Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, or TAPPS, is an organization headquartered in the Lone Star Tower at Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas.[1] It was formerly headquartered at the Salado Civic Center in Salado, Texas.[2][3] Founded in 1978, TAPPS governs athletic, fine arts, and academic contests for the majority of non-public high schools in Texas.[a]

Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools
PredecessorTAPPS
Formation1978
TypeState Trade Association
HeadquartersFort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Executive Director
Bryan Bunselmeyer
Websitehttps://www.tapps.biz

As of 2021, TAPPS organizes competitions for over 230 private schools in Texas.[4]

History

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TAPPS was chartered in 1978 with a membership of 20 schools. As of 2022, TAPPS lists their school membership at 230 with a combined enrollment of over 40,000 students.[5] As early as 2013, TAPPS was using a proprietary software called TAPPSter to provide schools with online management tools for athletics and fine arts departments.[6] In 2019, TAPPS signed a State Management contract with Rank One to serve schedules and game results to schools in their membership.[7]

Controversies

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Muslim and Jewish schools

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In 2004, Darul Arqam, a Muslim school in Houston, submitted an application to join TAPPS. Khaled Katbi, who represented the school, had a meeting with TAPPS on November 4, 2004, and did not report any unusual questions. However the school subsequently received a letter which included a questionnaire with "Why do you wish to join an organization whose membership is basically in total disagreement with your religious beliefs?" and "Why do you think that the current member schools of TAPPS will not be biased against your school, based on the fundamental difference in your religion and Christianity, since about 90% of TAPPS schools embrace Christianity?" In response the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas stated that TAPPS should be investigated.[8]

In 2010, Iman Academy Southwest, another Muslim school in Houston, submitted an application to join TAPPS. TAPPS responded by asking Iman to complete a questionnaire with questions like "Historically, there is nothing in the Koran that fully embraces Christianity or Judaism in the way a Christian and/or a Jew understands his religion. Why, then, are you interested in joining an association whose basic beliefs your religion condemns?" Iman Academy SW did not fill out the questionnaire and the attached application, and TAPPS denied Iman SW admission into the league. Iman SW did not appeal the decision.[4] As of 2024, the Islamic private school Brighter Horizons Academy is a full member of TAPPS, competing in TAPPS 5A.

In 2012, TAPPS came under harsh criticism after it refused to reschedule a semifinals basketball game scheduled for 9 p.m. on Friday March 2 despite the fact that Robert M. Beren Academy, an Orthodox Jewish school, asked that its players not play on Jewish Sabbath.[9] The school had won the regional championship to advance for their first trip to the semi-finals.[10] An appeal was made by Beren Academy but denied by TAPPS under its bylaws set in the 1970s. TAPPS received legal pressure and pressure from Mayor Annise Parker of Houston as well as hundreds of letters.[9] TAPPS eventually relented and allowed the game to be rescheduled under this pressure.[4][11]

The controversies with the Muslim schools and Beren drew attention to the point where the Texas Catholic Conference called for a review of the association.[12]

Sports officials

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In 2015, the TAPPS Winter Division 1 Soccer State Championship Game was stopped by Trinity Christian Academy (TCA) coaches and Athletic Director to protest a yellow card that was issued by the referee to a John Paul II player. The TCA AD left the field of play and met with the TAPPS Executive Director. They walked back to the JPII bench together and the TAPPS Executive Director issued an Administrative Red card to the player, overruling the referee in charge of the game. This violated TAPPS section 134 "NO PROTESTS. A protest base on a game or contest official's decision will not be considered" and TAPPS section 27 "...may not protest a contest judge's / referee's or other official's decision". The cause of the controversy was that after scoring a goal to go up 1-0 with 32 minutes left in the game the player removed his jersey on the way to the bench and was issued a yellow card for this unsportsmanlike behavior. JPII was forced to play 10 v 11 for the remainder of the game and lost 1-2.[13][14]

Groupings

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Like the UIL, TAPPS aligns member schools into districts by geography and enrollment size for various contests. Each contest has a slightly different alignment based on the participating schools, but most follow the same basic framework. The districts are mostly decided behind closed doors by TAPPS every even year (in February, around the same time as the UIL's biannual redistricting), and are an attempt to keep schools within a certain distance of their hometown when attending competitions. Like the UIL, the districts are the first progression to the state championship.

Schools are further broken down with a letter classification to separate them from other schools of varying sizes based on average high school enrollment (single-sex schools have their student population average doubled). The purpose is ensured that schools compete only with others with similar size talent pools and resources.

