At Some Schools, Football Not Making The Cut

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The regional ranking of The Washington Post list of top Washington-area schools is compiled annually by educational columnist Jay Mathews.

Based on some observations, Mathews added this question for the 2014 list, "Do you have an 11-person football team?" To his astonishment, 67 of top 100 schools ranked by participation of college-level tests, said they do not field a team.

Describing high school as the place where we learned about government, literature, math and science, with traditions of Friday afternoon football rallies, Mathews' data substantiates a change - more schools are adding vigorous learning, Advanced Placement courses and International Baccalaureate.

He reports that in the past three decades, the US has had no significant gain in reading achievement and math for 17-year-olds which he believes has led to the surge of charter and private schools and schools demanding more of students.

More demanding work...less football!