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It is often portrayed in famous high school movies that jocks only care about their sport and popularity, but the reality is far from it. According to an article in the Star Tribune, 99% of the senior athletes that attended Minneapolis Public Schools graduates from high school. Student athletes in Minneapolis have to meet the GPA requirement that is set at 2.0 in order to continue playing their sport. South athletes are on top of their performance both in school and on the field.

Over the years there have been controversial opinions about the GPA requirements for student athletes. Some say it's a motivation and some claim it's taking away the real meaning of what school is for.

Having this requirement might result in students not going to school to learn, but rather to meet a certain point and play a sport. Some would respond that having this requirement helps keep students in school, and if it weren't for the requirement the students might not even be in school.

"Not everyone is motivated by academics, not everyone cares about their grades...I think if a lot of students didn't have sports then maybe they wouldn't be going to school at all, even if they are only here to play sports, and they are only keeping their grades up so that they can keep playing sports," said Tori Tomlinson, the varsity volleyball coach at South. "That's better than not doing either of those things."

Tori Tomlinson works at the Check and Connect office during school hours. She has been coaching for seven seasons, and the two seasons have been at South. Tomlinson coached in Oregon for three years and then South St Paul high school for another two years before coming to South. She was a student-athlete herself when she was in high school and college.

Even though the stress level for school is high enough especially during finals season, the student-athletes at South are putting in as much effort as they can into their academics. Sports are known for being healthy and getting students fit but for some people, it might mean a little more than that. Sports are the places where they build their friendships, it's where they got to know their schools and most importantly it can be a counseling tool.

For many students, school work, social life, and life in general can be really stressful and overwhelming, but student athletes have the privilege to take out every worry they have in their minds and do what they love for a couple of hours each day. Practices and games are the highlights of their days.

"It was a good stress relief too. As hard as it was managing your time, at the same time you can really have a bad day of school and then you get to play a sport for a couple of hours to get your frustration out and be active instead of going home and moping," said Tomlinson.

On the other side, let's not forget the hard work that student athletes put in to stay on top of their sports and school. From late night games to two-hour practices, students have to find time in their day to do school work.

"It's kind of hard actually, because you have games and then you get home at like 9:30 at night and then you have done an hour of homework and then you still have to be able to get enough sleep, which is...it's a lot," said senior athlete Rose Lutz. "If we have a game then I will just try to do my homework during JV and freshman team games or otherwise I will just do it after practice."

Lutz has been successful in both school and sports. She plays varsity for both volleyball and basketball. She has been an athlete since in high school since she was a freshman and has learned many ways to balance her time so it would fit her sports and school work.

"I think it's important for students to maintain a 2.0 GPA cause it's the bare minimum, I mean it's a C+," said athletic director Brett McNeal. "But I also think that what we are trying to communicate to students is that they are student athletes, you are a student first, you just happen to participate in extra curricular activity."

McNeal is the Athletic Director at South this year. He was previously the athletic director at Edison high school in northeast Minneapolis. McNeal played basketball throughout high school and college (division one). He also has experiences with coaching at many schools.

Studies by the University of Kansas showed that student-athletes attended school with a higher percentage than non student-athletes. If students want to meet the required GPA then they have to attend their classes and actually engage in their lessons.

In the Minneapolis School district, 99% of the student athletes graduate as opposed to 64.3% overall graduates in high school. These studies show that even though all the doubts with the stress level for student athletes they are still having graduation rates near perfect.

Playing sports have helped students in addition to just their academics grades. It helps them connect with the school, be more involved. "It's something I always liked to do, it's part of my life now, I guess I wouldn't really know what I would do without sports and I think it's helped me make friends," explained Lutz.

The final big advantage that students who participate in sports get to learn how to deal with multiple responsibilities. It prepares them for what they have to do once they are outside of high school and while in high school too.

"I have gotten better at time management, especially during my junior year when I had like two hours of homework, [skills that she learned from being a student athlete] definitely helped me get my work ethic done because I had to be doing homework anytime I was not doing sports, I guess now senior year when I have less homework than when I did last year, it carried over the work ethic," Lutz said.

