New rankings spotlight South Jersey high schools excelling in sports

High School Sports is more than just an afterschool activity or for teenagers who love to play. There are many benefits for life after High School Graduate for young adults as they enter life after education.

There are studies that show that teenagers who play sports experience less stress compared to their high school peers, and they have better mental health as young adults entering their 20's.  A study by USA Today revealed that 95 percent of male Fortune 500 Executives and 80 percent of female Fortune 500 executives participated in High School Sports.

According to a joint study by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA):

*High School Athletes are 95 percent less likely to drop out of school compared to non-athletes
*Students who participate in High School Sports score 11 percent higher on SAT exams

These Are The Best High Schools for Student Athletes in South Jersey

Every year, the researchers at the website Niche rank the top High Schools in each state for multiple categories from sports to academics. They ranked 535 New Jersey High Schools based on the following criteria:

-Number of sports offered at the school
-Parent reviews of athletics
-Student participation in athletics
-Number of state championships

Overall, there are 15 South Jersey High Schools that made the list of the Top 75 High Schools for High School Student-Athletes:

*Haddonfield Memorial High School (7th overall)
-Rating 3.98 with overall Sports Grade: A+ and 23 sports offered

*St. Augustine Preparatory School (17th overall)
-Rating: 4.65 with overall Sports Grade: A+ and 22 sports offered

*Cedar Creek High School (18th Overall)
-Rating: 4.32 with an overall Sports Grade: A+ and 26 sports offered

*Shawnee High School (23rd Overall)
-Rating 3.9 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 27 sports offered

*Southern Regional High School (29th overall)
-Rating 4.28 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 28 sports offered

*Cherokee High School (33rd Overall)
-Rating 4.03 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 27 sports offered

*Holy Spirit High School (51st overall)
-Rating 4.26 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 22 sports offered

*Rancocas Valley Regional High School (52nd overall)
-Rating 4.14 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 25 sports offered

*Gloucester Catholic High School (59th Overall)
-Rating 4.44 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 25 sports offered

*Ocean City High School (61st Overall)
-Rating 3.82 with overall Sports Grade: A and 24 sports offered

*Winslow Township High School (63rd overall)
-Rating 3.58 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 26 sports offered

*Washington Township High School (68th overall)
-Rating 4.07 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 26 sports offered

*Cinnaminson High School (72nd overall)
-Rating 4.02 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 21 sports offered

*Mainland Regional High School (74th overall)
-Rating 4.01 with an overall Sports Grade: Sports A and 25 sports offered

*Millville Senior High School (75th Overall)
-Rating 3.54 with an overall Sports Grade: A and 25 sports offered