2025-2026 School of Distinction/Excellence Award Application

The School of Distinction refers to schools that had 100% of their varsity programs qualify for and receive the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award.

The School of Excellence refers to schools that had 75% of their varsity programs qualify for and receive the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award.

Qualified is interpreted to mean teams having met all of the Scholar-Athlete Team Award program’s criteria (i.e. received a certificate), including having met the deadline date to apply as set for each sport season.

If schools are merged for all programs, each school must file a separate application by the deadline date.

If schools are merged in some sports, only the host school includes the team on the application. The non-host school does not need to report the merged program on the application.

Please note, it is up to the school district to calculate the percentages.

Unified Sports do not count for or against School of Excellence or Distinction. Therefore, Unified sports are not listed.

Applicant Name

First NameLast Name

Applicant Email

example@example.com

School Name

Section

Which award are you applying for?

Please place a check mark next to the teams who received a 90 or above GPA for their respective sport seasons.

Type the total number of varsity teams that received the Scholar-Athlete Team Award.

Our school district (Superintendent, Principal, and Athletic Director) hereby certifies that we met the criteria of the award selected.

School of Distinction/Excellence Award Application

DEADLINE: JUNE 30, 2026

Schools may apply for either the School of Excellence Award OR the School of Distinction Award, but not both. This application should be completed by the School Athletic Director.