Some questions answered/raised

[southpaw]

Plus the square mileage is a HARD number. Cant fudge it and doesn't have to be recalculated every year just keep doing enrollments every two years to adjust like we do now.

[Athens/Cat]

Idk the answer to the maryland question on boys/girls but I'm assuming that being and all public body all public schools are coed. Another thing maryland and many other states do is the classify freshman as v/jv. fresh/soph make up jv teams and jr/sr varsity. If a soph plays varsity then they can't play jv. I think PA needs some major changes such as redistricting, more classifications, and using school dist. sq. mileage in addition to enrollment for classifications. This would solve the private school question as they have no square mileage to encompass so they would all have the number 1 as a default. The square mileage would work as an inverse to enrollment. This would really level the playing field for large rural schools like Everett, Bedford, CR, Central Mt. etc. and solve the private school dilemma defacto as they would all have to move up in classification based square mileage.

I always thought that you can't play JV if you are a soph. playing varsity in PA?

I can't agree with adding more classifications (atleast in football). In AZ for example there are 7 classes and only 200~ schools which really dulls down competition in the playoffs.

The sq. miles is interesting can you expand on that?

[southpaw]

team decision..on jv/v. In PA I've seen soph/jrs play and start in varsity and then play in the JV game the following monday. I've even seen seniors play on jv teams. Most schools in 5/6 have trouble fielding a jv squad. Moving up fresh to jv gives a lot a small schools a viable jv team.

The sq mileage factor...PIAA only uses enrollments for classification, higher enrollment higher classification etc. I think just using enrollments is wholly unfair to pa rural districts and a big advantage to urban ones. PA rural districts far out number urban but are at a distinct disadvantage to urban districts when it comes to just using enrollments for classification. In addition just using enrollments gives private/charter schools a big advantage that has been a huge topic on this board since its beginning. I think a much fairer way to classify schools in PA for sports would be for the PIAA to use their current enrollment count they do now every two years but in addition add in the square mileage the school encompasses as well. Private, Charter, Open Enrollment schools all would have a squ mile of 1. This would work opposite of enrollments the smaller the mileage number the higher the classification would be. This ranking would then be added to the enrollment system currently in use to give us our classifications.

I say this is a fairer way to do classifications as there many more obstacles for parents/athletes is rural districts that urban ones. Lets take Ridge and Everett two of the largest districts in the state geographically and compare them to Richland and Westmont two local urban districts. All four districts have basically the same enrollment but is it really fair that they are in the same class? Parents only have to travel a mile of two for games and practices. Westy kids can largely walk home. Access to the school and community involvement is much easier in these surburban schools. Where as in larger rural schools like Ridge and especially Everett it is very difficult for cash strapped families to make the committment to run kids 40 miles round trip every day to practice. Some places in Everett would be more than 60 miles round trip for kids down on the Maryland line. Bedford will have the same problem with Hyndman kids in the future.

In addition using square mileage indirectly lessens the inheret advantages that private/charter/open enroll schools currently have.

[Athens/Cat]

team decision..on jv/v. In PA I've seen soph/jrs play and start in varsity and then play in the JV game the following monday. I've even seen seniors play on jv teams. Most schools in 5/6 have trouble fielding a jv squad. Moving up fresh to jv gives a lot a small schools a viable jv team.

The sq mileage factor...PIAA only uses enrollments for classification, higher enrollment higher classification etc. I think just using enrollments is wholly unfair to pa rural districts and a big advantage to urban ones. PA rural districts far out number urban but are at a distinct disadvantage to urban districts when it comes to just using enrollments for classification. In addition just using enrollments gives private/charter schools a big advantage that has been a huge topic on this board since its beginning. I think a much fairer way to classify schools in PA for sports would be for the PIAA to use their current enrollment count they do now every two years but in addition add in the square mileage the school encompasses as well. Private, Charter, Open Enrollment schools all would have a squ mile of 1. This would work opposite of enrollments the smaller the mileage number the higher the classification would be. This ranking would then be added to the enrollment system currently in use to give us our classifications.

I say this is a fairer way to do classifications as there many more obstacles for parents/athletes is rural districts that urban ones. Lets take Ridge and Everett two of the largest districts in the state geographically and compare them to Richland and Westmont two local urban districts. All four districts have basically the same enrollment but is it really fair that they are in the same class? Parents only have to travel a mile of two for games and practices. Westy kids can largely walk home. Access to the school and community involvement is much easier in these surburban schools. Where as in larger rural schools like Ridge and especially Everett it is very difficult for cash strapped families to make the committment to run kids 40 miles round trip every day to practice. Some places in Everett would be more than 60 miles round trip for kids down on the Maryland line. Bedford will have the same problem with Hyndman kids in the future.

In addition using square mileage indirectly lessens the inheret advantages that private/charter/open enroll schools currently have.

Ah, OK, I'm following you now as to the sq. miles. Then use both the enrollment figures/sq. miles in some formula to determine class..not bad
As to the private schools, even with a background in private schools I think it's ridiculous that they don't do something to curb the advantages that they get.

[southpaw]

Ya, a combo of the two would determine classification.

Private aren't the only ones using the lack of equity here. Charter schools and open enrollment districts like Philly and Pittsburgh are just as bad.

[Athens/Cat]

Ya, a combo of the two would determine classification.

Private aren't the only ones using the lack of equity here. Charter schools and open enrollment districts like Philly and Pittsburgh are just as bad.

What schools have open enrollment in the 'burgh?

[southpaw]

THe way I understand it all Pitt City schools are open enrollment

[Athens/Cat]

ok that makes sense. Then from what I gather a 'charter school' is based more on a lottery pick or some type of admission requirement?…that's just talk I've heard.