ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – UCF student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom. Another year's worth of NCAA Academic Progress Rate data has been released. The Knights compiled a department-wide, four-year average APR of 983. UCF's single-year score of 988 ties the highest mark in school history. A perfect APR score is 1000.
Wednesday's release of APR information by the NCAA includes data through the 2016-17 academic year. The APR provides a "snapshot" look at a team's academic success on a yearly basis. The APR score takes into account graduation, retention and eligibility to determine a clear picture of the current academic culture of a program.
The NCAA uses multi-year averages to track a program's academic progress. The multi-year rate includes the previous four years' worth of data. The NCAA began compiling APR information in 2004.
The UCF women's tennis program has achieved a perfect 1000 multi-year score for the seventh straight year. Last week, the Knights' women's tennis, men's golf and volleyball teams were honored with NCAA Public Recognition for being in the top 10 percent of APR for their sports. All three programs had a perfect 1000 multi-year score. UCF women's soccer will also have a multi-year score of 1000, pending an NCAA adjustment from data recently submitted. Seven programs – men's basketball, men's golf, cross country, rowing, softball, women's tennis and women's volleyball -- had single-year scores of 1000.
The Knights continue to be among the top schools in the nation, the state and the American Athletic Conference in regard to APR.
Eleven of UCF's 15 programs (indoor and outdoor track are combined for purposes of APR) are above the national average for their sport – men's golf, football, men's basketball, women's tennis, rowing, cross country, volleyball, women's soccer, softball, track and field and women's basketball. Thirteen of UCF's 15 sports improved upon or maintained their multi-year average.
Nine Knight teams rank in the top half of the American Athletic Conference – football, men's basketball, men's golf, softball, women's basketball, rowing, women's tennis, women's track and field and volleyball. Five UCF programs rank No. 1 in the State of Florida– football, men's golf, rowing, women's tennis and volleyball.
The following is a look at the APR score of each sport at UCF:
Baseball - 962
Men's Basketball - 974
Football - 984
Men's Golf - 1000
Men's Soccer - 945
Men's Tennis - 962
Women's Basketball - 985
Cross Country - 989
Rowing - 993
Women's Golf - 966
Softball - 997
Women's Soccer - 1000 (pending NCAA adjustment)
Women's Tennis - 1000
Track and Field - 987
Volleyball - 1000
None of UCF's teams fell below the multi-year threshold where teams could be penalized by the NCAA. This is the 11th consecutive year the Knights have seen each of their teams above that threshold.