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Rank | School | Enrollment |
1 | Grand Island | 1,103 |
2 | Millard South | 1,003 |
3 | Millard North | 951 |
4 | Omaha Central | 919 |
5 | Omaha South | 910 |
6 | Millard West | 884 |
7 | Omaha Westside | 802 |
8 | Lincoln Southwest | 775 |
8 | Omaha Creighton Prep | 775 |
10 | Papillion-LaVista South | 769 |
11 | Lincoln East | 756 |
12 | Lincoln North Star | 750 |
13 | Lincoln High | 748 |
14 | Lincoln Southeast | 725 |
15 | Papillion-LaVista | 699 |
16 | Fremont | 677 |
17 | Lincoln Northeast | 664 |
18 | Kearney | 653 |
19 | Omaha Westview | 651 |
20 | Omaha North | 636 |
21 | Bellevue West | 609 |
22 | Omaha Burke | 590 |
23 | Omaha Buena Vista | 588 |
24 | Omaha Bryan | 557 |
25 | Omaha Benson | 550 |
26 | Bellevue East | 533 |
27 | Elkhorn South | 532 |
28 | Omaha Northwest | 529 |
29 | Norfolk | 508 |
30 | Columbus | 494 |
31 | North Platte | 470 |
32 | South Sioux City | 460 |
Rank | School | Enrollment |
1 | Ralston | 411 |
2 | Elkhorn North | 399 |
3 | Gretna East | 394 |
4 | Lincoln Northwest | 393 |
5 | Lincoln Pius X | 392 |
5 | Scottsbluff | 392 |
7 | Bennington | 391 |
8 | Hastings | 387 |
9 | Lexington | 382 |
10 | Gretna | 344 |
11 | Elkhorn | 304 |
12 | Norris | 298 |
13 | Waverly | 280 |
14 | Blair | 275 |
15 | Crete | 269 |
16 | Beatrice | 259 |
17 | Omaha Skutt | 253 |
18 | Grand Island Northwest | 221 |
19 | Gering | 197 |
20 | Seward | 188 |
21 | Plattsmouth | 183 |
22 | York | 179 |
23 | McCook | 178 |
24 | Lincoln Standing Bear | 172 |
25 | Platteview | 164 |
Rank | School | Enrollment |
1 | Schuyler | 259 (ineligible) |
2 | Alliance | 165 (ineligible) |
3 | Elkhorn Mt. Michael | 162 (ineligible) |
4 | Nebraska City | 162 (ineligible) |
5 | Omaha Gross | 154 |
6 | Aurora | 143 |
7 | Douglas County West | 140 |
8 | Wahoo | 135 |
8 | Wayne | 135 |
10 | Omaha Brownell-Talbot/Cornerstone Christian/Quest Academy | 134 |
10 | Omaha Roncalli | 134 |
12 | Holdrege | 130 |
13 | Columbus Lakeview | 125 |
14 | Sidney | 123 |
15 | Ashland-Greenwood | 117 |
16 | Adams Central | 110 |
17 | Fairbury | 109 |
18 | Cozad | 107 |
19 | Omaha Concordia | 106 |
20 | Fort Calhoun | 103 |
21 | Boys Town | 100 |
22 | Auburn | 97 |
22 | Central City | 97 |
24 | Lincoln Christian | 96 |
25 | Syracuse | 94 |
26 | Chase County | 93 |
27 | Broken Bow | 92 |
27 | Chadron | 92 |
27 | Milford | 92 |
27 | Ogallala | 92 |
27 | Scotus Central Catholic | 92 |
32 | Logan View/Scribner-Snyder | 91 |
33 | Falls City | 89 |
34 | Pierce | 88 |
35 | Gothenburg | 87 |
35 | Louisville | 87 |
35 | Minden | 87 |
38 | O'Neill | 86 (95.6667) |
38 | Wilber-Clatonia | 86 (87.6667) |
Rank | School | Enrollment |
1 | Arlington | 86 (86.6667) |
2 | Conestoga | 84 |
