The Non-Traditional Student (NTS) Pilot Program is designed for student-athletes in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in homeschool, Florida Virtual School, or at a school that isn’t a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association and does not field a team in a sport offered at Saint Stephen’s. The FHSAA provides this option to all member schools, given that completed paperwork is on file prior to student participation.
All determinations as to whether a student-athlete will be accepted to the program are the sole discretion of Saint Stephen’s. Non-traditional students are only allowed to participate on teams whose rosters have not exceeded FHSAA maximums or the coach’s preferred number. As with all varsity-level teams, playing time is determined by merit and is not guaranteed. A student who has attended Saint Stephen’s for any period of time during the past three academic years is not eligible to participate, except under unusual circumstances.
Non-traditional students must complete the Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School Non-Traditional Student Application. They must also provide transcripts verifying that their academic eligibility meets Saint Stephen’s and FHSAA guidelines. An interview to determine the compatibility of the student with the mission and vision of SSES is conducted by the Director of Athletics, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, and the Director of Enrollment Management.
The application and all checklist items must be submitted and approved by the Friday prior to the official date of tryouts for a specific sport. Upon approval, the student and parent/guardian will be provided with the SSES Parent/Student Handbook and the SSES Athletic Handbook. A $750 fee ($850 for lacrosse and $950 for football to cover increased equipment and related costs) must be paid in advance of participation each season.
If you have further questions, please contact Director of Athletics Cole Hudson (chudson@saintstephens.org) or Senior Associate Director of Athletics Heather Hodges (hhodges@saintstephens.org).
