In Niche’s 2026 high school ranking, the school fell from No. 11 to No. 40 nationally. Nearly every category stayed at an A+; academics, teachers, diversity, college prep and clubs were all still graded nearly perfect. Despite a $100 million investment into Riverpark, the only category that dropped to an A was athletics. Although a small downgrade, it highlights an opportunity for change. The school prides itself on academic rigor and innovation, and the same forward-thinking should apply to its athletic program. One clear way to apply those standards is through an expanded use of sports analytics.
Sports analytics, or the use of statistics to evaluate performance, strategy and development, has completely transformed athletics at both the professional and collegiate levels. As seen in basketball teams shifting towards taking almost exclusively dunks and threes, analytics are helping to evolve sports as teams try to gain any advantage they can over their competitors. The school should do the same. Though analytics have already been in use for the baseball program, utilization of data should not be limited to just one sport. Analytics should become common practice for the entire athletics department in order to maximize the team’s competitive potential.
Sports analytics are about enhancing decision-making. With the help of analytics, coaches are able to pick the perfect lineup for a given situation, create drills to work on areas that analytics suggest need work or draw up the optimal play to uniquely suit a players strengths and weaknesses. For example, if the data suggests that a certain midfielder on the opponent’s soccer team is a liability when running back to defend a counter attack, the coach can prepare team before the game to target that player when on a counter attack in order to capitalize off of those opportunities.
In addition, analytics allow the athletes to study their strengths and weaknesses and be better in the future. A player can learn what areas on the playing field they are most efficient from, in what quarter of a game they thrive in and what moves are most successful in order to master how, where and when to strike.
Analytics should be used not just in the most popular sports, like basketball or football, where analytics are becoming necessary for success, but in every sport throughout the school. The best advantages gained from analytics are from true innovation, something the school prides itself on. In sports like fencing or field hockey, analytics hardly exist at the high school level. Being among the first to look into the statistics sheet beyond goals scored can lead to groundbreaking success in the form of both championships and public recognition for the school’s innovation.
Data analysis provides the perfect opportunity for the school to reclaim their A+ and cement themselves amongst the elite athletic schools. Most importantly, it also allows the school to display their innovation and set the standard for high school sports for years to come.
