every year. (I tried to find some numbers online and didn't have any luck.) I know HS recruiting is a touchy subject, but most people are aware and will admit to it occuring.

I'm not saying this is always the case either. I think there are private schools that really focus on athletics and work hard to achieve what they have. I know there are players on the state championship teams this year who have probably been there since elementary school too. I also think parental involvement is a factor in the private schools.

I don't want to name any schools or players who it seems this applies to. I also want to make it clear I'm not ripping on private schools at all...I just want to hear some other people's opinions on the topic.

Is it fair that private and public schools play together at state?

Should private schools have their own state tournaments?

Maybe a small school and large school class for private schools?

tec71 · 03-10-2008, 09:43 AM

1A is not private. Common misperception, but still not private.

htownclone · 03-10-2008, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by tec71

1A is not private. Common misperception, but still not private.

NUH is not? My mistake if that is so

.

JonDMiller · 03-10-2008, 09:46 AM

I think that you look at some of the socioeconomic aspects of private schools, and you will find families that earn more money. That opens up a greater likelihood of extensive AAU involvement, or nicer training facilities, apparatuses at home, at school, etc.

tigershoops31 · 03-10-2008, 09:48 AM

Yeah I think you're right that something should change...not saying every private school recruits kids but it is available to them where it is not at public schools, meaning they have an advantage. I don't know what the breakdown is on numbers of private schools and whether that could justify their own state tournament, but maybe it would be more fair to make them play up a class if they are a private school. Might level the playing field a bit.

Hilz4cy · 03-10-2008, 09:53 AM

Doesn't Minn. push these Private "cheater" schools up a class during tourney time to "level" the playing field, so to speak?

cybsball20 · 03-10-2008, 09:54 AM

It's really not the SCHOOLS that are recruiting kids to private schools as much as the parents and players at those schools. My wife was a pretty high profile HS player at a Cedar Rapids school and a number of the girls she played AAU with went to Xavier. The kids and parents were often encouraging her to transfer to Xavier, not once did the coaches actively recruit her. The same thing happened with my brother and Dowling. He played Perfect Game with alot of the Dowling kids and they often tried to convince him to transfer...

jumbopackage · 03-10-2008, 09:55 AM

I know in Indiana, private schools are not allowed in tournaments at ALL. I was really surprised to find that they are here when I moved.

I don't think private schools belong in the public school infrastructure at all, especially in terms of athletics.

HGPuck · 03-10-2008, 10:02 AM

Yeah I think that most if not all the time it is parents that do the recruiting through AAU and the like. I know of at least one public school that this is the case for basketball just as much as the private schools. Not to get into details but it is not the easiest for the coaches or schools in a lot of cases.

cyfanatic · 03-10-2008, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Hilz4cy

Doesn't Minn. push these Private "cheater" schools up a class during tourney time to "level" the playing field, so to speak?

I believe there was a strong debate about this in Illinois regarding football. I believe public schools were upset that Mt Carmel was so strong in football and wanted schools like Mr Carmel moved to a higher class. Not sure if that ever happenend though...

htownclone · 03-10-2008, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by tigershoops31

Yeah I think you're right that something should change...not saying every private school recruits kids but it is available to them where it is not at public schools, meaning they have an advantage. I don't know what the breakdown is on numbers of private schools and whether that could justify their own state tournament, but maybe it would be more fair to make them play up a class if they are a private school. Might level the playing field a bit.

Exactly, because IMO it's not right now.

Whin4Cy · 03-10-2008, 10:33 AM

Minnesota uses size for its classifications:
Method Determining Classification

Also, they have "opt-ups" for schools. But, I don't think they differ between private and public.

mpolley · 03-10-2008, 10:37 AM

I believe Illinois moves the privates schools up a class now. I think that should be looked at in Iowa also. In football this year (Iowa) I believe 3 of the 4 teams in the finals in A and 1A (or maybe 1A and 2A) where private schools.

jbhtexas · 03-10-2008, 10:42 AM

In Texas, things are separated. Most private schools are a member of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

wartknight · 03-10-2008, 10:44 AM

Illinois has a 1.65 multiplier for private schools.
If a kid's parents think there is value in paying for their kids education on top of them already paying property taxes, more power to them.
I tell you this, If I was paying 7 grand a year to send my kid to private school, I would be darn sure she was getting the best of everything, music, academics, athletics, speech....anything.