THE FLATS – Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, Georgia Tech athletics continues to excel in the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) metric, according to the latest data released by the NCAA on Tuesday.
APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all NCAA Division I sports teams. It measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or academic term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport. APR scores are measured on a scale of 1,000 with the threshold for penalties set at 930. The most recent multiyear scores are based on the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years.
Tuesday marked the first time since 2020 that the NCAA has publicly announced APR data, as the public release was suspended in 2021 due to the academic challenges caused by Covid-19. Public Recognition Awards (honoring programs that rank among the top 10% nationally in APR in their respective sports) and penalties for programs with APR scores below 930 remain suspended.
In the latest data, 13 of Georgia Tech’s 15 sports programs boast a multiyear APR higher than the national average in their respective sports, led by baseball (995 APR is 18 points higher than the national average of 977), men’s track and field (991 APR is 17 points higher than the national average of 974) and football (979 APR is 15 points higher than the national average of 964). In all, seven of the Yellow Jackets’ 15 sports have APRs at least 10 points higher than the national average – baseball, men’s track, football, men’s tennis (+14), golf (+12), men’s basketball (+11) and men’s cross country (+10).
Nine of Georgia Tech’s 15 programs have multiyear APRs of 990 or higher, led by golf and men’s tennis, who both have perfect multiyear APR scores of 1,000. Additionally, 10 of Tech’s 15 programs recorded a perfect single-year APR for 2020-21: baseball, men’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, golf, women’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, men’s track and field, women’s track and field and volleyball. Remarkably, Georgia Tech golf has had a perfect APR score of 1,000 each of the 18 years since the metric was introduced.
“Despite the extraordinary challenges caused by Covid-19, our student-athletes’ academic progress continues to shine,” Georgia Tech director of athletics Todd Stansbury said. “Our student-athletes, coaches and academic support team all deserve to be congratulated for their commitment to success in the classroom. I’d also like to thank our Institute’s administration and faculty for all that they’ve done to navigate Georgia Tech through the pandemic and allow our students to continue to thrive.”
Academic achievement is a staple of Georgia Tech athletics. In 2019, Georgia Tech was the only institution from a Power Five conference (Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, Southeastern Conference) with a multiyear APR higher than the national average in each of its sports.
GEORGIA TECH MULTIYEAR APR SCORES (2017-18 through 2020-21)
Golf: 1,000 (national average: 988)
Men’s Tennis: 1,000 (national average: 986)
Baseball: 995 (national average: 977)
Women’s Swimming & Diving: 995 (national average: 993)
Volleyball: 995 (national average: 989)
Men’s Cross Country: 993 (national average: 983)
Women’s Cross Country: 993 (national average: 990)
Women’s Track & Field: 993 (national average: 984)
Men’s Track & Field: 991 (national average: 974)
Softball: 988 (national average: 987)
Men’s Swimming & Diving: 988 (national average: 986)
Women’s Tennis: 984 (national average: 991)
Football: 979 (national average: 964)
Men’s Basketball: 979 (national average: 968)
Women’s Basketball: 962 (national average: 983)
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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