NCHSAA Announces Historic Shift to Eight-Class Football System for 2025-2026 School Year

In a significant move for high school sports in North Carolina, the N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has announced the final average daily membership (ADM) numbers that will impact the football realignment for the next school year. This new system, which will go into effect in the 2025-2026 school year, marks a shift from the current four-class classification to an expanded eight-class model.

The NCHSAA released the finalized ADM numbers, which represent the average student attendance over the first 20 days of the school year. These numbers are essential as they determine which schools belong to specific classifications. Under the new plan, the largest classification, known as 8A, will consist of the largest 32 schools in the state, creating what is referred to as the “Big 32” model.

The decision to increase the number of classifications came after member schools voted on a bylaw amendment. This amendment was aimed at limiting the number of schools in any classification to a maximum of 64. Consequently, the additional seven classifications will be assigned based on school size, with larger schools placed in higher classifications and the smallest in the 1A classification.

NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker expressed enthusiasm about entering this “new era of interscholastic athletics” in North Carolina with this shift to the eight-classification system. In the upcoming weeks, the NCHSAA staff will draft a proposed conference alignment. This draft will undergo review by the Realignment Committee, which will work towards creating initial drafts for school membership approval.

The collection of ADM numbers was a bit different this year, as the NCHSAA undertook the data gathering themselves due to changes in data management and setbacks caused by Hurricane Helene. In past years, the association relied on data provided by the Department of Public Instruction.

This is a new chapter for high school football in the area and schools will be eager to see how the new classifications will affect their upcoming seasons. The expansion and reclassification could bring fresh rivalries and opportunities for schools across the state.