High School Students Getting Past District Guidelines

Normally, when student-athletes attend a specific building in the district, it is because they are district-assigned to that building. Most kids adhere to this standard rule, but there are exceptions. You can “open enroll” to a different school. Kids have started attending another school in their district that they are not districted to because the academics or athletics are better than the one they are supposed to be attending.

For example, high school students who attend Dublin City Schools generally say that Dublin Jerome is the “academic” school, Dublin Coffman is the “athletic” school, and Dublin Scioto is “artsy.” Many athletes would argue that college scouts pay more attention to Coffman athletes than those who attend Jerome, simply because more Coffman students get offered college scholarships. Coffman is historically better at sports than Jerome, and students from both Coffman and Jerome know it.

Some students take advantage of a waiver that allows them to go to a school they are not districted to so that they can pursue a career. One Ohio State junior baseball player says that he was districted to Jerome but received a waiver to enroll at Coffman because he wanted a “real chance” at playing baseball in college, and he got it. He truly believes that if he had attended Jerome, scouts would not have paid the same attention to him. But, why is that? It’s not like athletes from Jerome never attend a college for the sport of their choice. It’s that significantly more students receive athletic offers or scholarships when they attend Coffman. So, if Coffman is known as the sports school, where does that leave Jerome?

According to bestschools.org, Jerome is ranked #9 out of all high schools in Ohio. A former Jerome student who was districted to Coffman chose to open enroll at Jerome, because he felt he would be “way better prepared for college," adding, "they take academics seriously here and I think it really makes a difference in my learning.” However, the scale tips both ways. Jerome’s athletic programs could soar if more athletes stayed, and Coffman’s academic programs could soar if more students stayed.

All in all, the Dublin City Schools District is #7 in the state of Ohio according to niche.com, which is a very impressive rank. This district offers a lot for kids regardless of the school they attend.