Getting the Gold: College Preparation

College preparation is a complicated process. Taking the time to understand how to navigate NCAA eligibility and a practical timeline for higher education goals is crucial to your students’ success in academics and athletics.

What is the NCAA?

The National Collegiate Athletic Association was established in 1906 and consists of over 1,100 colleges, universities, conferences, and non-profit amateur athletic organizations. The national office in Indianapolis, Indiana is responsible for implementing the rules established by the member colleges and oversees the distribution of funding received from a variety of sources such as media contracts and championship ticket sales from the 90 championships in 24 sports held each year.

Scoring NCAA Eligibility

NCAA eligibility doesn’t have to be confusing. Understanding how this process works and what steps student-athletes can take to better position themselves is imperative to a future in collegiate-level sports. As is with all good things, this process takes time, commitment, and patience.

Initial eligibility requirements:

Graduate with your high school class
Complete 16 core course requirements in 8 semesters

NCAA required core courses include:

• 4 years of English
• 3 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher)
• 2 years of Natural or Physical Science (1 year must include a lab)
• 1 extra year of English, Math, or Science
• 2 years of Social Science
• 4 years of extra core courses (from any category above or Foreign Language)
• Cumulative GPA
• ACT / SAT testing ( not currently required)
• Post-high school course credit option

Division I Certification Decisions and Initial Eligibility Rules

These guidelines allow your student to see exactly the requirements they must meet in order to navigate the certification process and be eligible for Division I.

NCAA Eligibility Flowchart

How to Audit for NCAA Eligibility

Learning to audit for NCAA Eligibility helps your student understand their current standing. Follow these steps to see where they land, and what they can do to improve.

5 steps to check NCAA core courses

• Step 1 – Gather all Transcripts
• Step 2 – Access NCAA High School Portal search
• Step 3 – Search High School by Name
• Step 4 – Review High School Status
• Step 5 – Cross reference transcripts with Approved Course list

Important Resources for NCAA Eligibility

These are some helpful resources to help your student with any NCAA Eligibility questions and processes. Encourage all student-athletes to visit these sites and use the information available to seek help when needed.

CAA Eligibility Center contact information:

Additional information:
www.ACT.org
www.collegeboard.org
www.national-letter.org

Laurel Springs students’ can use NCAA Eligibility Center School Code 9999 for SAT and ACT Reporting.

Refer Your Students to a Flexible College-prep Program

Student-athletes at Laurel Springs benefit from a flexible, self-paced schedule with up to 10 blackout dates, giving them time to train, travel, and compete. Students here enter high school with a preparedness for their future and the guidance and support needed to fulfill their goals.

Full-time student-athletes also receive ongoing access to placement management counselors ready to provide a continuous internal review process, guidance on NCAA eligibility, and resources specific to recruitment. This adds up to a high-quality college-preparatory education for athletes poised to play at the collegiate level and beyond.

About Laurel Springs School

Laurel Springs is a fully accredited, private online school for K-12 students. With a premier college-prep curriculum including AP and Honors courses, an ever-expanding schedule of in-person and virtual events, and a global student community spanning over 100 countries, we’re ranked as one of the top online private schools in the nation.

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