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GPA requirement for sports helps students shine

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It is often portrayed in famous high school movies that jocks only care about their sport and popularity, but the reality is far from it. According to an article in the Star Tribune, 99% of the senior athletes that attended Minneapolis Public Schools graduates from high school.

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High school student athletes have a few requirements that they must meet to be eligible to play sports. However, maybe the most important of them all would be their grade point average. Athletes' GPA must be higher than a 2.0 or a C average. A 2.0 is way too low, and it should be raised.

Playing a sport in high school is something that takes a lot of time, and it can be hard to make time to study and do homework, but it can be done. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) is in charge of this GPA and have to power to change it. They are holding student athletes to a low standard that is quite sad. Athletes know they can get through high school by doing the bare minimum and still play sports; but when it comes to playing sports in college their GPAs would be way too low to get accepted into a college.

The NCHSAA should raise the minimum GPA to at least a 2.5 so the athletes will begin to focus more on school and not just athletics. Having these student athletes' GPAs raised by just half a point will help many of them get into college on an athletic scholarship.

There are more requirements than just a GPA: you must pass English class and move onto

the next grade level. And they have to pass a total of five classes throughout the year. For student athletes at Athens Drive that means they could fail three classes and still play a sport. If someone fails three classes, they should not be able to play in the upcoming season. If it was up to me, I would make sure if an athlete fails one class, they should not be able to play a sport.

College coaches that talk to high school coaches that are looking to recruit a player always ask the same question. They ask how their grades are. If a coach hears that the player has less than a 2.5 or even a 3.0, they will not even consider to further the recruiting process. I know this through my recruiting experience. My team's head coach first question was about my grades, and even though my GPA is higher than a 3.0, he still wanted to push me to get it nearly a 4.0. All the time I hear these guys say how bad they want to play at the college level but cannot due to their low GPAs. It is almost sad to think that these players have so much talent but throw it all away by not working hard in the classroom.

However, I see why people think it is a bad idea to make the GPA requirement higher or change the amount of classes they must pass because they think that not enough people will play sports. If student athletes really cared about the sport they play then they would work really hard to maintain the GPA they require to play the sport. But the major question is: What is more important, academics or athletics? Most people would say academics because that is what gets students into a good college and that is then what gets someone a respectable job.

Raising the GPA requirement would force athletes that really care about the sport to focus more on school instead of the sport they play. The NCHSAA should consider raising the minimum GPA for student athletes to play sports because it would force the athletes to focus more on their school work instead of just the sport they play.

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Minimum GPA for High School Athletes Too Low

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High school student athletes have a few requirements that they must meet to be eligible to play sports. However, maybe the most important of them all would be their grade point average. Athletes' GPA must be higher than a 2.0 or a C average. A 2.0 is way too low, and it should be raised....

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The Cumberland County Board of Education on Tuesday night voted unanimously to suspend an academic requirement for high school students to play sports and participate in other extracurricular activities.

Citing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the board waived components of a policy that requires students to maintain a certain grade point average and attendance rate to take part in various school-based activities.

The changes mean players in fall sports and winter sports will not be required to have a 2.0 GPA from the previous semester of high school. But winter-sports athletes, who compete into the second semester, could be required to meet the grade requirement for the second semester unless the board takes further action.

Under the policy, students were required to maintain a 2.0 GPA or minimum of a 70 for the previous semester, in addition to missing no more than 54 class periods with a daily attendance of at least 85%.
Education amid pandemic: Cumberland County School board unanimously approves mask mandate
Cumberland County Schools has long required the 2.0 rule for sports and other extracurricular activities. The N.C. High School Athletic Association requires athletes to pass a set number of classes, depending on the student's schedule.

"The biggest thing for me, particularly through COVID, they got it right and they figured out there was one group that was being held to a higher standard than everybody else," Pine Forest football coach Bill Sochovka said.

"When you have a kid who just had a bad semester, and he can't play but he was getting academic interest from colleges, there's something wrong."

Coaches told The Fayetteville Observer on Tuesday, ahead of the vote, that sports and other extracurricular programs help keep students engaged and coming to school.

As students prepare to start the 2021-22 school year, coaches noted the challenges that many students continue to face because of the virus.

