To be eligible to participate in athletic contests during any school year, the student must earn five credits the preceding school year if less than 24 credits are required for graduation or six credits the preceding school year if 24 or more credits are required for graduation. All credits must be earned by the first day of the beginning of the school year. Academic eligibility for a student is based on the requirements of the school the student was attending at the conclusion of the previous school year. Students who are ineligible the first semester may gain eligibility the second semester by passing five subjects (1/2 credit) or three blocks (one credit per block) or the equivalent.

If a student is forced to withdraw from school, or is prevented from enrolling in school, due to the student's illness, his/her accident, or his/her disability, the principal may request a ruling in regard to the student's eligibility, provided the student was eligible at the time the illness or accident forced the student to withdraw or prevented the student from enrolling in school. If ruled eligible, such a student shall be charged with a semester of attendance for athletic purposes for the semester of non-attendance or withdrawal.

For athletic purposes, the scholastic record filed in the office of the principal or superintendent at the end of a semester shall be final. Credits earned in a summer school accredited by the State Department of Education shall be recognized for eligibility purposes provided the student was enrolled during the spring semester immediately preceding the summer session and attended at least 40 days of that spring semester.

A student who drops out of school before the end of the semester shall be ineligible to participate in secondary school athletics until the student has been in school a semester and has passed in at least five full unit subjects or the equivalent. (To become eligible under this regulation, a student must attend school for at least 40 days of the semester, but in no case shall the eligibility become effective until the beginning of the succeeding semester.)

Before an athlete can play a sport or receive an athletic scholarship at a Division I or II College, he/she must meet specific academic criteria as set forth by the NCAA. A student must have at least a 2.0 GPA for Division II and a 2.5 GPA for Division I in 14 core classes and a minimum combined ACT score of 68. Students must take specific courses in order to meet NCAA eligibility requirements.