2 | St. Paul | 84 |
4 | Kearney Catholic | 82 |
5 | Raymond Central | 81 |
5 | West Point-Beemer | 81 |
7 | Battle Creek | 79 |
7 | Palmyra | 79 |
9 | Wahoo Neumann | 76 |
10 | Boone Central | 72 |
11 | Lincoln Lutheran | 71 |
12 | Mitchell | 70 |
13 | Malcolm | 69 |
14 | Doniphan-Trumbull | 68 |
14 | Gibbon | 68 |
16 | Ord | 67 |
17 | Centura | 66 |
18 | North Bend Central | 64 |
19 | Fillmore Central | 62 |
19 | Tekamah-Herman | 62 |
19 | Valentine | 62 |
22 | Grand Island Central Catholic | 60 |
22 | Wood River | 60 |
24 | Hershey | 59 |
25 | Ponca | 57 |
26 | Amherst | 55 |
27 | Hartington Cedar Catholic | 54 |
27 | Norfolk Catholic | 54 |
27 | Superior | 54 |
30 | Gordon-Rushville | 51 |
31 | Cross County | 50 |
32 | Yutan | 49 |
33 | Oakland-Craig | 48 |
34 | David City Aquinas | 46 |
35 | Fremont Bergan | 45 |
36 | Hastings St. Cecilia | 38 |
Rank | School | Enrollment |
1 | David City | 73 (ineligible) |
2 | Johnson County Central | 70 (ineligible) |
3 | Wakefield | 61 (ineligible) |
4 | Twin River | 56 (ineligible) |
5 | Tri County | 52 (ineligible) |
6 | Alma | 50 (ineligible) |
7 | Atkinson West Holt | 49 (ineligible) |
8 | Bridgeport | 73 (exempt) |
9 | Summerland | 61 (exempt) |
10 | Freeman | 59 (exempt) |
11 | Madison | 58 (exempt) |
12 | Pender | 57 (exempt) |
13 | Omaha Christian/Omaha Street School | 55 (exempt) |
13 | Tri County Northeast | 55 (exempt) |
15 | Stanton | 54 (exempt) |
16 | Elkhorn Valley | 52 (exempt) |
17 | Perkins County | 50 (exempt) |
18 | Shelby/Rising City | 49 (exempt) |
19 | Crofton | 48 (exempt) |
19 | Hemingford | 48 (exempt) |
19 | Kimball | 48 (exempt) |
19 | Laurel-Concord-Coleridge | 48 (exempt) |
19 | Plainview | 48 (exempt) |
19 | Wisner-Pilger | 48 (exempt) |
25 | Exeter-Milligan/Friend | 47 |
25 | Heartland | 47 |
27 | Arcadia/Loup City | 46 |
27 | Centennial | 46 |
27 | Homer | 46 |
27 | Morrill | 46 |
27 | Sutton | 46 |
27 | Thayer Central | 46 |
33 | Guardian Angels Central Catholic | 45 |
33 | Hi-Line | 45 |
33 | Wausa/Osmond | 45 |
36 | Lutheran High Northeast | 44 |
36 | Sandy Creek | 44 |
38 | Clarkson/Leigh | 43 |
38 | Mead | 43 |
40 | Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family | 42 |
40 | St. Edward/Newman Grove | 42 |
42 | East Butler | 41 |
42 | Hartington-Newcastle | 41 |
42 | McCool Junction | 41 |
42 | Nebraska City Lourdes | 41 |
42 | Niobrara/Verdigre | 41 |
42 | South Loup | 41 |
48 | Boyd County | 40 |
48 | Dundy County-Stratton | 40 |
48 | Johnson-Brock | 40 |
48 | Pleasanton | 40 |
48 | Ravenna | 40 |
48 | Southern | 40 |
48 | Sutherland | 40 |
55 | Arapahoe | 39 |
55 | Bloomfield | 39 |
55 | North Platte St. Patrick's | 39 |
55 | Southern Valley | 39 |
59 | Sandhills Valley | 37 (38.6667) |
