By Thomas Grant, Jr.
The much-anticipated finalized classification for the South Carolina High School League school years from 2024-26 were released Tuesday.
Class 5A schools in Richland and Lexington county schools will increase will three moving up from Class 4A. This group includes for the first time Irmo, along with Ridge View and Westwood.
Reports indicate Class 5A will be split into two 26-team divisions. Based on those numbers, Lexington, Ridge View, Blythewood, River Bluff and Dutch Fork will be in Division I and Westwood, White Knoll, Chapin, and Irmo in Division II.
The new realignment adds three local schools to Class 4A. Brookland-Cayce is back after a four-year absence, while Gilbert and Gray Collegiate make their debut in the higher classification.
In the case of the War Eagles, its move from Class 2A was based upon a 3.0 multiplier formula used for all charter schools. Under the new proposal, every student who lives outside of a school’s assigned attendance zone will count as three for its enrollment numbers.
Bishop England also moves up to Class 4A, while Oceanside Collegiate returns to Class 3A.
Class 3A includes American Leadership Academy in Lexington and Swansea. Pelion, Mid-Carolina and Batesburg-Leesville stay in Class 2A.
“Appreciation is expressed to those who served on the Reclassification/Realignment Guidelines Committee,” said Dr. Jerome Singleton, SCHSL Commissioner said in the release. “Classification placement of schools is the initial phase of the process. The next step for the League staff is to place the schools into regions in their respective classifications.”
The Executive Committee will meet January 18-19, 2024, to hear appeals regarding the classification placements.
S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE REALIGNMENT 2024-26
Class 5A
(9) Lexington – 2,169
(17) Ridge View – 1,909
(18) Blythewood – 1,901
(21) River Bluff – 1,882
(26) Dutch Fork – 1,823
(33) Westwood – 1,664
(34) White Knoll – 1,664
(36) Chapin – 1,643
(51) Irmo – 1,440
Class 4A
(3) Richland Northeast – 1,400
(7) Gray Collegiate – 1,296
(14) Airport – 1,232
(28) Brookland-Cayce – 1,114
(38) Gilbert – 1,027
Class 3A
(19) Swansea – 801
Class 2A
(13) Pelion – 572
(17) Mid-Carolina – 554
(31) Batesburg-Leesville – 481
(FEATURE PHOTO BY THOMAS GRANT JR.) – Gray Collegiate football
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