The Big Business of Holding Back 8th Graders
Summary
This episode explores the rise of private "holdback academies" that allow middle schoolers to repeat a year for athletic advantage. Driven by NIL deals, schools like The Together Ship charge thousands to help students grow physically and mature before high school. The trend is shifting from fringe to mainstream, with public districts now competing by offering similar programs to retain families.
Topics discussed
Intro: The Together Ship athletic school and holdback trend
Show intro and sponsor ads (Harvey, Optum)
Historical stigma of holding students back for sports
How NIL deals accelerated the push for athletic reclassification
Physical and competitive advantages of an extra year
Inside The Together Ship: Curriculum, costs, and athlete diet
Sponsor ads (FanDuel, Mariner)
AJ DeBonsa's success and the shift to 'reclassification' terminology
Case study: Carter Canceleri's baseball holdback year
The fear of missing out: Is not holding back a disadvantage?
Affordability: Homeschooling as a cheaper alternative to private schools
Potential drawbacks: Loss of adversity and grit
Public schools and states adapting to the holdback trend
The trickle-down effect on younger kids and future outlook
Outro and credits
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