There are kids who can do both...it's called being a "Student-Athlete". I know this is foreign (or more so) on the boys side, but on the girls side I've seen a difference. A school like Mitty, La Jolla Country Day, SHC, C-Let...they all have very high academic standards and yet field competitive teams. Why can't a school do both. They're supposed to be fostering quality student athletes...not focus on one side and forsake the other.
If we were to equate HS sports to the pay of professional women we wouldn't have high school sports. Outside of the National Soccer team, where can a woman make a GOOD living playing sports in this country? The average wnba salary is right around 50k, Women's Soccer league max is 37k and base of 7k, 500 to 5k per month for professional volleyball. What's the point of playing sports if it doesn't pay the bills? I agree get a good education, but in women's sports, there's so much more to it than money. networking, camaraderie, possible college or professional coaching...