Highland Park High School

                                                                  NCAA Eligibility Information

 

Student athletes who would like to compete at the collegiate level need to review NCAA eligibility requirements to be sure they are taking the appropriate high school courses. Detailed information is provided below. It is recommended that you make an appointment with your counselor to determine a specific high school course plan.

 

Student athletes are encouraged  to register with the NCAA clearinghouse at the start of their junior year in high school. There is no actual registration deadline, but you must be cleared by the clearinghouse before you can receive a scholarship or compete in your sport.

 

What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?

The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or II institutions. It does this by reviewing the student-athlete's academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules.

 

What are NCAA Divisions I, II, and III?

The NCAA is the governing body of many intercollegiate sports. Each college regulated by the NCAA has established rules on eligibility, recruiting and financial aid and falls into one of the three membership divisions (Divisions I, II and III). Divisions are based on college size and the scope of their athletic programs and scholarships.

 

When should students register?

The NCAA recommends that student-athletes register at the beginning of their junior year in high school, but many students register after their junior year. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the Eligibility Center before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or II institution.

 

How do students register?

Students must register online at the NCAA Eligibility Center. They will have to enter personal information, answer questions about their course work and sports participation outside of high school and pay a registration fee.

 

Can students have the registration fee waived?

Students who have received a waiver for the SAT or ACT are eligible for a waiver of the registration fee. The student's counselor must submit confirmation of the student's test fee waiver. Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center High School Portal for more information.

 

What records does the Eligibility Center require?

Students should arrange to have you send their high school transcript as soon as they have completed at least six semesters of high school. The transcript must be mailed directly from their high school. They must also arrange to have their SAT or ACT test scores reported directly by the testing company to the Eligibility Center.  Students can arrange this when they register for the tests.

 

How often can students update their athletics participation information?

Students can update the information on the athletics participation section online as often as they want (and should update it regularly), up until the time when they request a final certification of their status. At that point — usually three to four months before enrolling in college — students must finalize their information.

 

What are the NCAA academic eligibility requirements?

To play sports at an NCAA Division I or II institution, the student must:

• Complete a certain number of high school core courses (defined below).

• Earn a certain minimum grade point average in these core courses.

• Earn a certain minimum score on the SAT or ACT.

• Graduate from high school.

For more information, see the NCAA's Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, in the Publications section of the NCAA website.

 

What are core courses?

This is the name that the NCAA gives to high school courses that meet certain academic criteria specified by the association. Students must complete a certain number of core courses for NCAA Division I and II eligibility.

 

Keep in mind

The best way for students to prepare for a future in college athletics is to complete the approved core courses and earn appropriate grades in them. Indeed, more students fail to qualify to play NCAA sports because of lack of appropriate course work than for low test scores.