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Prep Zone: High School Sports

Athletic transfers top 6,000 for 2011-2012

8:45 am August 7, 2012, by GHSF Daily

More than 6,000 Georgia students who transferred high schools in 2011-12 sought to play varsity sports at their new schools, according to documents released by the Georgia High School Association under Open Records laws.

Only 4,603 of those transfers were approved by the GHSA, the rest being declared ineligible for at least one season.

Below, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and GHSF Daily report the number of eligible transfers at every football-playing school in the state. The totals include all athletes, not just football players.

The volume of transfers seeking to play varsity sports – an average of about 14 transfer students per GHSA member – demonstrates the challenge the GHSA faces when criticized over not doing more to curb the trend.

“I realize the rich get richer [with transfers],” said Gary Phillips, the GHSA’s assistant executive director, who oversees eligibility requests. “But it’s a free country. If you can buy and sell a house for the betterment of your children, why should we interfere with that?”

Some interesting findings in the data:

*About 25 percent of transfers fail to gain varsity eligibility in their first seasons. Phillips said most of those are because the student has not moved into the new school zone, as required by GHSA rules. The GHSA does not grant automatic transfers for No Child Left Behind or magnet schools. Students going from public to private schools, or vice versa, also must change school zones to be eligible the first year. The estimated 6,000 transfers are just those who request immediate eligibility. Many transfers don’t apply until their second years because they know they aren’t eligible.

*There are 15 football-playing schools that had no transfer students playing sports in 2011-12. All except Pacelli in Columbus are rural Georgia public schools. They include Wilcox County, which was at the forefront of the movement to have public and private schools in Class A play for separate state championships.

*The four private schools that won all-sports trophies – Marist (AAAA), Woodward Academy (AAA), Westminster (AA) and Wesleyan (A) – had only 18 eligible transfers in 2011-12, an average of 4.5 per school.

*Aside from Riverside Military Academy, a boarding school with 66 eligible transfers, the schools with the most transfers were South Gwinnett (59), Duluth (46) and Brookwood (45) from Gwinnett County. Buford, a city school in Gwinnett often in the middle of the transfer debate, had 13.

*The numbers don’t predict sports success. For example, of the schools with the most transfers in each of the 16 regions in AAAAAA and AAAAA, three were region champions and three were runners-up in 2011, but eight finished in the bottom half of the standings.

Story produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.

Editor’s note: David Purdum will be reporting on the transfer issue for the AJC throughout the fall. Contact him at dpurdum@ajc.com.

