MORAGA, Calif. -- Eight of Saint Mary's College's 14 intercollegiate sports teams achieved a perfect score during the 2010-11 academic year, according to the NCAA's latest Academic Progress Rates released lat week.

Each year, the NCAA tracks the classroom performance of student-athletes on every Division I team through the annual scorecard of academic achievement, known as APR. The score measures eligibility and retention each semester or quarter and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 academic years.

The Gaels men's cross country, golf, soccer and tennis teams were joined by the women's basketball, lacrosse, softball and tennis squads in achieving a perfect 1,000 for the 2010-10 academic year. The softball team currently has the highest multi-year APR with a near-perfect 996.

A total of 10 Saint Mary's sports equaled or exceeded the multi-year national average APR for that specific sport. The newly-established SMC track program is not included in the most recent NCAA report since it officially began during the 2011-12 academic year.

"We are proud of the academic success of our student-athletes and their commitment to the difficult balance of academic and athletic success," said SMC director of athletics Mark Orr. "With all of the discussion throughout the country of teams earning various sanctions for not meeting APR requirements, I'm proud that not one of our teams is danger of sanctions and several are on the verge of having a perfect score."

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year, based on the eligibility and retention of each scholarship student-athlete. Teams scoring below certain thresholds can face sanctions, such as scholarship losses and restrictions on practice. Rates are based on the past four years' performance.

The most recent four-year Division I APR is 973, up three points over last year. The average four-year rate also rose in the high-profile sports of men's basketball, football and baseball.

Now in its ninth year, APR is resulting in real measurable impacts, said NCAA President Mark Emmert.

"We expect student-athletes to meet their dual responsibilities, and most of them are doing so," Emmert said.

In the NCAA's highest profile sports, the average four-year APR for men's basketball is 950, up five points over last year; football is 948, up two points; and baseball is 965, up six points.