2 replies to this topic

[Rocketman]

(Date: December 10, 2008 )
“Public Schools versus Private Schools?”

There are approximately 120 private schools in the total 800 Ohio high schools that field girls’ high school basketball programs. Thus, private schools represent roughly 15% of the 800 high schools in Ohio . Over the last 4 years at the State Final Four there have been 64 teams competing. (4 divisions x 4 teams per year x 4 years = 64 teams). Of these 64 Final Four teams 21 have been from private schools which is 32.8% of all teams competing in the State Final Fours since 2005. Each of the last 4 years is broken down as follows:

Ø 2008 state tournament 37.5% (6 of 16) of the final 16 teams (4 teams from each of the 4 divisions) were private schools.

Ø 2007 state tournament 31.25% (5 of 16) of the final 16 teams (4 teams from each of the 4 divisions) were private schools.

Ø 2006 state tournament 18.75% of the final 16 teams were private schools (3 of 16 in the State Final Four(s) were private schools).

Ø 2005 state tournament 43.75% of the 16 teams in the Final Four were private schools (7 of the 16 teams).

We conducted a “rough” but factual study based on championships.

Our starting point in the study we conducted was twenty-one (21) years ago in 1988 which is the year OHSAA went to our current Division system, D-I through D-IV. We used the 4 divisions determined by the OHSAA and its enrollment figures of each year.

From 1988 through 2008 there have been 84 state champions crowned here in Ohio high school girls basketball. (21 years x 4 divisions per year = 84 state champions). Of these 84 state champions 56 (66.67% or 2/3 thirds) have been public schools and 28 have been private schools (33.33% or 1/3 third).

In breaking this time period down into 2 parts, the first 11 years (1988-1998) and the last 10 years (1999-2008) we discovered the following:

Ø From 1988 – 1998 there have been 44 state champions crowned of which 36 (81.8%) were public schools and 8 (18.2%) were private schools.
Ø From 1999 – 2008 there have been 40 state champions crowned of which 20 (50%) were public schools and 20 (50%) were private schools.

We then looked at each division during these 21 years as a whole and then further broke down this period of time into 2 parts, the first 11 years (1988 – 1998) and the last 10 years (1999-2008). The tendencies and trends were both constant in some divisions and alarming in others.

Division I (199 high schools):
Ø From 1988 – 2008 (21 years)
15 public school state champions and 6 private school state champions

Ø From 1988 – 1998 (11 years)
10 public school state champions and 1 private school state champions

Ø From 1999 – 2008 (10 years)
5 public school state champions and 5 private school state champions

Ø Tendency swing = 91% public school to 50% public school state champions over the last 10 years

Ø Point Total (1 for each state championship over the last 21 years and 2 for each state championship over the last 10 years)
Division II (200 high schools):
Ø From 1988 – 2008 (21 years)
10 public school state champions and 11 private school state champions

Ø From 1988 – 1998 (11 years)
6 public school state champions and 5 private school state champions

Ø From 1999 – 2008 (10 years)
4 public school state champions and 6 private school state champions

Ø Tendency swing = 55% public school to 40% public school state champions over the last 10 years

Ø
Division III (200 high schools):
Ø From 1988 – 2008 (21 years)
12 public school state champions and 9 private school state champions

Ø From 1988 – 1998 (11 years)
10 public school state champions and 1 private school state champions

Ø From 1999 – 2008 (10 years)
2 public school state champions and 8 private school state champions

Ø Tendency swing = 91% public school to 20% public school state champions over the last 10 years


Ø
Division IV (201 high schools):
Ø From 1988 – 2008 (21 years)
19 public school state champions and 2 private school state champions

Ø From 1988 – 1998 (11 years)
10 public school state champions and 1 private school state champions

Ø From 1999 – 2008 (10 years)
9 public school state champions and 1 private school state champions

Ø Tendency swing = 91% public school to 90% public school state champions over the last 10 years

Ø
While there have been swings from public to private schools over the last 10 years in D-I, the most glaring has been in D-III where private schools have garnered a 70% increase in state championships. Division II has been reasonably consistent over the last 10 years where public schools have only seen a 15% decrease in state championships. The most dominating constant is in Division IV where public schools have remained from 1988/1998 to 1999/2008 state champions 90% of the time.


In every public school with a successful girls basketball program there is an identified elementary and middle school “feeder” program. The administration has hired a quality coach, believe girls basketball is a legit revenue producing opportunity, have developed its program as a community based program and support the girls program accordingly.

However, on the converse side there are many factors causing some of the trends towards private schools…and no, it is just not “recruiting” by the private schools. The following is a partial list of bullet points that has caused this trend with no one of these factors having more weight than any of the others.
•Open enrollment in some public school systems eliminating middle school “feeder” programs;
•Federal voucher programs coupled with the belief, real or perceived, concerning the quality of academics of private over public schools;
•Strength of CYO programs versus in some cases the total elimination of public middle school athletics;
•“Pay to Play” public school athletics and the failure to pass school levies;
•New schools splitting public school districts decreasing enrollment numbers but staying at the same divisional level;
•Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) of public school teachers union negatively affecting the hiring of quality coaches;
•The hiring policies outside of the “CBA” of some public school systems coupled with the diminished pool of quality young basketball coaches in the teaching profession;
•Failure of OHSAA to implement an enrollment “multiplier” system regarding divisional breakdowns to offset private school advantages;
•Understanding by some private school administrators of the need for “name recognition” for general enrollment purposes and support of their girls basketball program as a revenue generating opportunity;


Tom Jenkins
Ohio Girls Basketball Report

[Easton]

I live in Ottawa . Can you point me in the right direction for a Girls D3 Private School?

[Rocketman]

I live in Ottawa . Can you point me in the right direction for a Girls D3 Private School?

does it have to be a D3 private?...........

if D3 is all you are interested in, I would suggest St. LB...........they certainly have joined into the fray the last few years with the number of girls who are turning up on their doorsteps.........kinda like the missions ......

if D4 would suffice, I would like to give a nod to DSJ over in Allen Co.........solid, solid, solid program with state titles to back it up.......

if you're willing to do some traveling within a 60 mile or so radius, might I also remind you that Lima Bath has been known to corral a few over the years....from Ottawa it should take about a half an hour or so..........heck, they might even just allow your daughter to be adopted on a year-to-year basis depending on need-based......

have to also throw St. Wendelin under the bus when it comes to getting the best.........it seems to have only worked in the girls bball program though, as the boys recruiting efforts are not up to par.......

if I can be of any further help, please feel free to give me a call.............zoooom