Rank | School | Enrollment |
1 | Howells-Dodge | 37 (36.3333) |
2 | Cambridge | 37 (35.6667) |
3 | Franklin | 37 (35.0000) |
4 | Bruning-Davenport/Shickley | 37 (34.6667) |
5 | Central Valley | 37 (33.6667) |
6 | Maywood/Hayes Center | 37 (32.6667) |
7 | Creighton | 37 (27.6667) |
8 | Ainsworth | 36 |
8 | Elmwood-Murdock | 36 |
8 | Hitchcock County | 36 |
8 | North Central | 36 |
8 | Palmer | 36 |
8 | Walthill | 36 |
14 | Wilcox-Hildreth | 35 |
15 | Bertrand | 34 |
15 | Elm Creek | 34 |
15 | Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer | 34 |
15 | Nebraska Christian | 34 |
15 | Riverside/Spalding Academy | 34 |
15 | Weeping Water | 34 |
21 | Burwell | 33 |
21 | Falls City Sacred Heart | 33 |
23 | Osceola | 32 |
23 | Overton | 32 |
25 | Blue Hill | 31 |
25 | Cedar Bluffs | 31 |
25 | Chambers/Wheeler Central | 31 |
25 | Deshler | 31 |
25 | Loomis | 31 |
25 | Lyons-Decatur Northeast | 31 |
31 | Axtell | 30 |
31 | Bancroft-Rosalie | 30 |
31 | Lawrence-Nelson | 30 |
31 | Twin Loup | 30 |
35 | Bayard | 29 |
35 | Neligh-Oakdale | 29 |
35 | Randolph | 29 |
35 | Winside | 29 |
39 | Brady | 28 |
39 | High Plains | 28 |
41 | Anselmo-Merna | 27 |
41 | Kenesaw | 27 |
43 | Fullerton | 26 |
43 | Maxwell | 26 |
45 | Elgin/Elgin Pope John | 25 |
45 | Humphrey St. Francis | 25 |
45 | Sandhills/Thedford | 25 |
45 | Wynot | 25 |
49 | Giltner | 24 |
50 | O'Neill St. Mary's | 22 |
51 | Hyannis | 21 |
52 | Nebraska Lutheran | 18 |
53 | Mullen | 16 |
Rank | School | Enrollment |
1 | Pawnee City | 34 (ineligible) |
2 | South Platte | 29 (ineligible) |
3 | Paxton | 34 (exempt) |
4 | Red Cloud | 30 (exempt) |
4 | Shelton | 30 (exempt) |
4 | Wauneta-Palisade | 30 (exempt) |
7 | Meridian | 29 (exempt) |
8 | Sumner-Eddyville-Miller | 27 |
9 | Ansley/Litchfield | 26 |
9 | Diller-Odell | 26 |
9 | Garden County | 26 |
9 | Silver Lake | 26 |
13 | Parkview Christian | 25 |
14 | Crawford | 24 |
14 | Creek Valley | 24 |
14 | Hay Springs | 24 |
14 | Heartland Lutheran | 24 |
18 | Lewiston | 23 |
18 | Southwest | 23 |
18 | Stuart | 23 |
21 | Cody-Kilgore | 22 |
21 | Medicine Valley | 22 |
23 | Leyton | 21 |
23 | Santee | 21 |
25 | Arthur County | 20 |
25 | Hampton | 20 |
25 | Harvard | 20 |
25 | Potter-Dix | 20 |
25 | Sterling | 20 |
25 | Wallace | 20 |
31 | Minatare | 15 |
32 | Dorchester | 14 |
33 | Banner County | 13 |
33 | Sioux County | 13 |
35 | Elba | 12 (JV only) |
1/3 of D1 is over the cutoff limit. Cmon NSAA member schools, this is ridiculous and has been for many years. Pass legislation that increases the current limit. Needs to be increased from 47 to 60+. Maybe as high as 70.CLASS D1
Boys Enrollment of 47 and Below are eligible