Due to the wide variety of sports that some schools do and do not offer, and because some schools are single-sex, TAPPS uses several different classifications for sports (generally the larger the number the larger the school):

  • Volleyball, basketball (boys and girls): 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A
  • Football: Divisions I/II and III for six-man football (in I/II the schools are grouped together into districts, but in the playoffs they have separate brackets); Divisions I, II, III/IV (in III/IV the schools are grouped together into districts, but in the playoffs they have separate brackets), plus League (divided into two zones) for the 11-man game
  • Baseball Divisions I through V
  • Soccer: A single division (Division I) for fall, Divisions I through III for winter [b]
  • Softball: Divisions I through IV

2024-2026 alignment

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Source:[15]

6A schools

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District 1

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School City
Liberty Christian School Argyle
Nolan Catholic High School Fort Worth
Parish Episcopal School Dallas
Trinity Christian Academy Addison

District 2

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School City Notes
Bishop Lynch High School Dallas
John Paul II High School Plano
Legacy Christian Academy Frisco
Prestonwood Christian Academy Plano
Ursuline Academy of Dallas Dallas Girls Only

District 3

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School City Notes
Antonian College Preparatory High School San Antonio
Central Catholic Marianist High School San Antonio Boys Only
Incarnate Word High School San Antonio Girls Only
St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School Austin
St. Michael's Catholic Academy Austin
TMI Episcopal San Antonio

District 4

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School City Notes
Concordia Lutheran High School Tomball
Incarnate Word Academy Houston Girls Only
St. Agnes Academy Houston Girls Only
Saint John XXIII College Preparatory Katy
St. Pius X High School Houston
St. Thomas High School Houston Boys Only
The Village School Houston

Independent

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School City Notes
Cathedral High School El Paso Boys Only
Loretto Academy El Paso Girls Only

5A schools

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District 1

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School City
All Saints Episcopal Fort Worth
Coram Deo Academy Flower Mound
Faith Christian School Grapevine
Fort Worth Christian School North Richland Hills
Grace Preparatory Academy Arlington
Midland Christian School Midland
Southwest Christian School Fort Worth
Trinity Christian High School Lubbock

District 2

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School City Notes
Bishop Dunne Catholic School Dallas
Brentwood Christian School Austin
Brighter Horizons Academy Garland
Brook Hill School Bullard
Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep Dallas [c]
Grace Community School Tyler
Hyde Park High School Austin
Regents School of Austin Austin

District 3

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School City Notes
Providence High School San Antonio Girls Only
Saint Mary's Hall San Antonio
San Antonio Christian School San Antonio
St. Anthony Catholic High School San Antonio
St. Augustine High School Laredo
St. Joseph Academy Brownsville
St. Joseph High School Victoria

District 4

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School City
Bay Area Christian School League City
The Emery/Weiner School Houston
Fort Bend Christian Academy Sugar Land
Logos Preparatory Academy Sugar Land
Lutheran South Academy Houston
Second Baptist School Houston

District 5

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School City
Cypress Christian School Houston
Frassati Catholic High School Spring
Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy Magnolia
Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School Beaumont
The Woodlands Christian Academy The Woodlands

4A schools

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District 1

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School City
Lake Country Christian School Fort Worth
Lubbock Christian School Lubbock
Midland Classical Academy Midland
Temple Christian School Fort Worth
Trinity Christian Academy Willow Park
Trinity School of Midland Midland

District 2

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School City
Coram Deo Academy Plano
Covenant Christian Academy Colleyville
Covenant School Dallas
Pantego Christian Academy Arlington
Prince of Peace Christian School Carrollton

District 3

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School City Notes
All Saints Episcopal School Tyler
Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School Tyler
Dallas Christian School Mesquite
June Shelton School Dallas [c]
McKinney Christian Academy McKinney

District 4

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School City
Brazos Christian School Bryan
Concordia Academy Pflugerville
Hill Country Christian School Austin
Round Rock Christian Academy Round Rock
Texas School for the Deaf Austin
Vanguard College Preparatory School Waco
Veritas Academy Austin

District 5

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School City
The Christian School at Castle Hills San Antonio
Geneva School of Boerne Boerne
Holy Cross of San Antonio San Antonio
Incarnate Word Academy Corpus Christi
John Paul II Catholic High School Schertz
New Braunfels Christian Academy New Braunfels
St. John Paul II High School Corpus Christi

District 6

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School City Notes
British International School of Houston Katy [c]
First Baptist Christian Academy Pasadena
Northland Christian School Houston
Rosehill Christian School Tomball
St. Francis Episcopal School Piney Point Village
St. Thomas' Episcopal School Houston
Westbury Christian School Houston

