Academics

What exactly is Post grad?

A post-grad prep school, simply put, provides another year of secondary school before moving on to college. It is considered a fifth year of high school. Athletes do not lose their college playing eligibility like they do by playing at the junior college level. Some schools allow students to graduate in December and declare them eligible for college in January. This makes an athlete more attractive to college coaches and helps him get acclimated to college before fall practice begins.

Understanding The “PG Year”

• A PG year is a bridge year post-high school designed to improve academics, test scores, physical maturity, and athletic skills. It does not affect NCAA eligibility, preserving the athlete’s four years of collegiate eligibility.

• These programs offer a fresh start—structured as a year-long academic-athletic experience, often on boarding campuses—while preparing athletes for college life.

Reasons why athletes choose post grad

1. Academics

Some athletes have GPA or core class requirements to fill, and others need to improve their ACT or SAT scores. 

2. No offers. Now what?

Some players just need time to get a little better. Skill development is a huge focus for these schools. They don’t have high school or NCAA time restraints and they are able to spend ample time on weight training and field practice to develop their athletes.

3. Damaged Goods

College coaches can pull a scholarship offer or never extend one to an injured athlete. A year of post-grad allows the athlete to recover, build his strength back and show coaches he is 100 percent healthy.

4. I Played Quarterback in High School

High school athletes are put in position to help their team win, not necessarily the best place for them to get recruited or succeed at the college level. The most common position change involves former high school quarterbacks. The quarterback is often the best athlete on his team. He might be 5-foot-9 with great footwork and a knack for making plays. But it can be tough for a college coach to project where this athlete might succeed in college. A post-grad program can help him prove he can play another position

Students can complete their academic requirements through Mountwest Community Technical College or Collins Career Technical Center. To find out more information on the schools and their offerings, click on the links below.