Barb, it sounds like your son's school could be a model for the rest of the nation. It certainly sonds like the exception and not the rule. The pressure that those students are under will probably help them prepare for life after education.

Statistically, students who participate in extra-curricular activities and team sports have better attendance records and fewer discipline problems. Those who are involved in such things as Drama, Band, and the Arts (Photography, Art, Journalism, etc.) tend to score up to 15% higher on standardized tests like the SAT.

Sports in high school has become a two-sided issue, though. While the athletes may be required to keep up their grades and attendance, in some instances it is the team and the sport that has become all-important. In my high school days, playing a sport was a priviledge and an honor. Nowdays, the school's win/ loss record is the thing. Sports no longer teach sportsmanship; they teach "win at any cost!" I had a student tell me once that the football coach had told him to "Take out that asshole's knees!" (He was referring to the opposing team's quarter-back) This jerk coach was willing to inflict possible permanent injury to another young man over a stupid game! Fortunately, the situation changed quickly and our player didn't have to carry that on his consience. Many administrators and coaches put pressure on academic teachers to be overly lenient with some of the "star players" so they can stay on the team. We even had an administrator once who altered grade and attendance records to keep a kid on the team! He got caught, but nothing really happened about it... At our school, we are just finishing a 2 1/2 year renovation project (new heating & A/C, new lights, new tile floors, new paint, new wiring, etc). The original plan called for a large addition to the science & math wing of the school and a new football field. We already had one football field which would become a "practice field". Unfortunately, the budget got cut just before the project got underway. Guess what got cut out of the project?.. Well, we have two football fields now...