Now that 2014 is in the books, I thought it would be a good idea to put somE numbers to,the never ending public/private debate. I have no real horse in this race as I care less who wins once ridlley is done . The numbers are from various PIAA web sites
In 2014 there were 578 schools playing football in PIAA, 57 of which were designated private schools. This is almost exactly 10% of PIAA schools. It does not include schools that are not part of the PIAA like the Inter Ac. It also designates charter schools like Imhotep as public and some regional vi-tech schools as private even though many charter schools are more private than public and more vo tech schools are more public than private. However, these schools are not abundant enough across the state to make any statistical difference in the numbers.
Since the PCL joined in 2008 there have been 7 years of championships over 4 classifications , or 28 total champions crowned. There is an even split of 14 champs each for both public and private schools.
Looking deeper into the. U bets, ther have been 112 teams in final fours in the past 7 years spread across 4 classifications. Of the 112 teams, 43 were private schools or around 38 %. the overall numbers are pArticularly skewed at both the AAA level and by the PCL. At the AAA level , 6 of the 7 champions have been private and 18 of the 28 final 4 teams have been private. The PCL has won 25% of all championships contested and lost 3 others, thereby demonstrating what we already knew- the PCL is clearly the best league in the state.
So the privates are competing and winning at a much higher statistical rate than there total over per cent age of teams would merit. Statistically speaking, a kid has a much better chance of competing and winning a state championship if he attends a private school, especially if that private school is in the PCL. Is that due to talent , recruiting , coaching, ideology , support etc? Who really knows. But the disparity in numbers is growing since 2011 and if the publics don't figure out a way to compete with the privates the gap is only going to widen.
In 2014 there were 578 schools playing football in PIAA, 57 of which were designated private schools. This is almost exactly 10% of PIAA schools. It does not include schools that are not part of the PIAA like the Inter Ac. It also designates charter schools like Imhotep as public and some regional vi-tech schools as private even though many charter schools are more private than public and more vo tech schools are more public than private. However, these schools are not abundant enough across the state to make any statistical difference in the numbers.
Since the PCL joined in 2008 there have been 7 years of championships over 4 classifications , or 28 total champions crowned. There is an even split of 14 champs each for both public and private schools.
Looking deeper into the. U bets, ther have been 112 teams in final fours in the past 7 years spread across 4 classifications. Of the 112 teams, 43 were private schools or around 38 %. the overall numbers are pArticularly skewed at both the AAA level and by the PCL. At the AAA level , 6 of the 7 champions have been private and 18 of the 28 final 4 teams have been private. The PCL has won 25% of all championships contested and lost 3 others, thereby demonstrating what we already knew- the PCL is clearly the best league in the state.
So the privates are competing and winning at a much higher statistical rate than there total over per cent age of teams would merit. Statistically speaking, a kid has a much better chance of competing and winning a state championship if he attends a private school, especially if that private school is in the PCL. Is that due to talent , recruiting , coaching, ideology , support etc? Who really knows. But the disparity in numbers is growing since 2011 and if the publics don't figure out a way to compete with the privates the gap is only going to widen.
