Eligibility
Academic Eligibility
Student athletes in high school are expected to meet or exceed a 2.0 GPA in order to be eligible to participate in school-sponsored activities. We have established excellence as a standard and strive to maintain an appropriate balance among academics, athletics, and all extra-curricular activities.
Athletes below a 2.0 can practice but will not compete for 5 weeks at the beginning of the following semester. After the probation period is served, the student will complete a progress report documenting a 2.0 for the school Athletic Director. The Athletic Director will review and clear athletes.
If ineligibility is due to hardship, students may submit a Student Academic Appeals Packet.
NCAA Eligibility
Students must complete the following steps to participate in Division 1 or Division 2 athletics.
- Register for eligibility at www.eligibilitycenter.org and complete the amateurism questionnaire during sophomore year or at the beginning of junior year.
- Register to take the SAT and/or ACT. Use Eligibility Center code “9999” as a score recipient
- Double check to make sure that you are taking courses that match the approved core courses
- Request that your school counselor send an official transcript to the Eligibility Center after completion of your junior year.
- At the beginning of senior year, check with your school counselor and the Eligibility Center to determine the amount of core courses that need to be completed your senior year.
- Take the SAT and/or ACT again. The Eligibility Center will use the best scores from each section of the ACT or SAT to determine your best cumulative score.
- Continue to take college prep core courses.
- Check to make sure that you are taking courses that match the approved core courses.
- Review your amateurism questionnaire responses and request final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (for fall enrollees) or October 1 (for spring enrollees).
- Continue to earn the best grades possible.
- Graduate on time (in 8 academic semesters). After graduation, ask your school counselor to send your final transcript with proof of graduation.
Non-School Competition Procedure
While WIAA rules prohibit schools giving students special treatment or privileges on a regular basis to enable them to participate in non-school athletic activities, NSD understands that occasionally non-school teams participate in events specifically designed to give athletes exposure to college opportunities and potential scholarships.
Per WIAA guidelines, student athletes will automatically be allowed to miss team practice(s) or competition(s) to participate in one non-school athletic event per high school sport season. Prior e-mail notification to the school’s Athletic Director is required.
A student may petition to miss team practice(s) or competition(s) for a second non-school event given that the event is designed to showcase the athlete for potential recruiting or scholarship awards. This petition must be submitted either in writing or by e-mail to the district athletic director (dharman@nsd.org) no later than two-weeks before the scheduled absence.
No petitions will be granted for absences during scheduled post season competition. While up to two absences are allowable, team attendance rules that apply to all students will be enforced (e.g.- sitting the first half of the next competition).
A third event absence will result in the athlete becoming ineligible for the remainder of that sport season.
Detailed guidelines and requirements for non-school athletic participation are available on the district’s website at https: //www1.nsd.org/schools/enrichment-activities/athletics/eligibility