INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 13, 2023) – Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Arizona, has earned Level 3 status in the School Honor Roll program initiated three years ago by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Mountain Ridge is the third Arizona school to be honored through the School Honor Roll program and the first to earn Level 3 status.

The NFHS School Honor Roll is a national recognition program designed to promote professional development for high school coaches by completing specific online education courses through the NFHS Learning Center (www.NFHSLearn.com). 

In earning Level 3 status, more than 90 percent of the coaches at Mountain Ridge High School completed the following required courses in the NFHS Learning Center: “Sportsmanship,” “Strength and Conditioning,” “Teaching and Modeling Behavior,” “Engaging Effectively with Parents” and “Bullying, Hazing, and Inappropriate Behaviors.”

“We want to congratulate the coaches and administration at Mountain Ridge High School in becoming the first school in Arizona to earn Level 3 status in the NFHS School Honor Roll program,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS chief executive officer. “This is truly an outstanding accomplishment and a strong indication of the school’s commitment to professional development for its coaches. These courses will be very beneficial for the coaches at Mountain Ridge High School, and we hope this encourages other schools to follow their example and complete all levels of courses in the School Honor Roll.” 

“Mountain Ridge High School Athletics is honored to have earned our Level 3 distinction through the NFHS,” said Tony Miller, assistant principal and athletic director at Mountain Ridge High School. “This has been a collective goal of our department for the past year, and this was truly a team effort that we can all be proud of. As a team, we have come to recognize the benefits of the NFHS courses. The courses have helped us establish a system of accountability, and they have prepared our coaches for any situation that comes our way. Most importantly, our student-athletes will benefit because the quality of our programs will always improve when we prioritize education-based athletics.”

As a physical sign of completing Level 3 certification, Mountain Ridge High School will receive a large Level 3 display banner for its school gymnasium to commemorate the school’s accomplishments and dedication to professional development and education-based activity programs.

Schools can earn Level 1 status (and banner) when 90 percent of their coaches complete the core course “Fundamentals of Coaching” along with three of the Learning Center’s most significant courses – “Concussion in Sports,” “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” and “Protecting Students from Abuse.”

Schools can earn Level 2 status (and a Level 2 banner) on the NFHS School Honor Roll when more than 90 percent of their coaches – excluding volunteer coaches – complete courses that pertain specifically to sports they coach, along with “First Aid, Health and  Safety,” “Heat Illness Prevention” and “Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.”

“Earning the NFHS School Honor Roll banner is a symbol that the school and its coaches are committed to providing a great experience for young people, and it’s something that everyone can be proud of within their communities,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services.

For more information on the NFHS School Honor Roll and to apply for participation in the program, please visit https://nfhslearn.com/home/administrators.

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About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.6 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900
Director of Publications and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations
bhoward@nfhs.org

Chris Boone, 317-972-6900
Assistant Director of Publications and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations
cboone@nfhs.org

Nate Perry, 317-972-6900
Manager of Media Relations
National Federation of State High School Associations
nperry@nfhs.org

Olivia Jennings, 317-972-6900
Coordinator of Social Media and Communications
National Federation of State High School Associations
ojennings@nfhs.org