CLASS AAAAAA CLASS AAAA CLASS AA
Region 1 Region 1 Region 1
31 – Camden Co. 9 – Westover 8 – Thomasville
23 – Lowndes 9 – Worth Co. 7 – Brooks Co.
17 – Valdosta 6 – Americus-Sumter 7 – Cook
12 – Brunswick 6 – Crisp Co. 5 – Berrien
12 – Coffee 5 – Dougherty 3 – Pelham
11 – Tift Co. 4 – Albany 2 – Fitzgerald
5 – Colquitt Co. 4 – Cairo 1 – Early Co.
Region 2 3 – Monroe Region 2
29 – Lovejoy Region 2 20 – Long Co.
27 – Luella 19 – Veterans 17 – Vidalia
19 – Rockdale Co. 16 – Howard 8 – Bacon Co.
16 – Morrow 14 – Westside, Macon 7 – Bryan Co.
13 – Newton 12 – Perry 6 – Toombs Co.
12 – Druid Hills 10 – Rutland 5 – Jeff Davis
9 – Alcovy 8 – West Laurens 3 – McIntosh Co. Acad.
Region 3 7 – Mary Persons 2 – Benedictine Military
32 – East Coweta 1 – Baldwin 2 – Metter
25 – Newnan Region 3 1 – Atkinson Co.
24 – Douglas Co. 22 – South Effingham Region 3
23 – Tri-Cities 19 – Statesboro 14 – Westside, Augusta
10 – Langston Hughes 17 – Liberty Co. 9 – Laney
3 – Westlake 13 – Hephzibah 8 – Dublin
Region 4 12 – Butler 8 – East Laurens
39 – Marietta 12 – Richmond Acad. 5 – Harlem
24 – Hillgrove 6 – Cross Creek 5 – Josey
23 – Campbell 3 – Burke Co. 1 – Screven Co.
22 – Kennesaw Mtn. 3 – Wayne Co. Region 4
20 – McEachern 2 – Glenn Hills 11 – Crawford Co.
17 – South Cobb Region 4 7 – Bleckley Co.
16 – Harrison 19 – Dutchtown 7 – Lamar Co.
16 – North Cobb 19 – Riverdale 6 – Northeast, Macon
2 – Pebblebrook 16 – Stockbridge 6 – Putnam Co.
Region 5 14 – Eagle’s Landing 4 – Monticello
22 – Roswell 12 – Jonesboro 1 – Macon Co.
18 – Etowah 11 – Locust Grove 1 – Taylor Co.
18 – Woodstock 11 – North Clayton Region 5
14 – Walton 9 – Spalding 25 – Chattahoochee Co.
13 – Lassiter 7 – Woodland, Henry 11 – Spencer
12 – Milton 6 – Griffin 7 – Bremen
9 – Cherokee 0 – Upson-Lee 7 – Heard Co.
9 – Wheeler Region 5 7 – Temple
Region 6 20 – Shaw 6 – Kendrick
33 – West Forsyth 13 – Fayette Co. 3 – Bowdon
28 – South Forsyth 13 – Sandy Creek 3 – Jordan
27 – Lambert 13 – Troup Co. 0 – Manchester
25 – Alpharetta 12 – Carrollton Region 6
20 – Centennial 9 – Columbus 13 – Greater Atl. Christ.
16 – North Forsyth 8 – Alexander 6 – Wesleyan
10 – Chattahoochee 3 – LaGrange 4 – Lovett
10 – Johns Creek Region 6 4 – Westminster
Region 7 34 – Grady 3 – Hapeville Charter
46 – Duluth 32 – Therrell Region 7
42 – Mill Creek 28 – Lithonia 7 – Pepperell
40 – Peachtree Ridge 25 – Stone Mountain 6 – Calhoun
29 – North Gwinnett 23 – Redan 5 – Model
28 – Collins Hill 20 – Chamblee 4 – Armuchee
18 – Mountain View 19 – Columbia 4 – Coosa
16 – Norcross 12 – Washington 4 – Murray Co.
15 – Meadowcreek 11 – South Atlanta 3 – Dade Co.
4 – Habersham Central 6 – Banneker 1 – Chattooga
Region 8 4 – Carver, Atlanta Region 8
59 – South Gwinnett 3 – Marist 66 – Riverside Military
45 – Brookwood Region 7 6 – Oglethorpe Co.
38 – Grayson 13 – Dalton 4 – Jefferson
35 – Shiloh 12 – Gilmer 4 – Social Circle
31 – Archer 12 – River Ridge 4 – Washington-Wilkes
30 – Parkview 11 – Pickens 3 – Union Co.
27 – Dacula 10 – Cass 2 – Rabun Co.
6 – Berkmar 8 – Ridgeland 0 – Greene Co.
5 – Central Gwinnett 7 – Cedartown CLASS A
CLASS AAAAA 5 – LaFayette Region 1
Region 1 4 – Northwest Whitfield 8 – Seminole Co.
20 – Lee Co. 4 – Southeast Whitfield 4 – Calhoun Co.
20 – Northside, Col. 1 – Heritage, Catoosa 4 – Miller Co.
17 – Harris Co. Region 8 1 – Baconton Charter
14 – Hardaway 28 – Walnut Grove 1 – Terrell Co.
9 – Bainbridge 24 – Lanier 0 – Mitchell Co.
8 – Thomas Co. Central 18 – Lumpkin Co. 0 – Randolph Clay
Region 2 15 – Monroe Area 0 – Stewart Co.
43 – Grovetown 11 – Chestatee Region 2
28 – Greenbrier 7 – Stephens Co. 7 – Irwin Co.
28 – Warner Robins 4 – Eastside 4 – Telfair Co.
21 – Lakeside, Evans 4 – Johnson, Gaines. 2 – Charlton Co.
16 – Houston Co. 4 – Madison Co. 2 – Lanier Co.
15 – Evans CLASS AAA 1 – Clinch Co.
12 – Northside, WR Region 1 1 – Turner Co.
9 – Jones Co. 13 – Brantley Co. 0 – Wilcox Co.
Region 3 12 – Johnson, Sav. Region 3
