Like many states, Texas faces up to its long-standing educational missteps. The discussion about high school stadiums has been raised higher. It’s not unusual to find two or three high school football stadiums in the state. This naturally leads to a conversation about whether education funding should be prioritized over sports facilities. Yet today, Texas ranks 34th in educational attainment and is far from the national average in teacher pay. This context begs several important questions about how we value sports versus education.
High school football is a huge part of Texas culture, with more than 1,267 football stadiums in the state. Remarkably, one fourth of these stadiums are even larger, seating more than 5,000 fans. Eight of them can seat no more than 16,500 fans. The incredible combined capacity of these venues alone tops over 4.4 million, highlighting the extreme emphasis placed on high school athletics. This focus is taking place on a backdrop of very urgent educational needs.
The sad saga has particular parallels with Buford High School in Georgia, a darling of athletic power. Buford Wolves during a remarkable 20-year stretch, winning 13 state championships from 2001-2021. They have a fantastic track record of their players going on to earn college scholarships and playing in the NFL. This record highlights the potential benefits of investing in athletic programs, but it raises questions about funding priorities in other states like Texas, where educational resources often face significant budget constraints.
Buford city manager Bryan Kerlin pointed out that the money spent building the new stadium didn’t take away potential teacher raises. He promised that resources for the classroom wouldn’t be impacted. Kerlin said that the funding for the new stadium comes from a separate pot of money than educational budgets. This difference is key to reading how communities balance the wants for athletic facilities with the needs of education requirements.
In Texas, the independent school district in Katy opened a $70 million stadium with a capacity of 12,000 in 2017, further illustrating the state’s dedication to high school sports. Yaman Salahi, a commentator on the economic impact of high school athletics, noted that “corporations see a lot of untapped economic value in high school athletics,” adding that “we want to ensure that value is shared equitably with the athletes that create it.” Seen through this lens of economic impact, high school sports programs are a vibrant piece of the economic puzzle in communities across the country.
Experts like Dr. Priscilla Chancellor warn of allowing stadiums to take priority over public education investments. Victor Matheson pointed out that “everyone knows their biggest competitor is being able to watch on TV,” referring to how televised games may affect attendance and community support for local teams. Matheson emphasized that “the difference here is that it’s the local public school that’s doing the development,” suggesting that while high school sports can boost community pride, they should not come at the expense of essential educational funding.
The fight over public funding for lavish high school stadiums is indicative of bigger problems in Texas’ educational system. Low rankings in educational attainment and teacher salaries have frustrated stakeholders, who are more fearful than ever that resources are misallocated. Strong athletic programs can help nurture a strong community spirit and can provide deeply impactful opportunities for students. We shouldn’t forget to focus on ensuring we meet their needs as learners!