Success Factor

Colin2299

Freshman
Aug 13, 2025
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Would like to see them.

I feel more than the success factor a better idea would be limiting the boundary to 15-20 miles. I would make exceptions for legacies though.

I mean it is about the private school education and that is pretty equal at all private schools isnt it?
No it is not. It's the whole organization.
 
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Dave Brody

Junior
Apr 30, 2024
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Would like to see them.

I feel more than the success factor a better idea would be limiting the boundary to 15-20 miles. I would make exceptions for legacies though.

I mean it is about the private school education and that is pretty equal at all private schools isnt it?
Believe it or not, the Privates recruit for academics as well. A lot of alumni may not live close to the school but still want to send their kids to the Alma mater (I know several). Some schools are known as a feeder school to the collegiate Notre Dames of the world and admission to the HS increases the chances of getting into ND or other schools.

If you live in an area where the public schools are not good and if your kid is smart/tests well - you’re gonna do what you can for your kids education and future.

Take the blinders off - it’s more than just sports that the 30 mile radius can apply to.
 

BobbyBoucher9

Freshman
Jun 2, 2021
89
69
18
Late to the party so I apologize if its already been stated but the Issues with the upcoming blowouts in Class 1A-3A this weekend has more to do with the North/South Bracket. Not that going 1-32 guarantees getting the top two teams but theres a chance. Im not sure any 2A playoff teams would avoid the 40 point clock by Wilmington.
 

PowerI66

Junior
Jul 10, 2025
475
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Believe it or not, the Privates recruit for academics as well. A lot of alumni may not live close to the school but still want to send their kids to the Alma mater (I know several). Some schools are known as a feeder school to the collegiate Notre Dames of the world and admission to the HS increases the chances of getting into ND or other schools.

If you live in an area where the public schools are not good and if your kid is smart/tests well - you’re gonna do what you can for your kids education and future.

Take the blinders off - it’s more than just sports that the 30 mile radius can apply to.
Who is enforcing an educational 30-mile boundary?
 

SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,442
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Late to the party so I apologize if its already been stated but the Issues with the upcoming blowouts in Class 1A-3A this weekend has more to do with the North/South Bracket. Not that going 1-32 guarantees getting the top two teams but theres a chance. Im not sure any 2A playoff teams would avoid the 40 point clock by Wilmington.
Yes but the IHSA doesn't care about getting the top two teams to championship game.
It is important to understand what the IHSA wants. They want and have an extremely transparent playoff qualification system, transparent seeding system ect. There is something to be said about things being very transparent even if I disagree with some of it.
 

Dave Brody

Junior
Apr 30, 2024
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Who is enforcing an educational 30-mile boundary?
Private schools themselves set their own admission policies and may use this 30-mile radius as a guideline for accepting students.

Do you think the IHSA has a stellar record of enforcing rules for “transfers” to public schools?
 
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PowerI66

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Jul 10, 2025
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Not at all. Based on your post it made it seem like they weren't allowed to.

I don't think the IHSA has a stellar record of enforcing anything.
 
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Jun 29, 2020
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Believe it or not, the Privates recruit for academics as well. A lot of alumni may not live close to the school but still want to send their kids to the Alma mater (I know several). Some schools are known as a feeder school to the collegiate Notre Dames of the world and admission to the HS increases the chances of getting into ND or other schools.

If you live in an area where the public schools are not good and if your kid is smart/tests well - you’re gonna do what you can for your kids education and future.

Take the blinders off - it’s more than just sports that the 30 mile radius can apply to.
Thats great. I am all for legacies attending and being eligible to play for the private school.
 

johnndoe

Senior
Oct 19, 2019
1,149
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Nibbling around the edges of this situation with multipliers and success factors is not leveling things out. We are seeing the reality of accepting the 1 tournament system results or blowing it up with the unmentionable nuclear option. However, one effect of the latter would be reduction of the number of state champions and finalists from the private schools. Assuming 2 classes in that tournament, only 4 finalists (compared to 7 this year) and only 2 champs (compared to potentially 5 this season) could result. Who knows, in a separate playoff this year, SF/Provi and SR/BR might have also faced off in some round. Signed, Neutral Observer.
 
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refreff01

Redshirt
Sep 2, 2025
42
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Would like to see them.

I feel more than the success factor a better idea would be limiting the boundary to 15-20 miles. I would make exceptions for legacies though.