43 – Richmond Hill 11 – Southeast Bulloch 13 – Sav. Christian
27 – Bradwell Institute 3 – Tattnall Co. 9 – Calvary Day
15 – Effingham Co. 2 – Beach 7 – Treutlen
10 – Windsor Forest 2 – Pierce Co. 6 – Johnson Co.
9 – Jenkins 2 – Savannah 5 – Montgomery Co.
8 – Glynn Academy 0 – Appling Co. 4 – Sav. Country Day
8 – Ware Co. Region 2 2 – Claxton
6 – Groves 23 – Henry Co. 2 – Jenkins Co.
Region 4 6 – Central, Macon 2 – Portal
29 – McIntosh 5 – Pike Co. 1 – Wheeler Co.
28 – Union Grove 5 – Southwest, Macon 0 – Emanuel Co. Inst.
22 – Ola 4 – Carver, Columbus Region 4
16 – Northgate 4 – Peach Co. 5 – Brookstone
14 – Mt. Zion, Jones. 0 – Jackson 5 – Marion Co.
10 – Creekside Region 3 4 – Dooly Co.
9 – Forest Park 7 – Thomson 4 – Greenville
7 – Whitewater 5 – Dodge Co. 4 – Hawkinsville
4 – Drew 4 – Jefferson Co. 4 – Schley Co.
1 – Mundy’s Mill 1 – Swainsboro 0 – Central, Talbotton
1 – Starr’s Mill 0 – Washington Co. 0 – Pacelli
Region 5 Region 4 Region 5
21 – Allatoona 20 – Callaway 12 – Strong Rock
21 – South Paulding 13 – Central, Carroll 8 – ELCA
19 – East Paulding 13 – Rockmart 8 – Holy Innocents’
14 – North Paulding 10 – Chapel Hill 6 – Landmark Christian
14 – Paulding Co. 5 – Jackson, Atlanta 4 – Our Lady of Mercy
13 – Hiram 4 – Haralson Co. 3 – Pace Academy
10 – Lithia Springs 3 – B.E.S.T. Academy Region 6
8 – Woodland, Carters. 1 – Douglass 15 – Mt. Paran Christian
5 – Villa Rica Region 5 15 – St. Francis
4 – New Manchester 33 – Coahulla Creek 13 – Mt. Pisgah Christ.
3 – Rome 10 – Adairsville 12 – Trion
Region 6 10 – Cartersville 9 – Walker School
30 – Stephenson 8 – North Murray 7 – Whitefield Academy
29 – Tucker 7 – Ringgold 6 – Darlington
26 – M.L. King 6 – Sonoraville 6 – N. Cobb Christian
19 – Miller Grove 3 – Gordon Central 4 – Mt. Zion, Carroll
17 – Southwest DeKalb 3 – Lakeview-Ft. Ogle. 4 – SW Atlanta Christ.
14 – North Atlanta Region 6 3 – Fellowship Christian
12 – Clarkston 27 – Towers 1 – Gordon Lee
9 – Dunwoody 8 – McNair 1 – King’s Ridge
8 – Arabia Mountain 7 – Decatur Region 7
5 – Lakeside, DeKalb 5 – Blessed Trinity 7 – Aquinas
5 – Mays 5 – Woodward Acad. 6 – Wilkinson Co.
Region 7 4 – St. Pius 5 – Twiggs Co.
41 – North Springs 2 – Cedar Grove 4 – Lincoln Co.
22 – Riverwood 1 – Cross Keys 3 – First Presbyterian
15 – Sprayberry Region 7 2 – Georgia Military
14 – Forsyth Central 15 – White Co. 1 – Glascock Co.
13 – Creekview 13 – Buford 1 – Hancock Central
11 – Kell 13 – Dawson Co. 0 – Warren Co.
11 – Pope 11 – North Hall Region 8
9 – Sequoyah 10 – Banks Co. 22 – Athens Christian
8 – Osborne 7 – West Hall 11 – Lakeview Academy
2 – Northview 4 – Fannin Co. 7 – Hebron Christian
Region 8 3 – East Hall 3 – Pinecrest Academy
17 – Flowery Branch Region 8 3 – Towns Co.
15 – Apalachee 12 – North Oconee 2 – Prince Avenue
15 – Loganville 10 – Jackson Co. 1 – Athens Academy
14 – Cedar Shoals 10 – Oconee Co. 1 – Commerce
14 – Clarke Central 8 – East Jackson 1 – George Walton
14 – Salem 8 – Hart Co. 1 – Providence Christ.
12 – Gainesville 7 – Morgan Co. 0 – Rabun Gap
7 – Heritage, Conyers 2 – Franklin Co.
3 – Winder-Barrow
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102 comments Add your comment

Lonnie Combs

August 19th, 2012
12:04 am

At least one kid that transferred from another state is in an interesting “situation”…he came in and was immediately named a starter for Calhoun, while his father took over a college program in Macon. That’s a long commute for Dad! Or does he live with another family member? I bet that one of the Bibb County schools would have loved having an all state player on their team…If he does live with another family member, doesn’t that constitue “undue influence” if that family member just happens to be a coach there?

Pintocb

August 28th, 2012
10:40 pm

He lives in Calhoun, and yes, his dad commutes. I guess it’s “bad character” on their part to want to live near family……SMH

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