3A schools

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District 1

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School City
Abilene Christian School Abilene
Christian Life Preparatory School Fort Worth
Covenant Classical School Fort Worth
Denton Calvary Academy Denton
Fellowship Academy Kennedale
Weatherford Christian School Weatherford

District 2

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School City Notes
Burton Adventist Academy Arlington
Chisholm Trail Academy Keene
Dallas International School Dallas
The Highlands School Irving
Lakehill Preparatory School Dallas
Lone Star-North Gainesville Boys Only Correctional Institution
North Dallas Adventist Academy Richardson
Yavneh Academy of Dallas Dallas

District 3

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School City
Cornerstone Christian Academy McKinney
Dallas Lutheran School Dallas
The Einstein School Plano
Heritage Christian Academy Rockwall
Lucas Christian Academy Lucas
Wylie Preparatory Academy Wylie

District 4

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School City Notes
Central Texas Christian School Temple
Faith Academy Marble Falls
Keystone School San Antonio
Live Oak Classical School Waco
Lutheran High School of San Antonio San Antonio
San Juan Diego Catholic High School Austin [c]
San Marcos Academy San Marcos

District 5

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School City Notes
Alpha Omega Academy Huntsville
Covenant Christian School Conroe
Lone Star-Southeast Giddings Boys Only Correctional Institution
Providence Classical School Spring

Independent

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School City Notes
Lydia Patterson Institute El Paso [c]

2A schools

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District 1

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School City
All Saints Episcopal School Lubbock
Ascension Academy Amarillo
Christ the King Cathedral School Lubbock
Holy Cross Catholic Academy Amarillo
Holy Cross Catholic High School Midland
Kingdom Preparatory Academy Lubbock
San Jacinto Christian Academy Amarillo
Southcrest Christian School Lubbock

District 2

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School City
Bethesda Christian School Fort Worth
Harvest Christian Academy Keller
Mercy Culture Preparatory Fort Worth
Nazarene Christian Academy Crowley
Sacred Heart Catholic School Muenster
Victory Baptist Academy Weatherford
Victory Christian Academy Decatur
Wichita Christian School Wichita Falls

District 3

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School City
Alcuin School Dallas
Cambridge School of Dallas Dallas
First Baptist Academy of Dallas Dallas
Garland Christian Academy Garland
Ovilla Christian School Red Oak
Prestonwood Christian-North Prosper

District 4

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School City
Christian Heritage School Longview
Greenville Christian School Greenville
Poetry Community Christian School Terrell
Longview Christian School Longview

District 5

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School City
Austin Waldorf School Austin
Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School Waco
Holy Trinity Catholic High School Temple
Summit Christian Academy Cedar Park
Valor Preparatory Academy Waco

District 6

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School City
Atonement Academy San Antonio
Bracken Christian School Bulverde
Faith Academy Victoria
Sacred Heart Catholic School Hallettsville
St. Paul High School Shiner

District 7

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School City
Allen Academy Bryan
Calvary Baptist School Conroe
Faith West Academy Katy
Houston Adventist Academy Cypress
St. Joseph Catholic School Bryan

District 8

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School City Notes
Brazosport Christian School Lake Jackson
The Briarwood School Houston [c]
Chinquapin Preparatory School Highlands
Legacy Christian Academy Beaumont
O'Connell College Preparatory School Galveston

1A schools

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District 1

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School City
Accelerate Christian School Amarillo
First Odessa Christian Academy Odessa
Jesus Chapel School El Paso
Runnels Academy Big Spring

District 2

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School City
Azle Christian School Azle
Christ Academy Wichita Falls
Cornerstone Christian Academy Granbury
StoneGate Christian Academy Irving
Texoma Christian School Sherman

District 3

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School City
Eagle Christian Academy Waco
Fairhill School Dallas
Kingdom Collegiate Academy DeSoto
Providence Academy Rockwall
Westwood School Dallas
The Winston School Dallas
Waxahachie Preparatory Academy Waxahachie

District 4

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School City
Athens Christian Preparatory Academy Athens
Regents Academy Nacogdoches
St. Boniface Catholic High School Nacogdoches
St. Cyprianโ€™s Episcopal School Lufkin
St. Mary's Catholic School Longview
Trinity School of Texas Longview

District 5

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School City Notes
First Baptist School Brownsville
Harvest Christian Academy Edinburg
Juan Diego Academy Mission [c]
Macedonian Christian Academy Alamo [c]
Presbyterian Pan American School Kingsville
South Texas Christian Academy McAllen

