Academic Guidelines for Athletics

Virginia High School League (VHSL) Eligibility

For a student to participate on a Winchester Public Schools athletic team, each athlete must have satisfied all academic eligibility requirements as listed below.

• The student must pass three of four classes to be eligible the following semester. 

• The student may not repeat courses for eligibility purposes for which credit has been previously awarded.

• The student must be in good standing and abide by the school activity’s rules and regulations.

• The student cannot be 19 years of age on or before August 1st of the current year.

• The student has only eight consecutive semesters of eligibility after they enter the 9th grade for the first time. 

Additional guidelines can be found at handley pride.org, located in the VHSL handbook. All questions regarding athletics and activities should be directed to the Director of Student Activities.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Eligibility

Students who wish to participate in NCAA Division I or II athletics in college must be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Students must qualify academically and be cleared as an amateur student-athlete. NCAA academic eligibility is determined, in part, by performance in approved core courses as reflected on the student’s official transcript. JHHS-approved core courses are designated NCAA in the course catalog.