Yes, I agree that recruiting can be an issue for private schools, as they have to recruit every single student in the entire school to come and pay tuition if they want to survive.
The advantage you speak of is just not backed up by the results. ESPECIALLY in class A. Two private school champions in I don’t know how long. 18 plus years? Western Iowa public schools have been dominant in class A for a number of years. What has been their advantage? Other than good athletes and coaching?There is a socioeconomic advantage for private schools, especially in the smaller classes. Which means those kids are involved in more activities like youth sports. Recruiting is rarely the problem, except in a case like Grand View.
I don't want Iowa becoming like other states with a bunch of Prep Academies dominating.
To say there is no advantages for private schools is uninformed in my opinion.
I've still never heard a solid argument against the obvious socioeconomic advantages that private schools have from anyone ever. We could go on all day, but there is an obvious advantage, and it's not recruiting. Is it enough for a multiplier? Will the lazy IAHSAA ever care enough to talk about it anyways? That will be a whole thread of it's own and I don't have the time or energy for that.
I think people forget that most private schools don't have special needs students whereas public schools do and these are included in the BEDS numbers. Doubtful it is a great number though but they are included in BEDS.
Public vs private in state tourney this year.
1A
2A
- Quarters: 4 public, 4 private
- Semis: 1 public, 3 private
- Final: 1 public, 1 private
3A
- Quarters: 7 public, 1 private
- Semis: 4 public, 0 private
- Final: 2 public, 0 private
4A
- Quarters: 7 public, 1 private
- Semis: 3 public, 1 private
- Final: 2 public, 0 private
All classes
- Quarters: 8 public, 0 private
- Semis: 4 public, 0 private
- Final: 2 public 0 private (semis not completed at time of posting but I'm fairly confident on this one)
(Note: fairly certain 1A field is very unusual this year with 4 private schools. Last year only 2. If course, some years 2A & 3A have more private schools.)
- Quarters: 26 public, 6 private
- Semis: 12 public, 4 private
- Finals: 7 public, 1 private
It's more than you think. The makeup of students who are even able to go out for sports at a public school is far less than the makeup of students who are able to go out for sports at private schools. Add that in with the fact that most of the private schools that dominate the smallest 3 classes in Iowa come from the big cities (Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Sioux City, etc..), and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the massive head start the private schools get.
Well, don't forget all the kids who go to private schools strictly for academics and never consider playing a sport. Be sure to subtract them from the pool if that's what we're doing.
That's not what we're doing. How are those kids at all like mentally disabled kids who the public schools must accept? I'm talking about kids that aren't capable of playing sports even if they wanted to.
Me too.
Are you? You specifically said "the kids who go to private schools strictly for academics and never consider playing a sport."
Yes, some don't appear to be capable of playing sports even if they wanted to.
Correlation =/= causationResearch also shows the STRONG correlation between free and reduced lunch numbers and success in HS sports. Which again is where the private schools have their biggest advantage. All multipliers should focus on those numbers in my opinion. Regardless if you are private or public.
Ok, maybe I should expand this so you understand a little better. I am specifically talking about special needs children.
Is the argument that the requirement to care for those with special needs creates a financial strain that prevents the public schools from committing as many funds to athletic programs? What is the argument about BEDS numbers contributing to an athletic disadvantage (or lower BEDS numbers creating an athletic advantage)? I'm not seeing the dots to connect, but maybe I'm missing something.That's not what we're doing. How are those kids at all like mentally disabled kids who the public schools must accept? I'm talking about kids that aren't capable of playing sports even if they wanted to.
OK, but the school my kids attend (Pella Christian) has about 25 international students this year, and none of them contribute in a meaningful way to any sports team. Because they are students, they count on the BEDS numbers. And, by the way, they also are very willing to accept special needs students, but many select the local public school - an excellent academic option - because of the resources available there.He's saying by adding those 5 kids to the BEDS count, it makes maybe one or two schools have to play 2A instead of 1A...
I blame all the teams/communities that are feeders (or suburbs) of major metropolitan areas in our state..........There is a socioeconomic advantage for private schools, especially in the smaller classes. Which means those kids are involved in more activities like youth sports. Recruiting is rarely the problem, except in a case like Grand View.
I don't want Iowa becoming like other states with a bunch of Prep Academies dominating.
To say there is no advantages for private schools is uninformed in my opinion.
Lineage of really tall people that are groomed to be deeply motivated by sports in a very un-rural-like manner...........perhaps?The advantage you speak of is just not backed up by the results. ESPECIALLY in class A. Two private school champions in I don’t know how long. 18 plus years? Western Iowa public schools have been dominant in class A for a number of years. What has been their advantage? Other than good athletes and coaching?
I'm not going to read that article, but what are the size of those states compared to Iowa?Best article I've read on this issue that is effecting many states, not just Iowa. 21 states employ a multiplier or are planning on implementing one. I think it was just 8 states a few years back that used a multiplier. This comes from the NFHS
https://www.nfhs.org/articles/states-continue-to-address-competitive-balance-of-schools/
Don't forget the suburbs....It's more than you think. The makeup of students who are even able to go out for sports at a public school is far less than the makeup of students who are able to go out for sports at private schools. Add that in with the fact that most of the private schools that dominate the smallest 3 classes in Iowa come from the big cities (Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Sioux City, etc..), and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the massive head start the private schools get.
Besides Heelan and Xavier, who else? I'd be fascinated to see how that would work.....What we're arguing for is that more of the private schools should be in 4A.
He's saying by adding those 5 kids to the BEDS count, it makes maybe one or two schools have to play 2A instead of 1A...
Besides Heelan and Xavier, who else? I'd be fascinated to see how that would work.....
You do realize 13 percent of public school children are special needs, no?
In rural (1A, 2A) Iowa? That would surprise me...
You mean the 2 percent of all private schools that win State titles (Xavier, Heelan used to, Western, Regina, and Dowling in football). Punish the whole lot for the actions of these few.After a proper multiplier is put in place I think Xavier will move up to 4A, and Heelan too probably. I'd imagine Regina would be getting close to 3A, but it all depends on what the multiplier is. Some schools may not move up at all. Most multipliers would make for example a small 3A school into just a bigger 3A school, boys' basketball wise. With the 5 classes in the girls' union, teams would move around more. So it just all depends on how big the multiplier and if the student population is up or down.
I think a nice sized multiplier would be a happy medium between making all the private schools have their own class, and continuing to let the like 2 percent of schools that are private win half the state titles.
And remember that Western, as a 2A school in a 1A town (whose public school has won multiple titles too) blows a lot of the "privates aren't fair" arguments out of the water.You mean the 2 percent of all private schools that win State titles (Xavier, Heelan used to, Western, Regina, and Dowling in football). Punish the whole lot for the actions of these few.
Btw, I like how "wishful-thinking" you got with your post.
Especially when they can get kids from South Dakota.And remember that Western, as a 2A school in a 1A town (whose public school has won multiple titles too) blows a lot of the "privates aren't fair" arguments out of the water.
Hah! Western does have 1 SD kid enrolled.............but his only sport is rodeo.Especially when they can get kids from South Dakota.