Montgomery, AL – Citing an ALSDE data reporting error, AHSAA adjusts reclassification with major implications for classifications, region alignments for area schools.
By Joe Medley
Anniston will no longer bump up to Class 5A in AHSAA 2024-26 reclassification, and the dominoes fell on other area schools.
Citing an Alabama State Department of Education reporting error on enrollment data, Anniston bumped back down to its current classification, 4A, for the two-year reclassification cycle starting in the 2024-25 school year.
Anniston had been announced as moving up to 5A and sharing a region with Jacksonville, which also moved up.
Tuesday’s adjustments mean that Anniston will reside in 4A, Region 6, with Alexandria. Munford and Cleburne County, which had been aligned in 4A, Region 6, now go south to Region 3, joining a lineup with Booker T. Washington, Bullock County, St. James, Talladega and Tallassee.
Alexandria replaces two potential gate games (Munford, Cleburne County) and gets one (Anniston).
Taking Anniston out of Class 5A also impacted Jacksonville’s new 5A region. Instead of having natural rival Anniston for a gate game, Jacksonville now aligns with Center Point, which moved down from 6A.
The AHSAA’s adjustments also impacted the Class 3A region involving several area teams. Region 6 adds J.B. Pennington as a ninth team, joining Glencoe, Locust Fork, Ohatchee, Piedmont, Saks, Wellborn, Weaver and Westbrook Christian.
AHSAA classifications for public schools are based on average daily enrollment for grades 9-11 for the first 20 days after Labor Day. Private schools also factor in a 1.35 multiplier and “competitive balance,” a scoring based on success in individual sports.
In announcing Tuesday’s reclassification adjustments, the AHSAA cited “an error in the holdback/promotion portion of the ADM data reported from the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE).”
“After being alerted of a possible error, the AHSAA requested the ALSDE to re-compute the data,” the AHSAA release said. “The ALSDE affirmed an error had been made; therefore, the corrected data changed the classification for four schools: Brooks, Anniston, J.B. Pennington and Winfield.”
Brooks and Anniston, which were placed in Class 5A, were reassigned to Class 4A. J.B. Pennington and Winfield, placed in Class 4A, have been reassigned to 3A.
“The ALSDE regrets the error, and we apologize to our member schools,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs.
The changes in classification required modifications for football, volleyball and cross country in Classes 5A, 4A and 3A. Alignments for flag football, swimming & diving were not affected, the AHSAA release said.
The Central Board of Control met virtually Tuesday and approved the modifications.