Rank School Enrollment 1 David City 73 (ineligible) 2 Johnson County Central 70 (ineligible) 3 Wakefield 61 (ineligible) 4 Twin River 56 (ineligible) 5 Tri County 52 (ineligible) 6 Alma 50 (ineligible) 7 Atkinson West Holt 49 (ineligible) 8 Bridgeport 73 (exempt) 9 Summerland 61 (exempt) 10 Freeman 59 (exempt) 11 Madison 58 (exempt) 12 Pender 57 (exempt) 13 Omaha Christian/Omaha Street School 55 (exempt) 13 Tri County Northeast 55 (exempt) 15 Stanton 54 (exempt) 16 Elkhorn Valley 52 (exempt) 17 Perkins County 50 (exempt) 18 Shelby/Rising City 49 (exempt) 19 Crofton 48 (exempt) 19 Hemingford 48 (exempt) 19 Kimball 48 (exempt) 19 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 48 (exempt) 19 Plainview 48 (exempt) 19 Wisner-Pilger 48 (exempt) 25 Exeter-Milligan/Friend 47 25 Heartland 47 27 Arcadia/Loup City 46 27 Centennial 46 27 Homer 46 27 Morrill 46 27 Sutton 46 27 Thayer Central 46 33 Guardian Angels Central Catholic 45 33 Hi-Line 45 33 Wausa/Osmond 45 36 Lutheran High Northeast 44 36 Sandy Creek 44 38 Clarkson/Leigh 43 38 Mead 43 40 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 42 40 St. Edward/Newman Grove 42 42 East Butler 41 42 Hartington-Newcastle 41 42 McCool Junction 41 42 Nebraska City Lourdes 41 42 Niobrara/Verdigre 41 42 South Loup 41 48 Boyd County 40 48 Dundy County-Stratton 40 48 Johnson-Brock 40 48 Pleasanton 40 48 Ravenna 40 48 Southern 40 48 Sutherland 40 55 Arapahoe 39 55 Bloomfield 39 55 North Platte St. Patrick's 39 55 Southern Valley 39 59 Sandhills Valley 37 (38.6667)
I don't believe opt downs would force Arlo up, or am I wrong?Of note, Brownell-Talbot did NOT opt to C2 (yet). Schools have a week to decide whether they want to opt up, opt down, or stay put.
Hypothetical... OBT opts down to C2. It moves Arlington to C1 but Arlington doesn't know that because they are currently listed as C2.
It’s amazing how much a class of 9 man could help solve this issue, but nobody wants to hear it.1/3 of D1 is over the cutoff limit. Cmon NSAA member schools, this is ridiculous and has been for many years. Pass legislation that increases the current limit. Needs to be increased from 47 to 60+. Maybe as high as 70.
I am not in favor of bumping the number by much. To me it still feels like moving the goalpost for the ineliligble teams does nothing but screws the teams at the bottom of the class. I'm gradually becoming more receptive to the idea of a 9 man class. Take the bottom 2/3rds of C1 and the top 1/3rd of D1. There will still be issue's though. Teams like Morrill are struggling to field 8 man teams. Then do you make 8 man on class or two and drop playoffs to 16 teams? I think its something that the NSAA is going to have to address sooner than later.It’s amazing how much a class of 9 man could help solve this issue, but nobody wants to hear it.
