Sports & Public vs. Private Schools

Each year parents debate over whether or not to send their children to public or private schools. Academics are often a key factor in selecting the “right” school, but there is also a long-standing debate over whether or not public or private schools offer superior athletic programs.

The most obvious difference between athletic programs at private and public schools is choice. Some may argue that private schools have an advantage because they have the opportunity to select their students. On the other hand, some public schools may have a broad selection of skilled athletes in their district.

“We’ve been lucky to get some pretty good talent year in and year out,” says Andrew Chadwick, men’s varsity soccer coach at Green Hope High School.

Chadwick says he’s been fortunate to coach in a community that’s home to a large group of solid soccer players. Athens Drive Football Coach Jeffrey Smouse says talented players are valuable, but the coaches’ teaching skills and the players’ ability to retain and use the knowledge gained from their coaches are vital elements of a strong team. Striking that balance is important for teams at both private and public schools.

Conner Stevens, a junior at St. David’s and shortstop for their baseball team, says his team probably differs from those at public schools because many of the players participate in a variety of sports. Stevens says a public school can probably fill a baseball team more easily with athletes that only play baseball. This overlap created by athletes playing multiple sports clearly has not left St. David’s baseball team at a disadvantage; St. David’s was first in their conference and second statewide for the 2A NCISSA conference. Stevens has also excelled at baseball with a .461 batting average last season.

St. David’s students have the option of either taking a physical education course or participating in a varsity sport. Not all private schools offer that option; North Raleigh Christian Academy requires freshmen to take a year of PE, and they can’t substitute that course for a sport. WCPSS Athletic Director Bobby Guthrie says students in Wake County’s public school system don’t have the option of substituting a sport for a PE class either, and students must take a healthful living class that combines PE with a health course. Regardless of the differences between the types of physical education required, both private and public schools emphasize the importance of health and wellness education as well as the opportunity to participate in sports.

Guthrie says the key to any successful athletic program is “providing opportunities for the students at your school to have the chance to participate in interscholastic athletics.” Whether or not students attend public or private school, Guthrie says what’s most important is for schools simply to provide students with a broad range of choices in sports.

Wake County recently broadened its athletic choices by adding lacrosse to the list of official sports about three years ago. The NCHSAA has also decided to incorporate lacrosse in its recognized sports by sanctioning lacrosse for the first time in the 2010 spring season.

Public schools across the state are facing difficulties in supporting their athletic programs this year due to budget constraints spurred on by the wavering economy. Wake County is looking for ways to save money by reducing the number of games teams play or how many teams can participate in the playoffs. Although the county is making cutbacks in some areas, Guthrie says that doesn’t mean any sports will be dropped, so students still have a range of choices if they choose to participate in athletics.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Steve Lykins, athletic director at North Raleigh Christian Academy, says the downturn in the economy hasn’t affected their sports program. However, NRCA’s athletic department is mindful in the way they budget funds by watching how far teams travel to play games. Lykins says a strong athletic department contributes to a well-rounded educational program.

“We emphasize academics, fine arts and athletics,” said Lykins in regards to NRCA’s mission as a school.

The approach to athletics will vary at any school whether or not the school is public or private, but one aspect that is consistent of athletic programs at both types of schools is their commitment to providing students with a range of athletic opportunities.