The decision to bar private schools from Section 1 postseason play was unanimously overturned Monday by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
On June 16, Section 1 member schools voted 69-4 to exclude private schools from the playoffs, beginning with the 2027-28 school year. The only “no” votes were from the four schools impacted: Albertus Magnus, a Catholic high school in Rockland County; The Leffell School, a K-12 Jewish school in Hartsdale; the Harrison-based Japanese private school Keio Academy; and the Ursuline School, an all-girls Catholic school in New Rochelle.
Three of the four schools filed a joint appeal, and on Monday, a NYSPHSAA appeal panel decided to preserve postseason opportunities for the section’s private schools.
“This decision affirms the importance of fairness, consistency, and due process in educational athletics,” Ursuline School president Colleen Melnyk said in statement Monday. “We are grateful to the Appeal Panel for its careful review and to Albertus Magnus and Keio Academy for their partnership throughout this process. We now look forward to moving ahead in a spirit of collaboration and continuing to provide meaningful opportunities for all student-athletes.”
Rye High School and Rye Neck were among the 69 majority votes last month to remove private schools from the postseason. RHS athletic director Susan Reid told The Record at the time that private schools’ ability to recruit student-athletes provides an unfair advantage.
“We respect non-public school members,” Reid said following the June vote, “but this decision reflects our membership’s commitment to what it believes is in the best interest of interscholastic athletics and equitable opportunities for all.”
It remains to be seen what, if any, counter-action Section 1 public schools will pursue.
