The GHSA announced Wednesday the new seven classifications for 2016-17. Results are below.
First, a few observations.
-The GHSA had wanted to address the perceived competitive advantages held by city schools that have open enrollment. To accomplish that, the GHSA voted earlier this year to bump to higher classifications all schools that get more than 3.0 percent of students outside their county. Did it work? Among city schools, only Buford, Jefferson and Bremen were bumped. That’s unless you count Jackson of Atlanta, an unintended catch in the fish net. Those that escaped were Calhoun, Carrollton, Cartersville, Decatur, Dublin, Rome, Social Circle, Thomasville and Vidalia.
-The 3.0 plan worked for the targeted larger private schools. Those placed in higher classifications are Woodward Academy, St. Pius, Blessed Trinity, Westminster, Marist, Greater Atlanta Christian, Lovett and Riverside Military. Meanwhile, Holy Innocents’, Wesleyan, Pace Academy and Darlington – all competing currently in AA – will get to move back to Class A because their enrollments fell at or below the new Class A threshold of 520 students. Benedictine currently is the only private school that tentatively is slated for AA.
- The other big change in the new classification is the move to seven classes from six. The new highest class (AAAAAA, or 7A) will comprise only 48 schools, down from 64. The aim was to reduce the gap between the state’s largest school, Mill Creek at 3,998 students, and the lowest in the class, which will be Westlake at 2,092. Metro Atlanta schools that were relieved of playing in the highest class next year are Alpharetta, Centennial, Chattahoochee, Johns Creek and Northview from north Fulton County; Harrison, Pope and South Cobb from Cobb; Dacula from Gwinnett; Hughes from south Fulton; and Tucker from DeKalb. Several current AAAAA schools might’ve been bumped to the higher class if not for the new, smaller high class. Those include Cambridge, Richmond Hill and Gainesville.
-Where do we go from here? On Dec. 1, the reclassification committee will place schools in regions. That is after taking requests from schools choosing to play in higher classifications. On Dec. 7-8, the GHSA will hear appeals regarding region placement. On Jan. 13, the GHSA's executive committee will ratify the reclassification.
(1) Number of students who reside outside the county where the school is located.
(2) Percentage of students who reside outside the county where the school is located.
(3) Schools listed as “single sex” had their FTE numbers doubled for this purpose.
** Schools not playing varsity football.
[ ] School moved up in class because of more than 3 percent out-of-county students.
