Participating in Extracurricular Activities

Eligibility to Participate

The following applies to interscholastic athletics, cheerleading, marching band, and drill team.

• A student must pass five subjects and earn a "C" or better in two subjects at the end of the first semester, and at the end of the school year to remain eligible for participation.
• The initial determination of eligibility at the beginning of a new semester is made on the first instructional day of the semester.
• Student assistant electives (e.g., lab assistants and office assistants) shall not be counted toward meeting the standards of eligibility.

Eligibility for Students who Transfer to Another School for a Specialty Program

Students who are granted approval to transfer to a school outside their established attendance area for a Specialty Program shall be eligible to participate in Virginia High School League activities when entering the school as a first-time 9th-grade student, or as a 10th-grade student entering a specialty program for the first time. Any further transferring without a corresponding change of residence will result in a 365-day period of ineligibility.

Only the Superintendent of Schools (or designee) may grant a waiver to the VHSL transfer rule based on a decision made by the school division that requires the transfer of the student, but not for athletic and/or activity purposes. (VHSL Handbook, Transfer Rule 28A-7-1.)

Virginia High School League Participation

The Virginia High School League rules specify that in order to participate in high school athletics, drama, forensics, debate, scholastic bowl, cheerleading, and any academic or athletic activities involved in the competition between/among schools, a student must have passed five subjects during the preceding semester and must be enrolled in a minimum of five subjects for new credit during the current semester. In addition to meeting Virginia High School League regulations, students will be required to meet PWCS eligibility standards (requirement) each semester. End of the year grades from the previous school year will determine eligibility for the first semester of the next year.

NCAA Eligibility

Students planning to participate in intercollegiate athletics at an NCAA Division I or Division II institution must have their academic and amateurism status certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. The NCAA rules are complex, students and caregivers should ask school counselors for assistance. It is important to let the school counselor know if a student plans to seek an athletic scholarship to ensure that the course selection process, grade point average tracking, and SAT/ACT testing requirements are is tailored to this need. More detailed information is available on the NCAA website.