1 | Hershey | 59 |
2 | Ponca | 57 |
3 | Amherst | 55 |
4 | Hartington Cedar Catholic | 54 |
5 | Norfolk Catholic | 54 |
6 | Superior | 54 |
7 | Gordon-Rushville | 51 |
8 | Cross County | 50 |
9 | Yutan | 49 |
10 | Oakland-Craig | 48 |
11 | David City Aquinas | 46 |
12 | Fremont Bergan | 45 |
14 | Twin River | 56 |
15 | Tri County | 52 |
16 | Alma | 50 |
17 | Atkinson West Holt | 49 |
18 | Freeman | 59 |
19 | Madison | 58 |
20 | Pender | 57 |
21 | Omaha Christian/Omaha Street School | 55 |
22 | Tri County Northeast | 55 |
23 | Stanton | 54 |
24 | Elkhorn Valley | 52 |
25 | Perkins County | 50 |
26 | Shelby/Rising City | 49 |
27 | Crofton | 48 |
28 | Hemingford | 48 |
29 | Kimball | 48 |
30 | Laurel-Concord-Coleridge | 48 |
31 | Plainview | 48 |
32 | Wisner-Pilger | 48 |
33 | Exeter-Milligan/Friend | 47 |
34 | Heartland | 47 |
35 | Arcadia/Loup City | 46 |
36 | Centennial | 46 |
37 | Homer | 46 |
38 | Morrill | 46 |
39 | Sutton | 46 |
40 | Thayer Central | 46 |
41 | Guardian Angels Central Catholic | 45 |
42 | Hi-Line | 45 |
43 | Wausa/Osmond | 45 |
44 | Lutheran High Northeast | 44 |
45 | Sandy Creek | 44 |
46 | Clarkson/Leigh | 43 |
47 | Mead | 43 |
48 | Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family | 42 |
49 | St. Edward/Newman Grove | 42 |
50 | East Butler | 41 |
51 | Hartington-Newcastle | 41 |
52 | McCool Junction | 41 |
53 | Nebraska City Lourdes | 41 |
54 | Niobrara/Verdigre | 41 |
55 | South Loup | 41 |
56 | Boyd County | 40 |
57 | Dundy County-Stratton | 40 |
58 | Johnson-Brock | 40 |
59 | Pleasanton | 40 |
60 | Ravenna | 40 |
61 | Southern | 40 |
62 | Sutherland | 40 |
How does it screw the teams at the bottom of D1? That mindset is exactly why we have 1/3 of the class over the cutoff.I am not in favor of bumping the number by much. To me it still feels like moving the goalpost for the ineliligble teams does nothing but screws the teams at the bottom of the class. I'm gradually becoming more receptive to the idea of a 9 man class. Take the bottom 2/3rds of C1 and the top 1/3rd of D1. There will still be issue's though. Teams like Morrill are struggling to field 8 man teams. Then do you make 8 man on class or two and drop playoffs to 16 teams? I think its something that the NSAA is going to have to address sooner than later.
Agreed.I feel teams that opt down should be responsible for creating their own schedule and should not be included in districts or create a "district" with other teams that are opting down.
I think there is a happy medium in there. I understand the old school sentiment and I don't think anyone wants to diminish the accomplishment, but I think you' need to see why people are against increasing the size of classes and decreases the number of classes. Having a solid, competitive chance to do well, is a carrot for kids to play and compete. It's, a reminder that the games/competitions are for the kids, not for us old codgers who follow along in the newspaper or sit in the stands. There are reasons why things change, and that is because the next generation evolves into something else along with the circumstances in which they compete. There is a reason we switched to a playoff format in the 70s and it's because it made it more fair and objective. And that playoff format fit to the era that it existed in with the schools that were active at that point in time. Number of schools and sizes of schools have drastically changed. To treat everything like it was 50 years ago to prove to the kids that winning actually means something is a little disingenuous to the teams that currently win titles.Philosophical questions:
How many teams should be in a class? How few teams can a class be limited to before it starts to diminish the championship of that class?
Is it OK for there to be teams in a class that are super-duper long shots to ever, ever, ever win a state championship? What percentage of a class can be in that category?
Which way should class creators tend, toward everyone-has-a-real-shot or a-class-big-enough-to-be-a-significant-achievement-to-win?
I’m guessing the school with 37 kids vs a school with 73 kids in game is what is being referred to, I could be wrong. Also are the schools that “only worry about themselves” is that referring to the 24 teams opting down or using the exemption or the rest of D-1?How does it screw the teams at the bottom of D1? That mindset is exactly why we have 1/3 of the class over the cutoff.
Schools are too worried about themselves and making a 32 team playoff in which 69% of the field is eligible and don't care about the greater good. Most of the schools in D1 and many in D2 were at some point in very similar situations to these schools within the last 25 years.
OBT will not opt downOf note, Brownell-Talbot did NOT opt to C2 (yet). Schools have a week to decide whether they want to opt up, opt down, or stay put.
