It is.
But this is what the public chooses.
And it totally pisses off a lot of teachers.

Contrary to my beliefs when I first
changed from a lab to a classroom, athletics
has a place (I thought it was ridiculous).
Primarily, our athletes have to pass
every class or they dont play. We have kept a lot
of kids in school and actually learning by the lure
of athletics. Very strange, but true. By the time
they mature to seniors, and realize they will not
play a sport after school...

well, they actually have some options.

And some kids that are actually good in the classroom
and good on the football field, really hit a gold mine.
I have a senior in Physics this year who is a good student,
a very good football player (although not recruited by top
Big 12 schools) going to Stanford full ride. Not bad.
His parents made sure before he signed that he would be
allowed to take real classes, not basketweaving.