GHSA releases new reclassification numbers for next two years

THOMASTON — The Georgia High School Association released its reclassification numbers for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school seasons on Thursday morning.

As expected, there are some interesting placements for teams around the state, including many in the northeast Georgia area.

In August the GHSA announced the formation of a new classification -- AAAAAAA dubbed the “Big 44” -- to include the top 10 percent of schools in the state to help bring about more competitive balance for the state’s largest schools. 

Thursday’s release of who is in what classification came one week after the official FTE enrollment numbers were released by the GHSA. There will actually be 48 in the new AAAAAAA classification, with Mill Creek at 3,998 students the largest school and Westlake at 2,092 students as the smallest in the new classification.

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. Schools could appeal their placement.

In fact, 17 schools appealed to the GHSA, inlcuding Lumpkin County to adjust its original FTE numbers, and Riverside Military, which was appealing its placement in Class AAAA all the way from Class AA. The Eagles were one of just two schools, along with Bremen, to lose their appeal, while 15 won their appeals. 

Among the local and area schools, here is a breakdown of which classification each school was placed, after appeals were heard by the GHSA Executive Committee: 

• Class AAAAAAA: Mill Creek, North Gwinnett, North Forsyth.
• Class AAAAAA: Gainesville, Habersham Central, Winder-Barrow, Lanier, Apalachee
• Class AAAAA: Flowery Branch, Johnson, Buford
• Class AAAA: Chestatee,Stephens County, White County, West Hall, East Hall, Jefferson, Riverside Military
• Class AAA: Lumpkin County, Jackson County, Dawson County, North Hall, East Jackson, Banks County, Fannin County
• Class AA: Union County, Rabun County
• Class A: Commerce, Towns County, Lakeview Academy

Check back on accessWDUN throughout the day as we gather reaction from area coaches and administrators on the new classifications.

Also, here is the remaining reclassification timetable for the GHSA:

• 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.

The Buford girls softball team celebrates its most recent state title. They have won nine straight spanning three classifications. The Lady Wolves now will get a chance to win a state title in their fourth different classification as Buford was among many local and area teams that will have to change classifications after the latest round of reclassification by the Georgia High School Association. Buford was placed in Class AAAAA.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/11/350855/ghsa-releases-new-reclassification-numbers-for-next-two-years