"When you look at the overall scheme with attendance, and kids' mental health was a big issue, kids had to work and they were trying to do their best. ... Across the board, there were issues," Sochovka said.

"I just think that the county is finally realizing that there's bigger issues here and they realize how important sports are to kids and keeping them actively involved.

"I'll probably get 10 more kids out here that couldn't play before. They had the grade but might have had absences. I'm just glad that we were able to get it right and they can take a look at it again when they have to."

In the previous school year, students mostly took virtual classes with little in-person instruction. A number of Cumberland County Schools students also did not have internet access, and some coaches told The Fayetteville Observer that their athletes had to become caregivers for younger siblings or parents when schools closed.

"I think it's a good decision for the sake of the kids, considering the type of hardship and trauma that students have had the past couple years due to COVID," Cape Fear tennis coach Chris Lucas said.

"I think it's important to do whatever possible to get the kids back on track, and if that means matching the state standards for GPA to get them back on teams in sports - to get them back on track and give them motivation - I think that's a good start."

Pandemic and sports: 'COVID's still real': UNC coach Mack Brown hopeful, wary as normalcy returns to practice

During the 2020-21 school year, Lucas, an AP history teacher, saw a dip in student performance due to the virus-related challenges.

"I teach predominantly AP classes and what's interesting is I had kids in my AP class from the previous year ... kids that were A-B (grade) students were now struggling to pass," Lucas said.

"Vice versa, there were some that thrived in the virtual setting, but students did struggle. The focus does need to be on getting kids back on track and giving them a sense of normalcy while being as safe as possible with the proper safety protocols."

The Curriculum Committee of the Cumberland County Board of Education approved the administration's recommendation to waive Board Policy 3620 at the Aug. 3 committee meeting.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com. Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. Click the "subscribe'' link at the top of this article.
Stacey Wilson-Norman, Chief Academic Officer, and CCS athletics director David Culbreth spearheaded the presentation that led to Tuesday's vote by the school board.

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Cumberland County school board temporarily waives 2.0 GPA rule for high school athletes

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The Cumberland County Board of Education on Tuesday night voted unanimously to suspend an academic requirement for high school students to play sports and participate in other extracurricular activities. Citing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the board waived components of a policy that requires students to maintain a certain grade point average and attendance rate to take part in various school-based activities.

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In August, Coach and Athletic Director asked readers whether students should be required to maintain a 2.0 GPA to participate in interscholastic sports. Some schools have lowered their standards for student-athletes, and while some agreed the move was necessary, most believed a 'C' average should be the minimum requirement.

Here are the results of our poll, along with some of the responses.

* Just as it is stated, they are student-athletes. I've been a coach for 42 years and a head coach for 34 of those years with lots of success and I believe in school first, because a vast majority of athletes go on to be everyday fathers with jobs and they have to fall back on their education to make it day to day. Most of my top athletes were great students that I could depend on day after day.

* Absolutely. The STUDENT-athletes are going to school for an education. Athletics are secondary and a privilege. If a STUDENT-athlete graduates from high school receiving less than satisfactory grades, he/she does not understand the material and thus has not received a quality education to help make them a productive member of society. Schools can produce all the student-ATHLETES they want, although if they can't read or write, what's the point? I understand the view point of athletics may be the only thing keeping some students in school, yet the primary objective of a school is education. Schools are not solely a playground.

* Torn on this question, however, maybe and 2.3 - 2.5, just because it helps build a focus. The argument against, as always, "this is all they have" just doesn't cut it. If sports is all they have then others in their lives have been the culprits, not the schools. We're not always to blame.

* 3 A's and 3 F's equal a 2.0 in a 6-period day. Hypothetically, that kid would always be eligible, but would not be a high school graduate.

* This is an arbitrary standard. Course rigor & college readiness is what should be the focus. Taking a AP physics class and getting a D should not prevent a student from a co-curricular opportunity.

* These young men and women need to depend on their education, why should we make them "settle"to achieve for mediocrity in the classroom but perfection in their sport?

* This is a C, the level all students should be able to attain by giving every course their best effort. I don't want an athlete with a lower GPA because if they are not willing to give 100% in the classroom how can I expect them to give 100% to my team? I really hope schools don't start letting athletes fall below this standard.

