Sixty-two high school football programs from 13 states are in the running for the first-ever National High School Academic Excellence Award presented by the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame. The award will recognize the top individual high school football team in the nation for excellence in the classroom.
According to a news release from the NFF, the initiative is designed to inspire and foster a culture of academic excellence on high school football teams throughout the nation.
The 62 finalists (listed below) from each division of play were selected by the individual states’ high school coaches associations from a pool of semifinalists submitted by each school’s head coach. A selection committee, created by the NFF, will be responsible for choosing one school as the recipient of the National High School Academic Excellence Award.
Eligibility requirements for the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award include:
- A minimum cumulative team GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Superior academic application and performance
- Successful football season
“Academic and athletic success go hand-in-hand,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “We are proud to announce these 62 outstanding high school football teams as the top academic performers in their states. These schools, coaches, players and their families should all be incredibly proud of their accomplishments, and we look forward to announcing the overall winner of the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award on February 9. We hope by inspiring teams to compete in the classroom with the same competitive spirit that it takes to win on the field, we will better prepare high school football players for success later in life.”
The NFF announced the creation of the award in February 2021, with the Nebraska and Texas state high school coaches associations leading the initial effort.
“Texas is excited to partner with the National Football Foundation in an effort to recognize team academic excellence,” said Joe Martin, the Executive Director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. “This unique, national award recognizes High School Football teams that have excelled in academics during this football season. Not only does the game of football teach life lessons, but the teams receiving this award are proving they can compete in the classroom as well as on the gridiron.”
“The Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA) is proud to partner with the National Football Foundation to recognize team distinction in the classroom,” said Darin Boysen, the Executive Director of the NCA. “Football is an integral part of education-based athletics across America. The NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award showcases team excellence beyond ‘Friday Night Lights.'”
The winning team will be announced on February 9.
2021-22 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award – State Winners
Florida
4A – Umatilla High School in Umatilla, Florida
Illinois
7A – Mundelein High School in Mundelein, Illinois
6A – Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Illinois
4A – Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, Illinois
Indiana
6A – Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana
5A – Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana
4A – Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana
3A – Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, Indiana
2A – Centerville Senior High School in Centerville, Indiana
1A – Lutheran High School in Indianapolis, Indiana
Kansas
6A – Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas
5A – Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas
4A – St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas
3A – Andale High School in Andale, Kansas
2A – Rossville Junior-Senior High School in Rossville, Kansas
1A – Olpe Junior-Senior High School in Olpe, Kansas
Louisiana
5A – Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana
1A – Ouachita Christian School in Monroe, Louisiana
Michigan
D8 – Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Marine City, Michigan
D6 – Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak, Michigan
D5 – Lutheran North High School in Macomb, Michigan
D4 – Goodrich High School in Goodrich, Michigan
D3 – DeWitt High School in DeWitt, Michigan
D2 – De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren, Michigan
D1 – Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan
8 Man/D2 – Pellston High School in Pellston, Michigan
Minnesota
6A – Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota
5A – Alexandria Area High School in Alexandria, Minnesota
4A – Benilde-St. Margaret’s in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
3A – Perham High School in Perham, Minnesota
2A – Maple River Senior High School in Mapleton, Minnesota
1A – Upsala/Swanville Area – Upsala High School in Upsala, Minnesota and Swanville High School in Swanville, Minnesota
9 Man – Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley High School in Graceville, Minnesota
Nebraska
A – Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska
B – Aurora High School in Aurora, Nebraska
C1 – Fort Calhoun High School in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska
C2 – Grand Island Central Catholic School in Grand Island, Nebraska
D1 – Hemingford High School in Hemingford, Nebraska
D2 – Verdigre High School-Niobrara High School (Co-op) in Verdigre, Nebraska and Niobrara, Nebraska
Oklahoma
6A-2 – Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma
6A-1 – Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5A – Duncan High School in Duncan, Oklahoma
4A – Tuttle High School in Tuttle, Oklahoma
3A – Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma
2A – Crossings Christian School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
C – Waynoka High School in Waynoka, Oklahoma
B – Southwest Covenant Schools in Yukon, Oklahoma
A – Minco High School in Minco, Oklahoma
Oregon
6A – Summit High School in Bend, Oregon
5A – Canby High School in Canby, Oregon
3A – Warrenton High School in Warrenton, Oregon
2A – Monroe High School in Monroe, Oregon
1A – Crosspoint Christian School in Klamath Falls, Oregon
South Dakota
11AA – Aberdeen Central High School in Aberdeen, South Dakota
Tennessee
5A – Walker Valley High School in Cleveland, Tennessee
Texas
6A – Cypress Woods High School in Cypress, Texas
5A – Lubbock-Cooper High School in Lubbock, Texas
4A – Canyon High School in Canyon, Texas
3A – Idalou High School in Idalou, Texas
2A – Smyer High School in Smyer, Texas
1A – Chester High School in Chester,
Texas Private – Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, Texas
