Public School Advantages

[colin2229]

Private schools advantage of the 30mile radius gets discussed often. No doubt, it's an advantage. But what rarely ever gets talked about is the public schools advantages. So what are they?

No tuition
No entrance exam to get in or transfer in
Tax dollars to fund the program/facility upgrades/coaches

What else?

 

[Connorstallions]

Private schools advantage of the 30mile radius gets discussed often. No doubt, it's an advantage. But what rarely ever gets talked about is the public schools advantages. So what are they?

No tuition
No entrance exam to get in or transfer in
Tax dollars to fund the program/facility upgrades/coaches

What else?

Feeder programs

 

[mc140]

Private schools advantage of the 30mile radius gets discussed often. No doubt, it's an advantage. But what rarely ever gets talked about is the public schools advantages. So what are they?

No tuition
No entrance exam to get in or transfer in
Tax dollars to fund the program/facility upgrades/coaches

What else?

Robbie Gould appears to not see the advantages if rumors are true.

 

[kwamizee]

Larger football budget. Allegedly some schools in the area have $400K to use towards just football

 

[tuccs]

Feeder programs

1 town 1 team

 

[tuccs]

IHSA not coming up with arbitrary senseless punishments like the success factor

 

[ramblinman]

Related to the advantage of no tuition:

With roughly 90-95% Illinois high school students attending a public school, they are the default school option in every single district and have been that default option pretty much since the inception of the public school system in this state. Indeed, in the vast majority of districts, they are the only school option.

One might go so far as to say that most public schools have a monopoly on education. If public education were a business like an airline, telecommunications firm, or a grocery store chain, the government would step in (as it has in the past in those sectors) and demand that there be competition in the educational marketplace.

Granted, private schools can enroll from any district within their radii but being that default option for generation after generation of students is an advantage for public schools if for no other reason than habit/tradition (especially if it involves saving money) is a hard thing to break. Families are IN THE HABIT of sending their kids to public schools. They are IN THE HABIT of not paying extra for education. Families who have sent their kids to public schools for generations find it an easy decision to make where to send their kids to school because they really have no choice in the matter.

 

[Wassup13]

Open recruiting to so many kids by just walking in the school hallways.

 

[Wassup13]

Public school advantage.

They don't have to play in the CCL where it's tough and divisions get realigned every year.

 

[colin2229]

Larger football budget. Allegedly some schools in the area have $400K to use towards just football

I wouldn't say this is 100% true.

A private school can fundraise as much as they want and have an extremely large budget....if they want to put the effort in to raise that money.

A truer statement would be that the administration allocates more funds to a given sport at a public school. Numerous private schools are 100% dependent on fundraiser dollars.

 

[USD24]

Generally better overall facilities, at least at the suburban schools.

 

[Cross Bones]

Generally better overall facilities, at least at the suburban schools.

I just saw Wheaton Academy for the 1st time for some basketball with the old man.

 

[colin2229]

I just saw Wheaton Academy for the 1st time for some basketball with the old man.

What did you think of the Airplane Hanger of a gym?

 

[doctor_d]

Public school advantage.

They don't have to play in the CCL where it's tough and divisions get realigned every year.

Not sure that is an advantage to public schools. Ryan Fitzgerald says otherwise.

 

[Cross Bones]

What did you think of the Airplane Hanger of a gym?

Inside kind of small if they were hosting a highly attended game, but overall the entire campus looks very impressive. I didn't go into the upper gym either, but the fact that there was an upper gym was also impressive.

 

[forlouann]

What did you think of the Airplane Hanger of a gym?

I had no idea they still used that gym. It was really classic !

 

[IHSAfan207]

Feeder programs

Some have true feeders but most youth programs are fragmented. The one in closet to me splits players into 4 publics and 2 privates. Redistricting at its finest.

 

[ClownBaby]

Some have true feeders but most youth programs are fragmented. The one in closet to me splits players into 4 publics and 2 privates. Redistricting at its finest.

