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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| NorthALBall |
Posted - 12/08/2025 : 13:08:17
School enrollment numbers are out and everyone is getting their refresher courses in Excel today.
One thing to remember (and I have said this about many topics over the last 12 months) is we have no idea what the AHSAA will do.
A new executive director, new staff handling reclassification, controversy over private schools. This is an entirely new team handling reclassification this time, something none of them have ever been heavily involved in. I would not be surprised to see some corrections even after the supposed vote on the 15th/16th.
These are also subject to change based on how different private school enrollments are reported. They report their own so we don't have a concrete number for many of those schools.
After a first look through the numbers here is where things stand:
7A:
Hazel Green, Spain Park, Gadsden City and Buckhorn moving up to 7A.
6A:
Florence, Austin, Albertville and Hillcrest look to be moving down from 7A to 6A.
Faith Academy, Springville, and Russellville look like they will move up to 6A from 5A.
5A:
Moving down to 5A from 6A looks like Jackson-Olin, Shades Valley and Woodlawn.
Moving up to 5A from 4A is Good Hope, Brooks, Satsuma, and St. Michael.
4A:
Down to 4A looks to be Jacksonville, Andalusia, Montevallo and Corner.
Up to 4A from 3A looks like a host of Lauderdale County, Elkmont, Flomaton, Madison Academy, St. James, Geraldine and Childersburg.
3A-1A
There was a lot of moving and shaking in these but the biggest standouts look to be:
Handley, Jackson, Geneva, Hatton, Fayette County, Reeltown and Lanett headed to 3A.
2A & 1A did not seem to have any major moves that I can tell from first glance. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Tom Servo |
Posted - 01/26/2026 : 21:30:31
quote:
Originally posted by CCHS07
Im sure this was discussed at some point on this forum but why did Shades Valley's enrollment numbers drop by 40% in the course of one classification period? Is one of the on-site academies/IB school they have being relocated elsewhere?
That?s very interesting. I don?t know anything about SV but something happened.
In general, the enrollment numbers fly in the face of economic development. It is a very interesting subject and further supports economists claiming that Americans are having fewer children. Quite a few schools reported lower numbers this period when the areas feeding those schools have grown considerably. On the surface you would think locations around B?ham like Vestavia, Hoover, Thompson, Oak Mountain, Helena, Pelham, Chelsea would have more students due to the number of housing units added but they all reported a decline. For my business I routinely work on economic impact studies and people like me are having to adjust some of our hypotheses. Further, you have to go back +/-15 years since the children born in that period are the ones being counted now. We had a devastating economic decline in the housing market that began in 2008 and lasted several years. That likely led to families having fewer children but I think it?s more than that. In general studies all over the country are showing families with fewer children. While this might be a blip and more data and reconciliation is necessary the AHSAA enrollment numbers support the theory. |
| Brian |
Posted - 01/24/2026 : 18:17:10
Any chance we get a podcast discussing each new classification? Controversy aside, I'd like to hear takes on the toughest/easiest regions and the winners/losers for each. |
| CoachBurkett |
Posted - 01/23/2026 : 15:32:19
quote:
Originally posted by CCHS07
Im sure this was discussed at some point on this forum but why did Shades Valley's enrollment numbers drop by 40% in the course of one classification period? Is one of the on-site academies/IB school they have being relocated elsewhere?
Yes.
John 3:30 |
| CCHS07 |
Posted - 01/23/2026 : 13:53:47
Im sure this was discussed at some point on this forum but why did Shades Valley's enrollment numbers drop by 40% in the course of one classification period? Is one of the on-site academies/IB school they have being relocated elsewhere? |
| Mosleh87 |
Posted - 01/19/2026 : 08:14:40
reclassification is supposed to be announced this friday. |
| SManzella |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 23:34:05
Irony that people who claim to be against ?big government? want to meddle into every aspect of life these days. Have no idea why a politician that is easily elected in this state by the gop is making a critical error in overstepping and meddling in high school sports. How about you fix 65, 59, 431, etc and leave kids out of it. If parents want to send their kid to a private school with tac party money, ok that?s fine, but it?s a trade off. Do it for education and not sports. If it is for sports, then sit out a year and focus on getting that education. |
| jtoddo |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 22:46:30
Anything that the state/fed government puts its hands on is worse off
|
| DocAJ1589 |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 14:49:30
quote:
Originally posted by Rellimdo
Thoughts on the state being in charge of high school athletics? SB 73?
