By: NYSPHSAA Staff


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LATHAM, NY – The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announces the Winter 2026 Scholar-Athlete teams and number of scholar-athlete individuals, recognizing the outstanding academic achievements of student-athletes across the state.
 
A total of 3,409 teams earned Scholar-Athlete recognition this winter, while 40,013 individual student-athletes achieved Scholar-Athlete status by earning an academic average of 90.0 or above for the marking period.
 
To qualify as a Scholar-Athlete team, at least 75% of a team’s rosters’ average must be 90.0 or higher. Teams that qualify receive a Scholar-Athlete certificate, while individual students earning the recognition receive pins to acknowledge their accomplishments.
 
“The Scholar-Athlete program continues to highlight the incredible commitment our student-athletes make to excellence in both the classroom and in competition,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “Balancing academics and athletics at such a high level is a tremendous achievement, and we commend every student and team recognized this winter.”
 
This winter, 647 schools participated in the program, representing approximately 82% of NYSPHSAA’s membership.
 
The full list of Scholar-Athlete teams and the number of individuals per team are available on the NYSPHSAA website.
Winter 2026 – Scholar-Athlete Teams
Winter 2026 – Scholar-Athlete – Number of Individuals
 
Looking ahead, the Spring 2026 Scholar-Athlete submission window opened April 6, with a submission deadline of Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Additionally, School of Distinction and School of Excellence applications will open in early May.
 
For more information on the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Program, visit www.nysphsaa.org. 
 
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About NYSPHSAA (Twitter: @NYSPHSAA | Facebook: NYSPHSAA | YouTube: NYSPHSAASports):
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Inc. is a non-profit, voluntary, educational service organization composed of public, parochial, and private schools dedicated to providing equitable and safe competition for the students of its member schools. The organization conducts 38 championship events and governs the rules and regulations of high school athletics in New York State. Membership is open to secondary schools providing interschool athletic activities for boys and girls in grades 7-12