This is true but for some reason people on this board believe that every public has a dedicated feeder program.

 

[Graz74]

Ill take the bait. However I will list the Private school advantages tomorrow.

1. Larger Talent Pool​

• Advantage: Public schools typically draw athletes from a larger population base within their district boundaries. This often provides a deeper talent pool and the opportunity to develop homegrown athletes who stay in the program for their entire high school career. Moreover, non-boundary schools like Chicago's Simeon Career Academy consistently field strong teams because of their large student populations and the ability to identify and develop local talent.

---

2. Community Support and Pride​

• Advantage: Public school football programs often serve as a central point of pride for their communities, fostering widespread local support. Take the East St. Louis Flyers, for example, they benefit from robust community backing, including local businesses and alumni, which enhances team morale.

---

3. Feeder Programs and Youth Development​

• Advantage: Many public schools work closely with local youth football leagues, creating an almost structured pipeline of athletes familiar with the program's culture, playbook, and coaching philosophy. Suburban schools like Hinsdale Central have long-standing relationships with youth programs, providing continuity in player development.

---

4. Funding from Tax Revenue​

• Advantage: Public schools often receive funding through local taxes and state allocations, which can help support facilities, equipment, and coaching staff salaries. Schools in wealthier districts like New Trier with its 80 million dollar athletic facility development demonstrate the benefit derived robust property tax bases that enable top-notch facilities and resources.

---

5. Access to IHSA Tournaments​

• Advantage: Public schools automatically participate in IHSA (Illinois High School Association) regional and state tournaments without concerns about eligibility controversies tied to recruitment. Teams like Loyola Academy face scrutiny over recruiting, while public schools often are not scrutinized with high profile players transfer into their district.

---

6. Diversity of Athletes​

• Advantage: Public schools often reflect the demographics of their communities, creating opportunities for diverse teams with a wide range of athletic and personal experiences. During my lifetime programs like Bolingbrook High and Homewood-Flossmoor benefited from the diversity in the community and that has impacted more than just the sport of football

---

7. Athletic Trainers and Support Services​

• Advantage: Public schools, especially larger ones, have the resources to employ full-time athletic trainers and provide robust academic support for student-athletes. I am told that schools like Oswego High School integrate athletic and academic support programs to ensure players are well-prepared both on and off the field, during the school day, at no expense to the parents.

---

8. Cohesion Through Consistent Coaching​

• Advantage: Public schools often have coaching staff who are typically community members or alumni, providing consistency and a personal investment in the team's success.

---

9. Lower Financial Barriers for Families​

• Advantage: Public schools do not charge tuition, ensuring that participation in sports programs is accessible to all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
• Example: Students at schools DeKalb High School can participate in football without the additional financial burden often associated with private school tuition. or an associated athletic fee.

---

10. Alumni Networks for Community-Based Opportunities​

• Advantage: Many public school programs have vast alumni bases that contribute time, funding, and mentorship opportunities to the program.

 

[jha618]

Ill take the bait. However I will list the Private school advantages tomorrow.

1. Larger Talent Pool​

• Advantage: Public schools typically draw athletes from a larger population base within their district boundaries. This often provides a deeper talent pool and the opportunity to develop homegrown athletes who stay in the program for their entire high school career. Moreover, non-boundary schools like Chicago's Simeon Career Academy consistently field strong teams because of their large student populations and the ability to identify and develop local talent.

---

2. Community Support and Pride​

• Advantage: Public school football programs often serve as a central point of pride for their communities, fostering widespread local support. Take the East St. Louis Flyers, for example, they benefit from robust community backing, including local businesses and alumni, which enhances team morale.

---

3. Feeder Programs and Youth Development​

• Advantage: Many public schools work closely with local youth football leagues, creating an almost structured pipeline of athletes familiar with the program's culture, playbook, and coaching philosophy. Suburban schools like Hinsdale Central have long-standing relationships with youth programs, providing continuity in player development.