I mean it is about the private school education and that is pretty equal at all private schools isnt it?

No the education at private schools is vastly different. Especially the one's in Chicago
 

4Afan

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2001
3,513
3,180
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Oh good, we've reached this portion of the Edgy calendar. He could post a thread from 25 years ago and it would look very similar to this. For those of you outwardly or inwardly damning the catlicks for their success do you have the same disdain for LeWin as they will play in their 6th straight 1A title game? Or Rochester going for their 9th 4A title? Byron was about 6 inches from going for their 3rd straight title this year.

Ultimately, whatever logical, illogical, or outright crazy fix you think you have for the IHSA playoffs, you don't. Public or private, it doesn't matter, Illinois is a top heavy state in terms of talented football teams. There's roughly only 20-30 teams regardless of class in the entire state that have any shot at a state title out of 500+ schools playing 11 man football. No success factors, multipliers, computer or 1-32 seedings is going to change that. People complain about blowouts in the early rounds, but this weekend 11 of 16 games were decided by 10 points or more, so it doesn't get better the further we get and this year it looks like we may have the worst chance of competitive games top to bottom that we've seen in some years. No tweaks to the system are going to fix that.

Also, you can whine and moan about it all you want, but it does not appear that it bothers any of the teams actually playing, at least not enough to submit a proposal to change anything. Antioch is deathly afraid of anything that wears a cross, yet they have never submitted a proposal to separate the private schools. Private school fans cry that the system is out to get them, yet no proposal to leave the IHSA and form the NIPL has ever been submitted. As fans we have the luxury and a platform like this to air our grievances, but coaches and AD's aren't as fortunate, but they do have the ability to bring about change and choose not to so that should tell you something.

Finally, it's HS football, put that in perspective. Many of you watch too much college football and think that the IHSA needs to mirror that and change their playoffs for more competitive games or change the system thinking it will change the competitive balance of the state. 95% of the schools in the state get all of their students from the geographic district around their schools, some are going to produce better athletes than others and there's no changes to football are going to fix that.

Thus endeth the rant.
 

Snetsrak61

Senior
Aug 16, 2008
1,183
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Believe it or not, the Privates recruit for academics as well. A lot of alumni may not live close to the school but still want to send their kids to the Alma mater (I know several). Some schools are known as a feeder school to the collegiate Notre Dames of the world and admission to the HS increases the chances of getting into ND or other schools.

If you live in an area where the public schools are not good and if your kid is smart/tests well - you’re gonna do what you can for your kids education and future.

Take the blinders off - it’s more than just sports that the 30 mile radius can apply to.
I'm curious as to how many private schools actively stay in that boundary. At the very least it'd create a administrative burden and possible compliance issue if you're not tracking each kid outside the boundary to ensure they don't go out for a sport unknowingly and having your athletic department or team sanctioned to whatever extent ihsa is allowed.
 

johnndoe

Senior
Oct 19, 2019
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... how about work harder and get in weight room ... Start your youth program and have them run your stuff ... Be there and coach the coaches ... Just need to work hard and beat them ... Wins will come when your standards are set .... (my opinion)
"Work harder and get in the weight room" will only go far. Football plays and games come down to winning more one-on-one match-ups that can not always be eliminated by strategizing. A limit exists when it comes to height/weight disparities, particularly in space between a WR and DB plus all along the OL and DL. "Start your youth program and have them run your stuff" unless the players feed into differing school districts. "Be there and coach the (youth) coaches" with what time remaining with your own daily practice, a teaching job and often a family at home? Finally, I think if key, fundamental differences exist in the ability to get the "biggest, fastest and strongest" players on the field, then "apples and oranges" are competing against each other and we just own that to accept the outcomes. And the above is not confined to the private/public controversy either.
 

IHSAfan207

Freshman
Sep 9, 2024
92
65
18
Every year I hear the same complaints about the system. It most likely will never change. The only desirable way is to seed playoffs 1-32 or whatever number they make it next year. Success factor for public schools. No, how about work harder and get in weight room. Start your youth program and have them run your stuff. Not random stuff. Be there and coach the coaches. The non-boundary schools do have a distinct advantage. But after doing this for over 35 years. That will not change. Just need to work hard and beat them. They certainly have good players and the coaches. But the players are 15-18 year olds just like we all have in our programs. Focus on what you have and not what others have in their program. Wins will come when your standards are set and not when the field is clear. (my opinion)
Unfortunately I agree with most of what you said, the adults in the room will never make the changes needed.Only issue with your statement is youth programs in highly dense areas usually split into several highschools. One program I know splits into 6 separate highschools (2 private, 4 public). One public tried to start a feeder but folded after 5 years.
 