Hypothetical... OBT opts down to C2. It moves Arlington to C1 but Arlington doesn't know that because they are currently listed as C2.
Schools over the cutoff number can use a two year exemption to stay in the class and not move up a class. Only good for one time.What does "exempt" mean in this context?
The greater good is letting high school boys learn the lessons football teaches them. Teamwork, discipline, reacting to situations. getting knocked down and getting up again, etc. etc. The kids that play for the ineligible teams will still get an opportunity to experience all of that. Maybe these schools should get the old Gridiron Conference fired back up. Anyway, I'm saying allowing the bigger schools to become eligible screws a team like Sandhills Valley, who is the last team in D1. It creates a wider enrollment gap between them and the teams at the top that they have to compete with. But we have that in every class already as well. The disparity between top and bottom is large. Look at Class A. GI and North Platte are on way different levels. I just get mixed feelings with these teams dropping because they can't compete. I don't think rewarding them with playoff eligibility is right. There are a lot of teams with mid 40's enrollments that can't compete was well. Yes they have the option to drop to 6 man but IMO that isn't fair for the teams at the bottom of that class either. The trend is lowering participation numbers for sure. I'm not sure what the landscape of NE HS football looks like in another 10-15 years. It's pretty scary. Lots of consolidations and co-ops will totally change things.How does it screw the teams at the bottom of D1? That mindset is exactly why we have 1/3 of the class over the cutoff.
Schools are too worried about themselves and making a 32 team playoff in which 69% of the field is eligible and don't care about the greater good. Most of the schools in D1 and many in D2 were at some point in very similar situations to these schools within the last 25 years.
Your last sentence is so true. Consolidations and co-ops are necessary if Nebraska HS football wants to continue on it's current road.The greater good is letting high school boys learn the lessons football teaches them. Teamwork, discipline, reacting to situations. getting knocked down and getting up again, etc. etc. The kids that play for the ineligible teams will still get an opportunity to experience all of that. Maybe these schools should get the old Gridiron Conference fired back up. Anyway, I'm saying allowing the bigger schools to become eligible screws a team like Sandhills Valley, who is the last team in D1. It creates a wider enrollment gap between them and the teams at the top that they have to compete with. But we have that in every class already as well. The disparity between top and bottom is large. Look at Class A. GI and North Platte are on way different levels. I just get mixed feelings with these teams dropping because they can't compete. I don't think rewarding them with playoff eligibility is right. There are a lot of teams with mid 40's enrollments that can't compete was well. Yes they have the option to drop to 6 man but IMO that isn't fair for the teams at the bottom of that class either. The trend is lowering participation numbers for sure. I'm not sure what the landscape of NE HS football looks like in another 10-15 years. It's pretty scary. Lots of consolidations and co-ops will totally change things.
I think people will need to just accept that fact that cycle to cycle things are going to change. I hate change as much as the next guy but kids will need to compete. It's gonna be so tough out west. It's one thing when you can see the other towns elevator from down the highway. Sandhills school districts are so damn big. It will be really tough on some of these families.Your last sentence is so true. Consolidations and co-ops are necessary if Nebraska HS football wants to continue on it's current road.
Agreed on the schools north and west of North Platte. It's almost impossible.I think people will need to just accept that fact that cycle to cycle things are going to change. I hate change as much as the next guy but kids will need to compete. It's gonna be so tough out west. It's one thing when you can see the other towns elevator from down the highway. Sandhills school districts are so damn big. It will be really tough on some of these families.
Possible schools included:Aside from parents who can't let go of their high school playing days, what's stopping the schools on Hwy 91 from forming their own version of Norris. Put it there at the intersection of 91 and 81 and call it a day. Yeah it may be 30 miles one way for someone in Dodge but think of all the football championships they'd win and that's what high school is all about right????
These places would be hell to coach at! Imagine throwing 3-4 neighboring towns together and trying to keep the parents under control. I'd be interested to hear the horror stories from people that have coached in new co-ops. Especially if there wasn't initial success.Agreed on the schools north and west of North Platte. It's almost impossible.
