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What distresses me is when students leave outstanding public schools to attend private schools for soccer reasons only. The priority scheme that some private schools place in kids' heads is warped considering very few soccer players get scholarships to colleges or go on to play pro. But once again, this is not directed toward anyone (not even Pinewood).



I wish I could agree with at least something you post here because it sounds like something I'd like to put in a post. Unfortunately, I just don't find any of it accurate. In the lowcountry, I can only think of one truly "outstanding" public school - Academic Magnet High School. And as a magnet or charter school, AMHS has some of the same advantages that you complain Pinewood and other private schools have (i.e., no attendance zones within Charleston County). There are some fairly strong public schools in the area (Wando and my alma mater Summerville come to mind), but they don't hold a candle academically to a Pinewood or a Porter-Gaud.

Second, I don't think anyone transfers to Pinewood "for soccer reasons only." Rather, Pinewood always loses a few rising freshmen or sophomores to Summerville High or another public school "for soccer reasons only." The reason given for these transfers invariably is that: (1) SHS or other SCHSL AAAA school can offer more SOCCER competition, or (2) SHS or other SCHSL AAAA school is LESS academically demanding allowing for more emphasis on SOCCER. No one transfers from Pinewood to a public school for academic reasons (or at least not because they want or need a MORE CHALLENGING academic environment).

Third, no one at Pinewood is putting false notions of soccer scholarships in kids' heads. Fact is if you can win a starting position for Pinewood and you want to go somewhere (and are willing to go most anywhere) on a soccer scholarship, that is LIKELY to happen. Out of last year's 8 senior starters, JD Spearman signed with Clemson, Ben Reidmayer with PC, and Ben Allen with North Greenville. Of the remaining 5, the majority COULD have signed with someone (a Division II school or maybe a "minor" Division I school not of their liking, but with someone). In the end, all eight went to the college of their choosing, but only three went on a soccer scholarship. Other than AMHS, I wonder if there is a public school in the lowcountry that can quite match 100% college attendance for its soccer players.

Finally, there ARE some truly outstanding public schools in SC who do have very strong soccer programs (Riverside, Dreher and Daniel come to mind immediately). In the Lowcountry, its pretty much AMHS.