Newton South High School prides itself on preparing all of its students for college. But last summer, school officials found out that a large number of Newton South’s math, English, science, and social studies classes didn’t cut it for graduates who wanted to play Division 1 or Division 2 sports in college.

The NCAA, the governing body of collegiate athletics, determined that Newton South students who had taken certain Curriculum 2 classes, which are taught at a slower pace than Curriculum 1 and Honors level classes, were ineligible to play their freshman year in college.