The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has announced a significant change in its classification system, separating public and private schools for championship play. This decision, deemed one of the most anticipated in the organization’s history, was approved by the AHSAA’s Central Board of Control on Friday. The new classification system will be implemented for the upcoming 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 athletic seasons.
Under the revised structure, there will be six classifications for public schools and two for private schools, effectively eliminating the Class 7A designation that has been in place since 2014. In this new setup, private schools will no longer be subject to the previously used 1.35 multiplier, which classified them based on enrollment figures compared to public schools. This change reflects a broader shift in how the AHSAA aims to structure its championships, moving away from the competitive balance factor that previously influenced private school classifications.
AHSAA Executive Director Ben Harmon emphasized the need for adaptation in the landscape of education-based athletics in Alabama. “After careful review – and after listening to our public and private school members – the Central Board determined that now is an appropriate time to restructure championship play,” Harmon stated. “This model will be implemented for the next two years.”
Despite the separation in championship classifications, teams from public and private schools will still have the opportunity to compete against each other in non-region and area contests during the regular season. Harmon noted, “The Central Board has approved a championship alignment model that applies only to post-season play. Its purpose is to expand opportunity and strengthen the overall championship experience for student-athletes across Alabama.”
New Classifications and Their Impact
Class 6A will now encompass the 32 largest public schools in the AHSAA, making it Alabama’s leading classification. The AHSAA stated that the Central Board is currently evaluating plans that may allow more teams to advance to the state football playoffs. They are also exploring the potential for adding sub-regional rounds to the playoff formats for volleyball and basketball.
The classification system for schools will be determined based on average daily membership (ADM), which considers student enrollment from grade nine through eleven and eighth-grade hold-back students. Member private schools will report similar data to the AHSAA. The breakdown of schools in various classifications is as follows: Class 6A will have 32 teams, Class 5A will feature 64 teams, Class 4A will include 66 teams, Class 3A will have 66 teams, Class 2A will host 65 teams, and Class 1A will feature 69 teams. Additionally, there will be 17 schools in Private Class Double A and 43 in Private Class Single A, the latter representing smaller private institutions.
The expansion of Girls’ Flag Football will also see the addition of three public school divisions and one private school division.
Local School Realignments and Future Considerations
In the new classifications, local institutions such as Pike Liberal Arts will transition into Private Class Single A, Region 2, joining other schools like Alabama Christian Academy and Fort Dale Academy. On the public school side, Charles Henderson will be placed in Class 4A, Region 4, alongside Beauregard and Elmore County, among others. Pike County is set to compete in Class 3A, Region 2, with schools like Beulah and Geneva in its cohort.
The volleyball alignments will see Pike Liberal Arts in Single A, Area 2, and Charles Henderson in 4A, Area 3. In flag football, the teams from Charles Henderson and Pike County will compete in 1A-4A, Region 2, alongside other local rivals.
The changes in alignment will also affect swimming and cross country, with both Charles Henderson and Pike County adjusting to new competitive sections. Alignments for winter and spring sports will be finalized after the conclusion of their current seasons.
The AHSAA’s restructuring reflects a comprehensive approach to fostering a competitive yet fair environment for student-athletes across Alabama. As these changes take effect, the organization remains committed to serving all its member schools while enhancing the overall athletic experience for students.