---

4. Funding from Tax Revenue​

• Advantage: Public schools often receive funding through local taxes and state allocations, which can help support facilities, equipment, and coaching staff salaries. Schools in wealthier districts like New Trier with its 80 million dollar athletic facility development demonstrate the benefit derived robust property tax bases that enable top-notch facilities and resources.

---

5. Access to IHSA Tournaments​

• Advantage: Public schools automatically participate in IHSA (Illinois High School Association) regional and state tournaments without concerns about eligibility controversies tied to recruitment. Teams like Loyola Academy face scrutiny over recruiting, while public schools often are not scrutinized with high profile players transfer into their district.

---

6. Diversity of Athletes​

• Advantage: Public schools often reflect the demographics of their communities, creating opportunities for diverse teams with a wide range of athletic and personal experiences. During my lifetime programs like Bolingbrook High and Homewood-Flossmoor benefited from the diversity in the community and that has impacted more than just the sport of football

---

7. Athletic Trainers and Support Services​

• Advantage: Public schools, especially larger ones, have the resources to employ full-time athletic trainers and provide robust academic support for student-athletes. I am told that schools like Oswego High School integrate athletic and academic support programs to ensure players are well-prepared both on and off the field, during the school day, at no expense to the parents.

---

8. Cohesion Through Consistent Coaching​

• Advantage: Public schools often have coaching staff who are typically community members or alumni, providing consistency and a personal investment in the team's success.

---

9. Lower Financial Barriers for Families​

• Advantage: Public schools do not charge tuition, ensuring that participation in sports programs is accessible to all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
• Example: Students at schools DeKalb High School can participate in football without the additional financial burden often associated with private school tuition. or an associated athletic fee.

---

10. Alumni Networks for Community-Based Opportunities​

• Advantage: Many public school programs have vast alumni bases that contribute time, funding, and mentorship opportunities to the program.

Im going to have to disagree with a few of the points made here. Private schools are able to enroll student-athletes within a 30mile radius. I don't know any public school that has a community that large.

Private schools arent restricted access to IHSA tournaments. From memory, the most recent schools penalized for recruiting have all been public. (Maine South, NC, Ofallon, Peoria, Hononegah, LP)

 

[MS4EVER]

Larger football budget. Allegedly some schools in the area have $400K to use towards just football

Which schools?

 

[Snetsrak61]

This is true but for some reason people on this board believe that every public has a dedicated feeder program.

I don't think anyone believes that. Just that many of the successful ones have taken a proactive approach.

Elmhurst is somewhat fragmented with two feeder youth programs. But I beleive York has taken an active approach with the larger/more established of the teo (not sure to what extent, but I have heard Fitzgerald stepped it up).

But hey, many Chicago Christian fans have applauded their own feeder programs. Although I don't think it's to the extent that some of the publics have done (they just got a new HC so I doubt they developed culture/playbook in one year 😅) They've apparently benefited from it though just by having kids play early and together. I'm guessing that particular faith community is a little more insular than the many Catholic schools, where middle to high school feeders have some strong correlations, but are ultimately pretty fluid.

 

[PowerI66]

Im going to have to disagree with a few of the points made here. Private schools are able to enroll student-athletes within a 30mile radius. I don't know any public school that has a community that large.

Private schools arent restricted access to IHSA tournaments. From memory, the most recent schools penalized for recruiting have all been public. (Maine South, NC, Ofallon, Peoria, Hononegah, LP)

His points are from ChatGPT, you can tell by the formatting

 

[SiuCubFan8]

His points are from ChatGPT, you can tell by the formatting

He didn’t add “make it look like it’s not from AI”!!!!

 

[PowerI66]

Public schools typically draw athletes from a larger population base within their district boundaries.

Please provide an example.

 

[colin2229]

His points are from ChatGPT, you can tell by the formatting

Good catch - something felt off.