But there are plenty of districts east of Kearney that could merge and the schools would not be that large (C2 to C1 size). It would also help with the teaching shortage, pooling resources and money could help build nicer facilities, add more to a curriculum, etc. Which would be great for the STUDENTS. It's amazing to me how many adults don't want to give their children more opportunities in the classroom and in extracurriculars because they are "afraid" the class sizes will be too big or their kid won't be able to start on a bad football team.
Parents and other town leaders need to understand that the school is for the kids, not for them. People are not moving back after college to every small town in Nebraska that has a school. Some move back, but they move back to the town down the road that might be larger and have more to offer, but they still have a small town feel.
Imagine two towns or two schools coming together and schools would be able to field JV teams that wouldn’t have to rely on freshman for every play. Quick examples.These places would be hell to coach at! Imagine throwing 3-4 neighboring towns together and trying to keep the parents under control. I'd be interested to hear the horror stories from people that have coached in new co-ops. Especially if there wasn't initial success.
I think they are hard for administrators too. I see Summerland’s superintendent just resigned. I have a hunch it’s difficult with those three communities.These places would be hell to coach at! Imagine throwing 3-4 neighboring towns together and trying to keep the parents under control. I'd be interested to hear the horror stories from people that have coached in new co-ops. Especially if there wasn't initial success.
Summerland is an example of what this state needs in the current situation.I think they are hard for administrators too. I see Summerland’s superintendent just resigned. I have a hunch it’s difficult with those three communities.
That osmond-Randolph thing didn’t see much athletic success and was ultimately derailed by parents. We will see how the wausa-osmond thing goes. Allen and Emerson Hubbard seem to have a decent thing going and doesn’t sound like either is all that interested in doing anything with Wakefield. Plainview and creighton both may someday play 11 man football if their elementary numbers keep trending up so doubt they do anything together.Imagine two towns or two schools coming together and schools would be able to field JV teams that wouldn’t have to rely on freshman for every play. Quick examples.
Wausa-Bloomfield
Osmond-Randolph
Creighton-Plainview
Allen-Wakefield
Logan View-SS
Loomis-Bertrand
Sterling-Lewiston
Pawnee City-HTRS
Elmwood-Murdock-Weeping Water
Hampton-Henderson
High Plains-Stromsburg
Osceola-SRC
Elm Creek-Overton
Would agree about state consolidation if the state provided more funding for the schools, but it seems to be trending towards the districts leaning heavier on local property taxes. This empowers small towns to say “If we want a school with & kids per class, we are willing to pay for it.” Co-ops are great because it helps struggling programs with low numbers provide opportunities but they aren’t set in stone. They can be short term solutions. For example, BRLD had a great co-op going but when it became a bit one sided with talent contribution and the enrollment got too big, Bancroft-Rosalie told Lyons-Decatur to take take a hike. Sucks for Lyons, but B-R had every legal right to do it because they didn’t have anything tying them together. With the co-ops being annual approvals, it leaves the door open for that occurrence. Long term, consolidations are probably a better idea, but with it being a local decision, it probably won’t happen. There was a proposal a few years ago for an Oakland-Craig / Tekamah-Herman consolidation but ultimately got voted down. Facilities and offerings would have been amazing. It just came down to some people who don’t have kids in school anymore didn’t want to pay for it, people didn’t want to lose a school in their town (it would have been built in the country), and essentially T-H would contribute nothing in athletics except inflated numbers pushing them up to C1. The plans for the school were pretty amazing thoughThat osmond-Randolph thing didn’t see much athletic success and was ultimately derailed by parents. We will see how the wausa-osmond thing goes. Allen and Emerson Hubbard seem to have a decent thing going and doesn’t sound like either is all that interested in doing anything with Wakefield. Plainview and creighton both may someday play 11 man football if their elementary numbers keep trending up so doubt they do anything together.
People always hate the idea but probably the best thing for the kids and tax payers would be if the state stepped in and said if you don’t have a total enrollment of X(say 195 with there being 15 kids per class K-12) by 2030 we are going to make you co-op with the most logical neighbor. Would incentivize a lot more towns to get things done on their own I think.