sml007

IMO, it is not a bad thing to choose a school for athletics, drama, band, etc. The issue is the political correctness of saying it is based on academics. Let's call it what it is. My son is good at football. What schools are good at football? Create list. What school with the best football program has the best academics? Narrow choices. Select the best football school with the best academics. The list is created with football first, not education.

Correct, but you would be sending your kid to NewCath because of football. With all things equal or close, you send your kids to the better football program. That is the point. It is not bad or wrong, but it is not because of academics. A kid can play football at both places. You choose NCC because of the chance to win a championship.

Based on your examples, the root or reason for sending your kids to those schools would be athletics. You basically just said you would find the best athletics programs in those sports and if the education is strong enough, that is where you would send your child. They can play athletics anywhere. If it is about education, Highlands offers all of the sports you mentioned.

Why to the first bolded? Why not to the second bolded? Also, according to the Diocese of Covington, Brossart had a 2011 ACT composite average 23.3. NCC had a composite of 21.6. They both have football. Why NCC? If this score means anything, your child would get a better education at Brossart.

All teachers MUST by state law get a masters degree within 5 years of teaching. Also all teachers work and get paid on a rank system. Rank 1 is 2 masters degrees, Rank 2 is 1 masters degree, and Rank 3 is just a bachelors degree. It is based on a salary schedule. You would also be surprised at the amount of money spent at schools in low income areas. They can spend away, but it does not matter. Without support from home, the schools will fail. My point is that from an educational standpoint, your child would be just as successful at Campbell County as he would at Highlands, because education is obviously important to you.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I have stated that the Ft. Thomas kids are the foundation many times. This is not debatable.

Fair enough, but you do realize that the success of Ft. Thomas Independent schools has WAY more to do with parental support and community expectations than anything else. If you switched the teaching staffs at Covington Holmes and Highlands, the results would not change. Covington Holmes would still be low achieving and Highlands would still be elite.

So did these kids make a difference or not? We are talking about division 1 athletes.

So basically what you are saying is that your child is going to learn to read, do math and all other basic elementary skills that are needed to be successful in middle/high school at an elementary school in Campbell County, but then he is going to go to Highlands because of the education?

Agreed. At least the best players would.

The FTJFL, community support, parental support, great coaching, work ethic, dedication, etc. all contribute to the success at Highlands. The Ft. Thomas kids are the foundation of the program, but you are refuting that kids that transferred don't make a big difference. In many instances, the transfers are what make some teams GREAT rather than just very good. May even be the difference between winning a state title or not. Let's try this: Here are a few football players that transferred to Highlands beginning their freshman year or after since 1994. Justin Frisk - Best player on team, Player of the Year in 3A KY Jared Lorenzen - D1, Mr. Football Derrick Smith - D1, UK Brett Hamblin - D1, UK Jordan Nevels - D1, UK Rob Smith - D1, Tennessee Mike Mitchell - D1, NFL Drake Bruns - D1, UC Zach Harris - will be a 3 year starter Do you refute that these players had maybe a little bit to do with Highlands being really, really good over the years? Again, the Ft. Thomas kids are the foundation of the program, but you cannot dispute that the kids listed above played a MAJOR role in the success of their teams.