Jun 29, 2020
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Whole organization = academics, athletics, personal development, networking, tradition, finances, spiritual development, etc.

You don't send your kid to a school simply because of one of these areas. It's a combination of all of them.
That is laughable. If you send a survey to parents of athletes that send their kids to private schools their main focus is athletics. Academics might be the deciiding factor between two privates and then the cost but I can guarantee you they arent thinking networking, spiritual development and personal development.
 
Jun 29, 2020
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"Work harder and get in the weight room" will only go far. Football plays and games come down to winning more one-on-one match-ups that can not always be eliminated by strategizing. A limit exists when it comes to height/weight disparities, particularly in space between a WR and DB plus all along the OL and DL. "Start your youth program and have them run your stuff" unless the players feed into differing school districts. "Be there and coach the (youth) coaches" with what time remaining with your own daily practice, a teaching job and often a family at home? Finally, I think if key, fundamental differences exist in the ability to get the "biggest, fastest and strongest" players on the field, then "apples and oranges" are competing against each other and we just own that to accept the outcomes. And the above is not confined to the private/public controversy either.
Fremd had 3 Division 1 players on their roster. For a public school I would say that is pretty high. I am sure some top 8A programs might have more and then some might have less. What is Mt Carmel promoting 16 D1s on their roster?

Dont tell me these kids are going to school at MC for anything other than football. Its football with everything else a DISTANT 2nd.
 

SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,442
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Fremd had 3 Division 1 players on their roster. For a public school I would say that is pretty high. I am sure some top 8A programs might have more and then some might have less. What is Mt Carmel promoting 16 D1s on their roster?

Dont tell me these kids are going to school at MC for anything other than football. Its football with everything else a DISTANT 2nd.
ESL has as many if not more....
 
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jha618

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2018
3,339
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"Work harder and get in the weight room" will only go far. Football plays and games come down to winning more one-on-one match-ups that can not always be eliminated by strategizing. A limit exists when it comes to height/weight disparities, particularly in space between a WR and DB plus all along the OL and DL. "Start your youth program and have them run your stuff" unless the players feed into differing school districts. "Be there and coach the (youth) coaches" with what time remaining with your own daily practice, a teaching job and often a family at home? Finally, I think if key, fundamental differences exist in the ability to get the "biggest, fastest and strongest" players on the field, then "apples and oranges" are competing against each other and we just own that to accept the outcomes. And the above is not confined to the private/public controversy either.
It sounds like you are looking for an excuse as to why you cant be successful. The youth programs in places like ESL, LWE, CG have been discussed quite a bit here as one of the great advantages the hs programs have. And Darren Sunkett isnt out there coaching the Jr Flyers. But some of his assistants are. And many of the Jr Flyers coaches and players are welcomed on the sidelines of ESL game. If a coach wants it to happen, they will find a way.
 

Colin2299

Freshman
Aug 13, 2025
100
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That is laughable. If you send a survey to parents of athletes that send their kids to private schools their main focus is athletics. Academics might be the deciding factor between two privates and then the cost but I can guarantee you they aren't thinking networking, spiritual development and personal development.
Well, you are mis-informed and nothing I say on a message board will change that. You simply don't know what goes on at these schools.
 

Dave Brody

Junior
Apr 30, 2024
307
353
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That is laughable. If you send a survey to parents of athletes that send their kids to private schools their main focus is athletics. Academics might be the deciiding factor between two privates and then the cost but I can guarantee you they arent thinking networking, spiritual development and personal development.
Did you attend/graduate from a Private? Did you send your kids to a Private?
 

4Afan

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2001
3,513
3,180
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That is laughable. If you send a survey to parents of athletes that send their kids to private schools their main focus is athletics. Academics might be the deciiding factor between two privates and then the cost but I can guarantee you they arent thinking networking, spiritual development and personal development.
Does the Provi debate team upset you this much? The JCA matheletes? MC track team? All those kids are recruited too.
 

Freightman

Redshirt
Jul 28, 2023
10
11
13
Fremd had 3 Division 1 players on their roster. For a public school I would say that is pretty high. I am sure some top 8A programs might have more and then some might have less. What is Mt Carmel promoting 16 D1s on their roster?

