Re: high school football and low income schools
Date: October 31, 2011 09:25AM
"low income" may be one factor but it's low on the list of reasons that schools struggle to be competitive in football.
Size, Demographics, and Coaching have all been mentioned and the best schools have all three of these in their favor but the one thing not mentioned is strong youth leagues and the coaching that takes place at that level.
Centreville and Westfield have strong programs because they're feed by a strong youth league like SYA. Chantilly is feed by CYA. Robinson, Fairfax and Lake Braddock are all feed by BRYC, SYC and FPYC. Those go hand in hand with their students populations, demographics and coaching. It's at this level where income may come more into being a factor and why youth programs in those area are more successful.
Schools like a Falls Church and Stuart have those things going against them. Their size is maybe half of what most schools are. Then take into account their demographics with their Hispanic populations being around 43%, their Black population being between 9 and 11%, and their White population around 24%. Then factor in that they're all feed by the same youth league, ABGC and you're furthering the dilution of talent feeding these two schools. Throw in Annandale into the mix and you have a reason for why those schools struggle.
Same thing in the Alexandria part of Fairfax County. Mt. Vernon, West Potomac face the same hurdles as Falls Church and Stuart. Start by looking at the youth leagues and their success and there is one major component in a schools success.