That is what destroyed Florida High School sports.
The Doc AJ |
| Rellimdo |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 11:52:09
Thoughts on the state being in charge of high school athletics? SB 73? |
| Patriots70 |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 11:24:46
I don't think combining 7A and the top 32-ish 6A is the end of the world - Clay dominated 6A just like Thompson dominated 7A and Clay has beaten Thompson the last 3 years. I think if you matched up the top 10 from each class, you'd have some good games (and I'm sure 7A would win a majority, but just saying I don't think it's as dominant as people think. The bottom half of 7A have some rough teams in it (at least in terms of football). Hell, 7A Region 4 playoff teams alone went 2-8 against 6A schools last year.
That said, I may like the 32 team 6A idea better. It will be tough to make regions out of it though (if you've seen the list - it's only 5 Mobile schools, 4 Montgomery-ish schools and 5 Huntsville with a whole bunch of Birmingham/central Alabama schools).
But if the state is now sticking their nose in it, who knows when we'll get reclassification!
I will say, we got an email today at school that said they still plan to announce next Friday and to confirm our numbers. So we'll see...
--
ALPreps.com |
| CCHS07 |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 09:59:21
quote:
Originally posted by CCHS07
quote:
Originally posted by WCGuru1
All great points! I often said.. if private schools play in the AHSAA they need to be 3A or higher.. they have no business in the 1a-2a range of schools..
Im starting to think a total ban on private schools in this (voluntary) association may be the way to go. That makes it uniform all the way down and private school will be a choice in all regards: choose different education, different sports setup, everything. That is going to be much simpler than including them with the public schools and constantly trying to balance what level of hamstringing we have to do to make if as fair as possible.
I keep flip flopping on this topic obviously but safe to say Im not sure what the right decision is. Going to be tough for whoever has to make it and then answer for/ defend it to media, coaches, admin, etc. |
| CCHS07 |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 09:51:35
quote:
Originally posted by CCHS07
That is an interesting direction to go but might make the most sense. It would probably also force Hewitt to play Clay-Chalkville again(!)
I was on Facebook recently and saw a supposedly "leaked" list of schools by enrollment that purportedly was all the public AHSAA members only (although one commented noted Southside Gadsden did not appear anywhere on the list). Whoever compiled this list accounted for the removal of the private members by making both 6A and 7A 32 members each. 1A-5A were all in the typical range of about 54-58 members. If separating the private schools results in a near schism of 6A, it would probably be better to eliminate 7A and then balance out the numbers across 6 classes like we did before 2014. By my count there are only 2 private members in 6A (McGill and St Paul's) and I believe none in 7A but a total separation of private members seems to bring the more upheaval to 6A than anywhere else, which seems less than equitable. They could also take the position that we keep 7A and turn it into, say, 8 regions of 5-7 teams, and make the other classes just a little smaller as well?
Also, FWIW, this list had Hazel Green, Gadsden and (I think) Buckhorn in 7A and Spain Park, Hillcrest and Percy Julian down to 6A. I don't know if the enrollment numbers were official or where they came from, but each school's numbers seemed reasonably reachable from the previous numbers after the last classification round. Nothing seemed obviously out of wack but if others saw what this list they may have a different opinion.
i misspoke: Spain Park was up to 7A in this list. Albertville and Florence were down to 6A...so three up to 7A and three down to 6A |
| CCHS07 |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 09:48:15
That is an interesting direction to go but might make the most sense. It would probably also force Hewitt to play Clay-Chalkville again(!)