Dont tell me these kids are going to school at MC for anything other than football. Its football with everything else a DISTANT 2nd.
Wow. 16 D1 athletes on a football team with an enrollment of 600 men? I thought it was 9, but I am sure you are correct. No wonder the public schools are getting their asses kicked. How can a public school compete with this talent imbalance? Lift more weights? Run more wind sprints? The Catholic Schools have a chance to win State in classes 4A-8A. Put the asterisk next to the State Champion. * stands for super team. How many players does MC have going both ways on the current squad?
 
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SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,442
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Wow. 16 D1 athletes on a football team with an enrollment of 600 men? I thought it was 9, but I am sure you are correct. No wonder the public schools are getting their asses kicked. How can a public school compete with this talent imbalance? Lift more weights? Run more wind sprints? The Catholic Schools have a chance to win State in classes 4A-8A. Put the asterisk next to the State Champion. * stands for super team. How many players does MC have going both ways on the current squad?
There is a public school in this state that has as many or more…noticed you didn’t mention that.
 

FootballTrack8

Redshirt
Jan 23, 2016
59
16
8
I can’t keep up anymore.
That’s where i am as well and was waiting for someone to make the thread to see who had what info. As I am clueless these days on who gets success / multiplier (if still a thing) and then how long they “stay up” for if they don’t earn a trophy
 

johnndoe

Senior
Oct 19, 2019
1,149
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Every year I hear the same complaints about the system ... how about work harder and get in weight room ... Start your youth program and have them run your stuff ... Be there and coach the coaches ... Just need to work hard and beat them ... Wins will come when your standards are set ...
The Fremd, LWE, Batavia, St. Charles N, Downers Grove N, Wheaton-Warrenville S, Rolling Meadows, Belvidere N, Washington, Morris, Jacobs, Burlington Central and Coal City programs surely "check the boxes" of the points you make. Yet, none of them came within 20 points of victory in the the games in which they were eliminated. If interested, the "nature" of the opponents can be checked.
 
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Oldsole

Redshirt
Nov 19, 2025
6
11
2
I'm curious as to how many private schools actively stay in that boundary. At the very least it'd create a administrative burden and possible compliance issue if you're not tracking each kid outside the boundary to ensure they don't go out for a sport unknowingly and having your athletic department or team sanctioned to whatever extent ihsa is allowed.
Trust me. If they didn’t stay within their boundary limits the other private schools that that school plays every week would be all over them
 

Snetsrak61

Senior
Aug 16, 2008
1,183
662
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I believe since both Naz and JCA would have two 1st and 2nd place trophies respectively the last 3 years, they would both have a success adj for the 26-27 season
Yea both stay up for 2026. If they don't place in 2026, back down in 2027. But if they place in 2026 I think they stay up for 2027 whereas under old 2 year rule they'd have been back down for 2027 either way.

Whats so dumb about the criteria though is they could go semi loss in 25, champ in 26, semi loss in 27... And go back down to 5A in 28. Now again I really don't like any success measure, but if it's about success and you can lay out weird scenarios like that because its so narrowly focused. But if that was a three year run, arguably 6A is a pretty good classification for them (really the class I'd like to see them in but I understand why they wouldn't voluntarily opt into it and play where the rules place them instead).
 

Snetsrak61

Senior
Aug 16, 2008
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Trust me. If they didn’t stay within their boundary limits the other private schools that that school plays every week would be all over them
Your saying every school has the address of every other athlete that's rostered? That sounds implausible. I'm not talking about a hypothetical of some 5 star recruit. Some end of the bench kid could be just as easily inelligible and it'd likely be hard to police that across ALL athletic programs if students outside a 30 mile radius were at all a common thing at a school.
 

Oldsole

Redshirt
Nov 19, 2025
6
11
2
I believe it has counted in the past ( success in multiple classes) as they kept getting sf’d up during their 7 year run.
 

MsDavis10

Sophomore
Nov 9, 2019
145
156
43
Who is enforcing an educational 30-mile boundary?
I grew up on the Glenview/northbrook border. Many of my grade school classmates went to St Ignatius. They didn’t even have football back then! Not that crazy of thing, and I’m sure people still make that trek for the education and legacy factor. However, it’s within 30 miles. 21 to be exact, 2 miles less than what MC’s best player does from Skokie every day.
 
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