District 6

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School City
Austin Classical School Austin
Cornerstone Christian School San Angelo
First Baptist Academy Universal City
Gateway Christian School San Antonio
Heritage School Fredericksburg
Hill Country Christian School San Marcos
Legacy Christian Academy San Antonio
Living Rock Academy Bulverde
Our Lady of the Hills High School Kerrville
River City Believers Academy Selma
Waterloo School Austin

District 7

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School City
Covenant Academy Cypress
The Covenant Preparatory School Kingwood
Faith Academy Bellville
Founders Christian School Spring
Lifestyle Christian School Conroe
Memorial Lutheran School Houston
Second Baptist School University Model-Cypress Cypress
Second Baptist School University Model-Memorial Houston

District 8

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School City
Angleton Christian School Angleton
Baytown Christian Academy Baytown
Divine Savior Academy Missouri City
Family Christian Academy Houston
Grace Christian Academy Houston
Robert M. Beren Academy Houston

Independent

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School City
Radford School El Paso

2023-24 State Champions

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Baseball
Classification Champion School city Source
Division I Central Catholic San Antonio [16]
Division II Second Baptist Houston
Division III Brook Hill Bullard
Division IV First Baptist Christian Pasadena
Division V St. Paul Catholic Shiner
Basketball
Classification Champion School city Source
1A Girls Harvest Christian Edinburg [17]
2A Girls Covenant Christian Conroe
3A Girls Lubbock Christian Lubbock
4A Girls Lake Country Christian Fort Worth
5A Girls Southwest Christian Fort Worth
6A Girls Bishop Lynch Dallas
1A Boys Kingdom Collegiate DeSoto [18]
2A Boys Bethesda Christian Fort Worth
3A Boys St. Francis Episcopal Houston
4A Boys St. Thomas Episcopal Houston
5A Boys Midland Christian Midland
6A Boys Parish Episcopal Dallas
Cross Country
Classification Champion School city Source
1A Girls Texoma Christian Sherman [19]
2A Girls Providence Classical Spring
3A Girls Coram Deo Plano
4A Girls Legacy Prep Magnolia
5A Girls St. Dominic Savio Austin
6A Girls Ursuline Academy Dallas
1A Boys Victory Baptist Weatherford
2A Boys Providence Classical Spring
3A Boys Live Oak Classical Waco
4A Boys Covenant Dallas
5A Boys TMI Episcopal San Antonio
6A Boys St. Thomas Houston
Field Hockey
Classification Champion School city Source
Statewide St. Agnes Houston [20]
Football
Classification Champion School city Source
Six-Man Division I Emery/Weiner Houston [21]
Six-Man Division II Covenant Christian Conroe
Six-Man Division III Prestonwood Christian-North Prosper
11-Man Division I Parish Episcopal Dallas [22]
11-Man Division II Liberty Christian Argyle
11-Man Division III Dallas Christian Mesquite
11-Man Division IV First Baptist Dallas
Golf
Classification Champion School city Source
1A Girls Prestonwood Christian-North Prosper [23]
2A Girls All Saints Episcopal Lubbock
3A Girls Weatherford Christian Weatherford
4A Girls Logos Prep Sugar Land
5A Girls Lutheran South Houston
6A Girls Ursuline Academy Dallas
1A Boys Covenant Academy Cypress
2A Boys All Saints Episcopal Lubbock
3A Boys Rosehill Christian Tomball
4A Boys Covenant Dallas
5A Boys Woodlands Christian The Woodlands
6A Boys Trinity Christian Addison
Soccer
Classification Champion School city Source
Fall Soccer
Boys Statewide Yavneh Academy Dallas [24]
Winter Soccer
Division I Boys John Paul II Plano [25]
Division II Boys St. Joseph Academy Brownsville
Division III Boys Brook Hill Bullard
Division I Girls Ursuline Academy Dallas [26]
Division II Girls Grace Community Tyler
Division III Girls McKinney Christian McKinney
Softball
Classification Champion School city Source
Division I St. Agnes[27] Houston [28]
Division II St. Joseph Victoria
Division III Brook Hill Bullard
Division IV Sacred Heart Hallettsville
Swimming
Classification Champion School city Source
Division I Girls Bishop Lynch Dallas [29]
Division II Girls TMI Episcopal San Antonio
Division III Girls Legacy Prep The Woodlands
Division I Boys Cathedral El Paso
Division II Boys TMI Episcopal San Antonio
Division III Boys Logos Prep Sugar Land
Tennis
Classification Champion School city Source
1A Girls Covenant Prep Kingwood [30]
2A Girls All Saints Episcopal Lubbock
3A Girls San Jacinto Christian Amarillo
4A Girls John Paul II Plano
5A Girls Emery/Weiner Houston
6A Girls Ursuline Academy Dallas
1A Boys Briarwood Houston
2A Boys Abilene Christian Abilene
3A Boys Live Oak Classical Waco
4A Boys Incarnate Word Corpus Christi
5A Boys TMI Episcopal San Antonio
6A Boys Village Houston
Track & Field
Classification Champion School city Source
1A Girls Heritage School Fredericksburg [31]
2A Girls St. Paul Catholic Shiner
3A Girls Rosehill Christian Tomball
4A Girls Brentwood Christian Austin
5A Girls Fort Bend Christian Sugar Land
6A Girls St. Agnes Houston
1A Boys Brazosport Christian Lake Jackson
2A Boys First Baptist Dallas
3A Boys Central Texas Christian Temple
4A Boys Trinity Christian Lubbock
5A Boys Lutheran South Houston
6A Boys St. Thomas Houston
Volleyball
Classification Champion School city Source
1A Christ Academy Wichita Falls [32]
2A Ovilla Christian Red Oak
3A Keystone San Antonio
4A Grace Prep Arlington
5A Liberty Christian Argyle
6A Prestonwood Christian Plano
Wrestling
Classification Champion School city Source
Boys Statewide Bishop Lynch Dallas [33]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Texas, unlike most states, has separate organizations for public and private schools (excluding two very large all-male parochial schools which have been allowed to join the University Interscholastic League, the governing body for public schools). However, public and private schools may schedule each other in competition.
  2. ^ Although fall soccer programs are de facto boys teams, many are co-ed. Some boys' winter soccer programs are co-ed when there are not enough players to form a girls' squad.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h School moved down one classification level for circumstantial reasons. This is mostly done for schools serving low-income students and for special education schools.

