Thursday March 28th, 2024 4:34PM

GHSA ups out-of-district student multiplier to 3.0

By Bo Wilson Sports Editor

THOMASTON — The Georgia High School Association's Executive Committee voted to increase the out-of-zone multiplier from 2.0 to 3.0 during the annual state meeting on Monday morning. 

The new multiplier, which will affect the 2022-2024 reclassification cycle, passed by a wide margin of 56-15 with three abstaining. The approval of the higher multiplier also eliminated the two-class limit, meaning the multiplier can move a school up to any classification. 

The 3.0 multiplier will count out-of-zone students three times and be added to the final enrollment numbers.

Buford is one of four city schools in AccessWDUN's coverage area that could be affected by the multiplier and could be pushed from Class 6A to 7A.

Buford athletics director Tony Wolfe says they'll accept wherever they land.

"While we do not agree with the multiplier being so high for several reasons, we accept wherever we are placed and will do our very best to compete at a high level in all athletics, despite being asked to compete daily with schools twice as large," he said.  

Commerce, whose enrollment numbers sit at 494, will stay put in Class A Public. Tiger athletics director William Smith said, although he doesn't agree with the multiplier for city schools, he does for the private schools. 

"Commerce is a great city school system, and we benefit, academically, by students coming to us that live in good, close proximity to the school," he said. "I feel like all city schools should be left alone and feel like the multiplier should really go toward the private schools that don't have a home zone." 

Gainesville's numbers are borderline, but they are currently are in Class 7A, and Jefferson's enrollment count could lift them to a higher classification. The Dragons play in Class 4A right now.

The official enrollment count should be released in the next few days.

 

 

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