NCAA releases latest scores for athletes in the classroom

A decade after it created the Academic Progress Rate, the NCAA says its annual measuring stick continues to show improved classroom performance by college athletes.

The most recent four-year APR average for Division I was 974, up one point over last year, NCAA officials said Tuesday.

The numbers were even more promising over a five-year period, with men’s basketball improving by 12 points, women’s track by 11, women’s basketball by 7 and football by 6.

“These are strong and meaningful academic standards, and we are pleased to witness the continued improvement of student-athletes’ academic performance,� NCAA President Mark Emmert said. “The NCAA and its member schools believe in supporting success both on and off the playing field.�

Not all the news was good. While men’s basketball and football have improved, officials said they continue to lag behind other sports. Historically black colleges have been hit with a disproportionate number of penalties.

Each school calculates the APR based on eligibility, graduation and retention. Teams that do not meet a predetermined benchmark face penalties such as practice restrictions and postseason bans.

The NCAA is moving toward a mandatory 930 score, which predicts a 50% graduation rate.

Eighteen teams -- mostly at smaller schools and historically black colleges -- face postseason bans in 2013-14.

The NCAA also announced that in the last nine years, 11,500 former athletes have returned to campus and earned their degrees.

“The former student-athletes who have returned to school and completed in their degree are a powerful testament to the value of education,� Emmert said.

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