NCAA releases Academic Progress Rates

• TWEET
• SHARE
• SHARE

The annual academic progress rate (APR) scores — tracking classroom performance of Division I teams — were made available by the NCAA today. We spent all year writing about how the Quakers do on the field, so let's take a look at how they do in the classroom. For a little more on the scores:

"Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year, based on the eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. Teams scoring below certain thresholds can face penalties, such as scholarship losses and restrictions on practice and competition. Rates are based on the past four years’ performance."

"The APR awards two points each term to student-athletes who meet academic-eligibility standards and who remain with the institution. A team's APR is the total points earned by the team at a given time divided by the total points possible."

At Penn, the numbers were also impressive, though a little lower than last year (note: The latest data is from 2009-10). This year's Red and Blue averaged a 992.8 on the 1000-point scale, down exactly one point from the previous year's numbers.

And now for some statistical analysis:

• Six teams scored a perfect 1000: Field Hockey, W. Fencing, W. Golf, W. Lax, W. Tennis and M. Cross Country. Note that these are all women's teams but one. Way to go, ladies.
• Penn's lowest scoring team, and the only that was even below the national average of 970 was M. Fencing.
• Overall, the women average 997.1 while the men were decidedly lower at 987.7.
• The highest improvement over the previous year was M. Basketball, which jumped up seven points to 985.
• The highest dropoff was M. Lax, which dropped nine points to 986 in 2009-10.
• Brains lead to Ivy titles, apparently: the four squads that brought home a trophy last year averaged a 997.8. It's worth noting that three of four were women's teams (Volleyball, W. Lax, W. Golf and Football).
• In the marquee sports: Penn football was 995, 49 points higher than the national average, M. Basketball was 985, 40 points above the national average.
• 16 Penn programs were in the top 10% of their sport nationwide: Baseball, Field Hockey, Football, M. Basketball, M. Cross Country, M. Soccer, M. Track, M. Wrestling, Softball, W. Basketball, W. Fencing, W. Golf, W. Lax, W. Soccer, W. Tennis, W. Track (Indoor and Outdoor).
• For my annotated spreadsheet of Penn's APR data: PennAthletics APR