I was on Facebook recently and saw a supposedly "leaked" list of schools by enrollment that purportedly was all the public AHSAA members only (although one commented noted Southside Gadsden did not appear anywhere on the list). Whoever compiled this list accounted for the removal of the private members by making both 6A and 7A 32 members each. 1A-5A were all in the typical range of about 54-58 members. If separating the private schools results in a near schism of 6A, it would probably be better to eliminate 7A and then balance out the numbers across 6 classes like we did before 2014. By my count there are only 2 private members in 6A (McGill and St Paul's) and I believe none in 7A but a total separation of private members seems to bring the more upheaval to 6A than anywhere else, which seems less than equitable. They could also take the position that we keep 7A and turn it into, say, 8 regions of 5-7 teams, and make the other classes just a little smaller as well?
Also, FWIW, this list had Hazel Green, Gadsden and (I think) Buckhorn in 7A and Spain Park, Hillcrest and Percy Julian down to 6A. I don't know if the enrollment numbers were official or where they came from, but each school's numbers seemed reasonably reachable from the previous numbers after the last classification round. Nothing seemed obviously out of wack but if others saw what this list they may have a different opinion. |
| OldBallCoach |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 09:44:41
If private schools are dropped, and we go back to 6 classes. I think 6a should be limited to 32 teams like 7a is now. Otherwise the bottom half of 6a will never have a shot at winning a championship playing schools that are 3 times their size. |
| DocAJ1589 |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 09:33:23
quote:
Originally posted by jtoddo
Heard from an athletic director (4A) that he is almost positive that the private schools will be dropped and the state will go back to 6 classifications. Take it for what's it worth.
With the governor and the legislature trying to overreach and take control that is the best solution, at least for the next couple of years. That will give the members enough time to properly address any rule changes.
The Doc AJ |
| Bandkid15 |
Posted - 01/16/2026 : 09:07:29
quote:
Originally posted by jtoddo
Heard from an athletic director (4A) that he is almost positive that the private schools will be dropped and the state will go back to 6 classifications. Take it for what's it worth.
Well, if that ends up being the case, then this will be the biggest change for Alabama high school football in years, at least since 7A was introduced (or maybe I just don't know my history). |
| jtoddo |
Posted - 01/15/2026 : 23:08:10
Heard from an athletic director (4A) that he is almost positive that the private schools will be dropped and the state will go back to 6 classifications. Take it for what's it worth. |
| CCHS07 |
Posted - 01/12/2026 : 14:45:44
quote:
Originally posted by WCGuru1
All great points! I often said.. if private schools play in the AHSAA they need to be 3A or higher.. they have no business in the 1a-2a range of schools..
Im starting to think a total ban on private schools in this (voluntary) association may be the way to go. That makes it uniform all the way down and private school will be a choice in all regards: choose different education, different sports setup, everything. That is going to be much simpler than including them with the public schools and constantly trying to balance what level of hamstringing we have to do to make if as fair as possible. |
| WCGuru1 |
Posted - 01/12/2026 : 09:19:52
All great points! I often said.. if private schools play in the AHSAA they need to be 3A or higher.. they have no business in the 1a-2a range of schools.. |
| DocAJ1589 |
Posted - 01/06/2026 : 09:40:38
quote:
Originally posted by robinsonakr
Interesting column here with some key info about the possible upcoming "Split"
https://www.thecallnews.com/2025/12/29/compromise-needed-before-disaster-strikes-alabama-high-school-sports/
I can see the author's point of view, but he neglected to mention several other factors that give private schools distinct advantages.
First, Private schools absolutely recruit high caliper athletes at an astronomical rate. Yes, some public schools (Mainly city schools) recruit but our still restricted by zoning. Private schools have found multiple loopholes to counter the "Financial Aid" rules.
Second, private schools can absolutely control their enrollment numbers. If you remove the multiplier and competitive balance you would see 90% them in 1A and 2A. They would purposely mask their numbers so they could attempt to dominate the smaller schools. Because let's face it that's what this boils down to, they don't want to face the tougher competition.
Third, political influence. Make no mistake, the politicians that are medaling into (and for the most part causing) the current situation have a personal agenda. I would guess that the overwhelming majority of their children attend private schools and the want nothing more than to give themselves even more of an advantage.
The AHSAA loses very little by the private schools leaving. If they want their own special rules, then let them go play in their own playground.
The Doc AJ
The Doc AJ |
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