The State of High School Esports in 2025

Over 8,000 high schools in the United States now have some form of esports program, according to NFHS and HSEL data. Varsity esports recognition has been passed in more than 30 states, and the number of colleges offering esports scholarships has grown to over 200 programs.

What was once dismissed as kids playing video games has become a legitimate extracurricular and career pathway. The average high school esports player today has a direct route to college scholarships, coaching opportunities, broadcast careers, game development, and more.

For coaches and school administrators, the opportunity is clear: esports programs increase student engagement, provide a competitive outlet for students who don't participate in traditional athletics, and create real post-secondary pathways.

How to Start a High School Esports Program

Starting a high school esports program doesn't require a large budget. The minimum requirement is students who want to compete, a faculty advisor or coach, and access to computers (most students already own devices capable of running competitive esports titles).

Here's the basic roadmap:

• Get school administration approval — frame it as an extracurricular club or apply for varsity status
• Find a faculty advisor or bring in a volunteer coach
• Identify your student athletes and the games they play
• Join a structured league like the NIL League for competitive infrastructure
• Set up a team Discord for communication and scheduling
• Register on NE Network for roster management, match scheduling, and recruiting tools

What Games Are Played in High School Esports?

High school esports programs typically organize around the most popular competitive titles. The most common games at the scholastic level include:

• Rocket League — one of the most widely played high school esports titles
• Valorant — team-based tactical shooter, widely recognized by colleges
• League of Legends — largest collegiate pipeline (NACC)
• Apex Legends — battle royale with a growing scholastic circuit
• Overwatch 2 — Blizzard has a strong collegiate pathway
• Call of Duty — competitive shooter, COD League collegiate feeds
• Minecraft — growing in younger divisions and STEM-focused programs
• Chess and card games — recognized by NACE schools

Varsity Recognition and Academic Credit

Varsity esports recognition allows high school programs to grant letter awards, provide access to school facilities, and compete under the school's athletic budget. Over 30 states have passed or are pursuing varsity recognition for esports through state athletic associations.

Several states, including Ohio, Texas, and Virginia, have well-established varsity esports programs managed by their state athletic associations. The NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) has published official guidance for schools looking to establish varsity programs.

Academic credit for esports participation is offered at a growing number of schools, often through digital literacy, communications, or physical education credit systems. Some districts have created dedicated esports elective courses.

The Scholarship Pathway for High School Esports Players

The scholarship opportunity in high school esports is real and growing. Over 200 colleges now offer esports scholarships, with more programs adding support every year. The key is building a verifiable competitive record during your high school years that college coaches can find and evaluate.

Players who compete in structured leagues like the NIL League, maintain a public recruiting profile on NE Network, and keep their academic record strong are positioned to receive scholarship consideration from multiple programs.

The earlier you start building your competitive resume, the better. Freshman and sophomore year performances compound — a two-year NIL League record with playoff appearances is significantly more valuable than a single senior-year run.

Tools for High School Esports Coaches

Managing a high school esports program comes with unique challenges — scheduling around academic calendars, managing student eligibility, communicating with parents, and tracking player development. NE Network is built to handle all of this.

The school dashboard includes roster management with student athlete profiles, match scheduling with Discord alerts, live standings and bracket management, and direct visibility to college programs that might recruit your players.

NEXUS — the premium coaching toolkit on NE Network — gives coaches VOD review tools, a collaborative strategy whiteboard, scrim scheduling, and the Top Talent Board for scouting and cross-team analysis.