5 schools have withdrew from the post season
- Thread starter USArmyMike
- Start date
King City was 8-man from 1992-2006, went back to 11-man then returned to 8-man in 2016.
Greenfield was 8-man from 2014-17, went back to 11-man then returned to 8-man in 2021.
St. Joseph Christian was 8-man from 1999-2018, went 11-man in a co-op with Northland Christian. Winless in 2 years, dissolved the co-op and both teams came to 8-man in 2021.
Full history of the number of teams in 8-man can be found here:
I'm pretty sure Drexel was 8 man for a minute back in the mid 90s-ish?
Maybe i'm not seeing it on your chart and/or I'm misremembering.
Agreed, it's coming. Essentially is becoming the new class 1, numbers have already grown from 23 to 40 in the last five-six years.
8-man can go up to 150, including total of co-ops. Used to be 200 until the association quit taking grades 9-12 and starting taking 9-11 (25% cut); think this is the third year for that.
You nailed it, Veer. Princeton's "pure" MSHSAA enrollment is 92, but it's listed at 115 because of the co-op with Newtown-Harris (enrollment 23, 1 senior boy who never played FB before (to my knowledge, anyway) that started from the first summer contact day. Turned out to be a pretty good player and fit right in with the Princeton kid.
We might be needing some of these rural school districts to merge together to create one county school system in the future.
People are to proud for that to happen. Most of the time they are people that have never left their home town. They think their kids should go to the same elementary they did and so one. look at all these districts that have made changes and the initial outcry, then 2 years later everyone is over it.
North Callaway had 3 K-8 Elementary schools. the switched to 2 K-5 and a 6-8 middle. People lost their minds, now you don't here anything about it.
Several years ago Louisiana, Bowling Green and Clopton start conversations about merging but that quickly ended because everyone wanted the HS to be were they were. Same with Van-Far and Community R6.
Wouldn't help Princeton. Mercer doesn't even want to talk about that "C" word, and doesn't send many kids to the co-op (none this season; two who played last year - and played a lot - didn't come down).
Stef actually quit on us. He's moved and has never posted since.
There's been legislation batted back and forth for a couple years allowing various forms of open enrollment. I don't think it's ever gained enough momentum to actually be debated on the MO House or Senate floors, but it's discussed. If my home is in the district of a high school of 25 kids, but I could send my kid to the neighboring Class 2 or 3 district AND my property tax dollars travel with him/her to that district, consolidation would take place rapidly at the expense of the smaller district. Wouldn't make you very popular around town, but you also want the best opptys for your kid. Consolidation is a hot button issue, for sure.
Don't know the situation for these teams. But I do believe sometimes it is better to forfeit. What if a team had 15 players and most of them were freshman? Most freshman have not developed physically yet especially at the beginning of the school year. They are going up against men and not ready physically to do it. Two things can happen injury or not playing in the future years because of it.
I've watched small schools play big teams and freshman have to play. Many of these kids end up not playing the following year because of it.
It's past time for some of these tiny rural districts to consolidate.
Not surprised to hear that from someone who advocates hardcore for the private schools.
not saying that you’re wrong, but try telling that to someone who attended said district and has watched generations of their family attend it.
Maybe it's not all about Athletics to some schools. I know this is a football board and that's what is talked about, but there is more to a school than their football team...I would choose almost any small rural school in mid-mo over JCPS.
That's funny that you think I advocate for private schools. Don't confuse not having a problem with public schools competing against private schools in the playoffs with "advocating for private schools." I advocate for the best teams winning state championships and eschew excuse making bullshit.
Yeah, I get the generational allegiance to a school district. Change can be hard. But we don't live in grandpa's world anymore. At some point logic and reasoning have to win out over longing for the old days.
I think he is referring to schools like Macon County or Madison. School that are too small to offer the opportunities schools like Centralia or Blair Oaks. Sports aside most of the tiny rural schools can’t offer more than basic classes non the less band or theater.
And how did I know that me disagreeing with you would elicit some defensive BS response.
to each their own.
continuing to do away with “grandpas world” has put this country in the state that it’s in right now.
And how did I know that your longing for grandpa's world is the root of all of your opinions?
The very small schools I know of share a band teacher when there is interest.
I assume mercer is very small. MSHSAA as of this moment has the school enrollment numbers gone off the website. I went to check the number and poof!
https://www.mshsaa.org/Activities/SchoolEnrollments.aspx
The numbers are back up now.
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I think the most motivating factor for rural areas to keep their school is the realization that when the school goes-the community follows. Just drive around Missouri to all of the old abandoned schools and look at the surrounding area. Very sad in many ways, many memories and local pride gone. Someone could do a nice documentary on the subject.
I think you're getting the causal relationship backwards. The school enrollment dries up because the population has gone away. It is a very real phenomenon in rural areas of the country, but definitely not new.
That is usually precipitated by 'big farms' buying every acre of land that goes up for sale and tearing down any and all housing on said land.
Years from now people will figure out where some of that money is coming from and be not so happy.
Well duh, you are one step behind in the thought process/time line. Of course they are losing population, otherwise we don't have this question to consider. My point is that these small school patrons strive, sometimes beyond good sense and their children's best interest, to keep their school because when the school goes so do other services and replacement population. Houses deteriorate, gas stations close, etc., because most don't want to locate that far from the new school(s) if they don't have to. I know one community that lost their branch bank after a few years. Other businesses left town and there was no other reason for people to travel to the town.
The root of all my opinions? Let be more specific here.
what opinions of mine are you speaking of?
99.9% of the time I keep my posts about football.
so let’s hear it.
as a veteran and someone who has quite literally lived all over the country in both urban and rural areas I’m curious as to what you’re referring to
Look at Gearld MO, Gearld is a small town on hwy 50 right in the middle between STL and Jefferson City. Other than that the town really doesn't have much. I see quite a bit of businesses try to stay open in that town but most don't survive except for the gas station as people need gas in a town used as a "drive thru town" and even more importantly, most people who travel that route know not to get gas there but instead get it in Rosebud instead where gas is usually the cheapest in the area by far. One of the main businesses in Gearld is a trucking company... hmm I wonder why..
Cool story bro. Another grammar nazi that can’t tell the difference between typos and grammar. 🤣 I bet a missed comma or two drive you insane.
“ I advocate for the best teams winning state championships and eschew excuse making bullshit.”
Are you advocating buying a winning program as opposed to earning it?
If that rare situation comes up and they forfeit so be it that is their choice but a system that just eliminates teams without their consent is not kosher.
Its not rare that this point and it only going to continue to worsen. The sport has seen a 10% decline in participation over the last 5 years. Just last year the sport went under 1 million for the first time in who knows how long because I couldn't find data the went back far enough.
The one thing we all have in common is the love for the sport so lets not down play what's happening.
What happened there?? They lost in the semis last year and turn around and go 2-7 this year. Did they lose everyone?
