Private and regional schools have long displayed their dominance in competitive high school sports, often startlingly outperforming public schools and city leagues. While their success is commendable, it raises questions about fairness and whether systemic advantages contribute to their dominance.
Boston Latin School sports teams compete in the Dual County League (DCL), where the majority of schools are suburban public schools. DCL schools, however, benefit from possessing more readily available space for facilities. Furthermore, the majority of BLS teams also often compete in out-of-league games against prominent private schools.
One factor that contributes to the athletic performance of high schools is access to superior resources. Massachusetts suburbs oftentimes have large high schools that encompass students from entire regions or towns, leading to a shocking surplus of funding. Private schools similarly boast state-of-the-art facilities, creating an athletically focused environment and directly contributing to better success on the field.
Abigale Burns, a soccer player at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, says that she sees the difference between opponent public schools immediately. She states, “[P]rivate schools can attract more people and get more funding.”
In regards to funding, public schools are often undervalued. BLS football and baseball Coach Timothy McQuade comments, “Schools like Saint Sebastian’s have more donors and probably can pull from those funds for a lot of stuff. Even with the Boston Latin School Association, we do not have any facilities just like the rest of Boston Public Schools.”
Recruitment also plays a significant role in athletic achievements. Private schools market their stellar athletics with the goal of obtaining student-athletes that will eventually go on to play college sports. This means that public schools are naturally disadvantaged, especially schools similar to BLS that are more academically focused.
Gus Millon, a sophomore at Boston College High School and member of the tennis and ski teams, adds, “While I believe the main difference is the undeniable level of college recruiting seen at private schools compared to public schools, one would also see a difference in intensity during training, games and championships.”
Student-athletes experience the connection that opposing players have on the court, field and rink firsthand. With the majority of the players accustomed to high intensity training sessions, private school sports environments often help build chemistry and camaraderie, ultimately creating greater success.
Public schools, especially BPS, have trouble creating powerful and competitive sports programs. The BLS football team’s home field was moved to Clemente this year with the renovation of their usual field at White Stadium. Coach McQuade describes the players’ excitement surrounding their new home field, saying, “[A] lot of kids really liked playing near the School because it truly felt like a real home game.”
The disparities between availability of resources, funding and recruitment opportunities highlights the athletic imbalance between different types of schools. The inequalities between public and private or regional schools, nevertheless, is not a testament to how hard student-athletes work both in the classroom and in their sports