Bishop Brossart

My belief is that the health and stability of football in KY are linked. Kentucky football classification is unstable because of the 6 class system. There are too many borders and no defined boundaries. The 2 year average of boys for the school year 2011/2012 at a few select schools show the following: 2A Bishop Brossart = 168 Boys 1A Beechwood = 190 Boys 1A Mayfield = 207.5 Boys 3A Central = 400 Boys 4A LexCath = 402.5 Boys 3A Bell County = 410.5 Boys 4A Holmes = 427 3A Bourbon County = 439 Boys 5A Franklin County = 505.5 5A Shelby County = 509 Boys 4A Johnson Central = 519 Boys There are many, many more examples of this throughout the alignment. When we were in a 4 Class system, I am sure these existed, but not to the extent it is now. It is much easier to win a 5A title then a 4A title, but Johnson Central, who by enrollment numbers belongs in 5A is stuck in 4A. Brossart is in 2A while the Beechwood and Mayfield are in a 1A classification. The current numbers show LexCath should be 3A and Bourbon County should be 4A. There needs to be defined boundaries and it needs to be aligned with the most current year numbers, every 2 years. When the last re-classification happened for the 2011 season, the KHSAA used enrollment numbers from 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 rather than the then current 2010/2011 school year. Right now, teams are basically going to play the 2013 and 2014 seasons with enrollment numbers as old as the 2008/2009 school year. Bourbon County was lucky enough to have low numbers 4 years ago and unfortunately for LexCath, they had high numbers. Both teams are out of class based upon the most current numbers. The current system is very flawed.

This kid is a fantastic football player. His legacy is that he led his team to a State Title his senior year. That is all that matters.

First of all, nobody is bashing Highlands. You should probably read the whole thread. Secondly, whether you like it or not, the rich are getting richer because of 6 classes. Are there other factors? Yes. Is 6 classes one of them? Yes. The proof is in the history of the 6 years prior to 6 classes and the 6 years after 6 classes. And, this thread is not about Highlands. Highlands is just an example. Also, the academics at Highlands are a direct reflection of the Ft. Thomas parents and community. This is the same with every school. If education is important at home, then it is important. If Highlands does not win football championships, WAY less football players go there from outside Ft. Thomas for 'academic' reasons. I realize there are many factors that go into these decisions. Academics are one, but football championships another.

I don't know nor care why girls basketball players go to Highlands. My guess is they probably all played AAU together. What does any of this have to do with the fact that 6 classes are allowing the rich to get richer and affecting health of football in KY? The argument that the out of district players for Highlands came for academics is ridiculous. They came for football championships and at least two are starters and major contributors.

I don't think Central makes football in KY unhealthy, but I also don't think Central made some decision to become better that led to their titles. They were a pretty competitive 3A team in 4 classes under Serroti (sp.). They began to win titles because of 6 classes. During the first 4 years of 6 classes they no longer had to beat Highlands, Bell County, Lexington Catholic or Boyle County. The road became easier. Since they are now a perennial title contender, more kids want to go there. I do think the easier road to a title for the perennial champs makes football in KY unhealthy.

You are absolutely correct, but football titles have more to do with why going to Highlands is even an option. The education makes it an easier decision.

The education part is true. I made that point long ago. That is not why football players want to go to Highlands.

We are going to disagree on this. I understand why teams platoon and what you are saying. My point is this, the more titles you win, the more kids want to play football. Also, the more kids from out of district want to come to your school. The more good players you have, the easier it is to platoon. 6 classes have allowed an easier road to a championship, hence more championships, more kids, and the better ability to platoon.

Not saying that at all, but it doesn't hurt. Highlands wins titles because of the Ft. Thomas kids. The other kids are just icing on the cake. Wow, again, no pun intended.

This is exactly right. Highlands has a starting offensive lineman and starting running back that attended Campbell County Middle School. They pay tuition to go to Highlands. The kids will continue to leave other schools to go to schools that win titles every year. In four classes, it was tougher for the perennial champs not named Trinity to win titles every year.

That is exactly my point. It is now easier to win titles. They win it every year. Before, they did not. Kids flock to that success. No pun intended.

They very well may have, but why do they all of the sudden have 90 players and the ability to platoon? Also, I would argue they did not platoon back then because it was tougher to win a title. The best had to play.

I agree that the same teams will still win titles. Just not every year. See Highlands the 6 years before six classes vs. the 6 years after 6 classes. During the last 6 years of the 4 class system, Highlands won 1 title. Since six classes they have won it every year. Winning titles every year makes them stronger and tougher to beat. Football is a very psychological game as well. It is as tough mentally for kids to believe they can beat perennial state champions as it is physically. That is why the six class system has allowed the perennial powers to get stronger and tougher to beat.