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Survey: Should athletes be required to maintain 2.0 GPA?

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In August, Coach and Athletic Director asked readers whether students should be required to maintain a 2.0 GPA to participate in interscholastic sports. Some schools have lowered their standards for student-athletes, and while some agreed the move was necessary, most believed a 'C' average should be the minimum requirement.

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: The NCAA Eligibility Center Impact of COVID-19 on NCAA eligibility extended its COVID-19 initial eligibility policies for student-athletes who initially enroll full-time during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. Students who intend to play D1 or D2 sports won't be required to take the ACT or SAT by the NCAA. Students are also allowed to use pass/fail grades for core courses through the 2021-22 academic year. To keep track of updates that will impact eligibility for current and future recruiting classes, NCSA will continue to share information on our coronavirus resources page.

The NCAA does not use the GPA listed on your transcripts; instead, it calculates your GPA using only NCAA-approved core courses. Every year, student-athletes are declared academically ineligible, not because they didn't have the grades to achieve the minimum GPA, but instead took the wrong courses and didn't know it until it was too late.

We strongly suggest you meet with your high school counselor and go through the NCAA GPA Worksheet. Below we break down all the information you need to know to be prepared for that meeting.

Common scenarios to watch out for

Assuming that because you have the GPA to be eligible in high school that you're automatically NCAA eligible. Often times, recruits will take a few easier courses to pad their GPA, but those won't be used to determine their core course GPA.

Not passing a class early in high school and assuming you can make it up later - The NCAA "locks in" your first 10 core courses after your junior year of high school. 7 of these core courses must be in English, math or natural/physical science. If you failed or got a low grade in an important class early in high school, make sure you retake that class before the end of your junior year. This core course progression is required for D1 programs.

Assuming that because you have good grades, you will be eligible - Many honors students will take advanced classes that might not be on the NCAA approved list for their school. Always double check with your high school counselor to make sure you are on track to be eligible.

Your high school doesn't have a list of NCAA-approved courses - If you are going to a nontraditional high school, your school might not have a list of NCAA-approved core courses. In this scenario, the NCAA will do a full academic review of your courses and conduct a high school account review.

You're an international student-athlete - other than Canadian provinces, few schools outside of the U.S. have core-course lists. International student-athletes should review the NCAA's Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility to make sure they remain eligible.

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What GPA do you need to be eligible for the NCAA?

Ultimately, the minimum GPA you will need to be NCAA eligible is dependent on where you fall on the NCAA sliding scale.

The minimum GPA you can have to be considered an early academic qualifier for D1 is a 2.3 GPA and a 980 SAT combined score or 75 ACT sum score. You will need a 2.2 GPA and a 900 SAT combined score or 68 ACT sum score to be eligible at the Division II level.

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How does the NCAA calculate GPA?

Your core-course GPA is calculated on a 4.000 scale. Only your core courses will be used when determining your GPA with the NCAA. There are 16 core courses, covering the subjects of English, math, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy. Each high school has its own list of NCAA approved core courses. Meet with your high school counselor to confirm your classes will meet the NCAA GPA requirements.
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Maintaining NCAA eligibility

There is another element to NCAA academic eligibility, and that is maintaining your eligibility once you are in college. While you should have the full support of your college's compliance office to ensure you maintain eligibility, here is a rough breakdown of the academic requirements once you are in college:

By the START of sophomore year, you must:

have a cumulative GPA of 1.8

have completed 36 units

By the END of sophomore year, you must:

By the START of junior year, you must:

have a cumulative GPA of 1.9

have completed 72 units (40 percent of your total degree requirements)

By the START of senior year, you must:

have a cumulative GPA of 2.0

have completed 108 units (60 percent of your degree requirements)

By the START of a fifth year, you must:

have a cumulative GPA of 2.0

have completed 144 units (80 percent of your degree requirements)

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The NCAA Eligibility Center Impact of COVID-19 on NCAA eligibility extended its COVID-19 initial eligibility policies for student-athletes who initially enroll full-time during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. Students who intend to play D1 or D2 sports won't be required to take the ACT or SAT by the NCAA.