The Georgia High School Association Wednesday released the raw FTE numbers that will be used for the upcoming reclassification of its member schools.
The release of the FTE numbers is just one of several steps that will decide which classification and region each member school will be placed for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
In August the GHSA's Executive Committee voted to accept massive reclassification procedures, which included adding a largest classification, dubbed "the Big 44," that will comprise the largest 10 percent of schools in the state.
In addition, the GHSA added a provision for members in Classes AA-AAAAA that will move schools that claim three percent or more of their enrollment from out-of-county students into the next higher classification. Class A schools are excluded because of the public/private split already in play in that classification, and schools in Class AAAAAA won't be forced into "the Big 44."
The latest numbers could prove interesting for some area schools, including Buford -- which currently is in Class AAAA. The Wolves FTE number is 1,299 students, and the school is expected to fall within the new "3 percent" rule with 17.1 percent of its students out-of-district, meaning the Wolves will be playing up a classification -- though that classification is yet to be determined. Meanwhile, Jefferson, currently in Class AAA, is projeceted at 1,003 students with 8.7 percent of out-of-district students, meaning the Dragons too will likely be playing up -- though again to which level is yet to be seen.
School systems will now wait eight days to find out where they will be placed. The GHSA will release their new classifications on Nov. 19 -- though there will be an appeals process before those classes are made concrete.
In fact there are a number of steps remaining before the process is complete.
Here is the timetable for the reclassification process:
- Nov. 18 – The Reclassification Committee will meet in Thomaston to hear appeals of FTE numbers and of number of students residing outside a school’s county of residence. Following this, the committee will place schools in classifications.
- Nov. 19 – The new classifications will be posted on the GHSA web site.
- Nov. 30 – The deadline for schools to request to play up in classification will be at noon.
- Dec. 1 – The Reclassification Committee will meet in Thomaston to put schools in regions. The regions will be posted on the GHSA web site.
- Dec. 7 – The deadline for schools to appeal for a lateral transfer within the same classification will be at noon.
- Dec. 8 – The Reclassification Committee will meet in Thomaston to hear appeals for lateral transfers within the same classification.
- Jan. 13 – Full Executive Committee meets to ratify the reclassification.
