Baltimore considers first GPA standards for prep athletes

Baltimore’s school board is considering the city’s first GPA requirements for high school students who want to participate in athletics.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the proposal would establish a 1.75 minimum GPA for student-athletes beginning with the 2017-18 school year. That would be raised to 2.0 for the 2018-19 school year.

Baltimore schools currently have no GPA requirement for student-athletes, but those who play sports are not allowed to have more than one failing grade. That policy will still be in place for the upcoming school year, The Sun reported.

From the article:

The district would phase in the new standards that eventually would require student-athletes to maintain a C average and have no more than one failing grade to be academically eligible for participation.

Officials said the policy change would better position students to meet eligibility requirements in the NCAA, which requires students to maintain a GPA of 2.3 to play sports and receive scholarships.

Cameran Edwards, 17, a football player at Edmondson High School, said higher academic standards are a good idea.

“You have a lot of athletes sometimes that struggle in classes,” he said. “Some don’t want to go to class. I really think this gives athletes the idea that they have to push themselves and do what they’re supposed to do.”

School officials said they want students to understand that athletics is a privilege, and at least one board member wanted the 2.0 GPA standard set earlier than the 2018-19 school year.

Baltimore schools CEO Sonja Santelises told The Sun that her staff would gather additional feedback on the proposal before the board votes on it.

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