References

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  1. ^ "About TAPPS". Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Retrieved October 25, 2019. Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools 3575 Lone Star Circle #320 Fort Worth, Texas 76177
  2. ^ "Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools". Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
  3. ^ "Contact Information".
    "Salado Civic Center 601 North Main in Downtown Salado, Texas 76571"
  4. ^ a b c Pilon, Mary (March 2, 2012). "Before Games, Religious Questions". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  5. ^ "About TAPPS | TAPPS". tapps.biz. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Rank One Schedules and Results | TAPPS". tapps.biz. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Rank One Schedules and Results | TAPPS". tapps.biz. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Hegstrom, Edward (December 23, 2004). "Local Muslim school, TAPPS at odds over letter". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Pilon, Mary. "Texas Association Criticized for Ruling on Jewish Team." New York Times. The New York Times Company, 29 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2014.
  10. ^ Pilon, Mary. "In Texas, the Sabbath Trumps the Semifinals." New York Times, 27 February 2012. Web. 15 February 2014
  11. ^ Pilon, Mary. "Game Time Is Adjusted; Jewish School Will Play." New York Times, 1 March 2012. Web. 15 February 2014
  12. ^ Pilon, Mary. "Review of Texas Association Sought", New York Times, 23 March 2012. Web. 15 February 2014.
  13. ^ "John Paul II appeals loss to TCA-Addison in TAPPS boys soccer state final, saying red card was incorrectly issued after TAPPS executive director told referee to change call". SportsDay HS.
  14. ^ "Boys soccer: JPII appeals title game loss, TAPPS upholds ruling following red card controversy". PlanoStar Courier.
  15. ^ TAPPS Alignment 2024-2026 Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. May 29, 2024.
  16. ^ "2022 (sic) Baseball Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  17. ^ "2024 Girls Basketball Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  18. ^ "2024 Boys Basketball Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  19. ^ "2023 TAPPS State XC". live.deltatiming.com. October 2023.
  20. ^ "2023 Field Hockey". orgs.rankone.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
  21. ^ "2023 Six Man Football Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  22. ^ "2023 11 Man Football Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
  23. ^ "Golf - TAPPS". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  24. ^ "2023 Fall Soccer (Bracket)". orgs.rankone.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024.
  25. ^ "2024 Boys Winter Soccer Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  26. ^ "2024 Girls Winter Soccer Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  27. ^ Marrion, Jack (May 14, 2024). "TAPPS Softball: St. Agnes Outslugs Antonian for Division I Title". houstonchronicle.com.
  28. ^ "2022 (sic) Softball Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  29. ^ "2023 (sic) TAPPS Championship Meets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  30. ^ "2024 Tennis Championships". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  31. ^ "2024 TAPPS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - 5/2/2024 to 5/4/2024" (PDF). tapps.biz. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2024.
  32. ^ "2023 Volleyball Brackets". tapps.biz. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
    All subpage links are archived.
  33. ^ "Team Scores". drive.google.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024.
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