The Louisiana Independent School Association, more commonly known as LISA, was an agency, which regulated and promoted the interscholastic athletic competitions of private high schools in the state of Louisiana, mostly segregation academies. The organization is no longer in existence.
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History
The organization was founded in 1970, in response to dissatisfaction with the state of education in Louisiana and inequitable treatment of private schools by the LHSAA (Louisiana High School Athletic Association). The association consisted of College Prep Schools within the State and bordering areas. Racer Holstead was the first Commissioner of the Association and laid the groundwork for direction in the early years. During the 1970s and 1980s, LISA was a sports sanctioning organization that was considered to be a parallel to the LHSAA and other organizations then in existence. As times changed, and several member schools transferred to the LHSAA and other organizations, LISA began to lose some of its former prominence. LISA was eventually dissolved after the 1991-1992 school year, with the remainign schools transferring to the LHSAA or the MPSA (now the MAIS).
The schools competed in two divisions A and AA according to enrollment and districts arranged by geography and traditional rivalries. Championships were decided by a playoff system with seeds based upon record and district competition in team sports and head-to-head competition in track and field. Post season All Star Games were held in football and basketball featuring top senior athletes composed of teams from the northern and southern portions of the state as voted by coaches within the association.
Organization
LISA was made up of several College Prep Academies within Louisiana
LISA’s competitive sports programs included Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Cross Country, Outdoor track and field, and Football.
L.I.S.A. for number of athletes participating had a higher percentage of College players than the other state organizations
L.I.S.A. Standards for Academic achievement to remain eligible were a 2.5 average and the average ACT scores of Association Athletes was 26 percent higher than the other state athletic organizations