The Best High Schools for Athletes: How to Choose the Right One for You
The best high school is the one that will help you reach your fullest potential. Here are a few things to consider as you choose a high school.
When it comes to choosing a high school as an athlete, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Every athlete has different goals and needs when it comes to their education. The right school for someone preparing to be an Olympic gymnast may not be the right school for a college-bound basketball player.
The best high school is the one that will help you reach your fullest potential. Here are a few things to consider as you choose a high school.
WHICH SCHOOLS CAN YOU AFFORD?
For most young athletes, finances are an important part of deciding which high school to go to. If you have a very limited budget, you may need to stick with a public school, charter school, or homeschooling option.
Private high schools usually charge tuition that some families may struggle to afford. However, some private schools may have lower tuition rates or scholarships that make tuition affordable.
WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION RANGE?
You likely aren’t willing or able to drive 200 miles to school each day. Even if you have your own car and are licensed to drive, you probably don’t want a two-hour commute to school.
Talk with your family to find out how far you can realistically go to attend high school. You may need to find a high school that’s near where your parents work or close to a bus stop.
WHAT LEVEL OF ATHLETIC COMPETITION DO YOU WANT?
If you are pursuing elite-level athletics, you likely have a complicated schedule with events that occasionally conflict with school. You may need to travel to regional or even international competitions and build in time to acclimate to different time zones. You may even need a different school start time based on your training schedule. Some high schools can accommodate these needs, but others can’t.
Even if you aren’t preparing for the Olympics, you still need to know what level of competition the school can accommodate. If you are serious about a specific school sport, you will be better off at a high school with a well-respected coach and a major program for that sport.
CAN YOU TRAVEL TO THE SCHOOL’S ATHLETICS EVENTS?
Many high school sports teams travel for games and competitions. If you can’t make the travel times and locations work, you won’t be able to participate fully.
On the other hand, if you are competing on a team that isn’t connected to your school, you may not need to worry about where and how often the school’s athletic events happen.
WHAT TYPE OF ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT DO YOU WANT?
At some high schools, academics take a backseat to sports. At other schools, it’s the other way around.
Your high school should match both your academic and athletic goals. Research the school to find out how rigorous its academic programs are and whether the academic expectations match your needs.
WHAT OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Just because you’re an athlete doesn’t mean sports need to be your entire life. If your schedule isn’t completely dominated by sports, you can join a school club or three. That way, you can enjoy new experiences and develop more talents outside of athletics.
Before committing to a school, find out what extracurricular activities they offer. Don’t assume they’ll have the same activities you had in middle school or a previous high school.
WHAT SIZE SCHOOL DO YOU PREFER?
High schools come in all sizes, and the school size definitely impacts your experience. Some people feel more comfortable in a small environment where they can get to know most of the other students. On the other hand, some students prefer a larger school where they can meet a wider range of people.
WHAT DOES THE SCHOOL’S WEBSITE SAY ABOUT THEIR ATHLETICS?
The school website can often give you an idea of what it’s like to attend classes there. Most schools will have a mission statement or an about page that tells you what is important to the school community. You will probably want to know if the high school is a religious community or focused on preparing students for college.
WHAT DO THE SCHOOL’S ALUMNI SAY ABOUT IT?
Alumni can give you the inside scoop about a school. If you know any older or former student athletes, you can ask them where they went to high school and how they made their athletics schedule work. They can probably recommend a high school or tell you if a school would be a good fit for you.
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?
Most of all, you need to know what your priorities are for your high school education. You may not be able to find a high school with everything you’re looking for, so you need to decide which factors are most important.
ATHLETICS AT ARCHBISHOP MURPHY HIGH SCHOOL
At Archbishop Murphy High School, we have plenty of sports opportunities for students. Our school has won 15 athletic state championships, 21 academic team championships, and 94 league championships since our opening in 1988. We compete at the WESCO 2A/3A league for all sports except football, which competes in the Northwest Conference Sky Division.
We are a college preparatory high school with a strong athletics program. Many of our student athletes go on to compete in college and beyond. Two of our alumni were selected in the 2022 NFL draft: Abraham Lucas (class of 2017) with the Seattle Seahawks and Kyler Gordon (class of 2018) with the Chicago Bears.
We may be able to accommodate elite athletes in some cases. However, our school is not primarily a sports academy.
OUR STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM
One of the unique things about our school is our strength and conditioning program. It’s designed for student athletes and open to anyone enrolled in the school.
Our program uses TEAMBUILDR, an in-season and off-season online tool. That means our student athletes can access the strength and conditioning program on their phones, computers, and paper. Our strength & conditioning coach can create customized workouts in real time for individual players or position groups.
Ready to learn more about athletics and student life opportunities at AMHS? Schedule a tour or visit today.
