[TheOracle]

I didn't read through all the posts to see if it's been mentioned, but the advantage that independent public schools generally have over non-independent public schools is the fact that independent public school districts fairly consistently allow for out-of-district students to attend their school by paying tuition, whereas most non-independent public school districts prohibit out-of-district students from attending their schools.

Beechwood, Belfry and Bowling Green are prime examples. Beechwood has kids from entirely different counties playing football for them, like 2020 Mr. Football winner Cam Hergott, who lived in Fort Thomas. Belfry has kids from all over Pike County. Bowling Green has kids from all over Warren County. I think Mayfield does the same in Graves County.

It's really not an advantage, per se, it's just the fact that non-independent public schools generally opt to "reduce administrative hassle" by prohibiting tuition students and saving themselves from having to deal with all the paperwork headache with the state.

There were 7 independent public schools in the football state finals this year: Pikeville, Raceland, Beechwood, Mayfield, Bardstown, Corbin and Bowling Green. There were 4 non-independent public schools in the football state finals: Bullitt East, Male, Boyle County, and Frederick Douglass. Then CAL was the lone independent school in the state finals.

If you look back at ALL football state champions in KHSAA history, Independent public schools have more state championships than the non-independent public schools and private schools combined.