GHSA keeps local schools in current classifications for 2016-18

The Georgia High School Association and its Reclassification Committee released their results this week for the new classification assignments for the 2016-18 school years. Each of the local schools -- Adairsville, Cartersville, Cass, Excel Christian, and Woodland -- remained in their current classifications even though an additional classification was created. Several of the local schools' regions will be comprised of different schools, however, as many other schools will find themselves in different classifications for the next two-year cycle.

Now that all the schools are assigned to a classification, the geographic region assignments for each school will be debated and worked out by the GHSA committee membership. The new region assignments are scheduled to be released December 1.

The GHSA created a new classification (for now dubbed Class AAAAAAA) for the largest schools in the state that will include schools larger than 2090 students in grades 9-12. Schools like Mill Creek, Norcross, Brookwood, Peachtree Ridge, Meadowcreek, and Collins Hill have over 3000 students. Mill Creek is the largest at just under 4000.

Forty eight schools were assigned to this new classification for the largest schools. The smallest schools with 520 students or fewer are assigned to Class A. Those schools will compete in state playoffs in either the Class A Private Schools or Class A Public Schools championships. The schools between 521 students and 2089 students are divided equally among Class AA, Class AAA, Class AAAA, Class AAAAA, and Class AAAAAA. Provided GHSA retains the eight region format that has been in existence for many years, there will be six to ten schools assigned to each geographic region.

Cass and Woodland remained in Class AAAAA. The school size range in Class AAAAA is 1345 students to 1673 students. The only exception was Buford, who was forced up to Class AAAAA due to the school having 17 percent of its student body membership from outside its home county. The new rule, in place for the first time, requires any school with more than 3 percent of its student body from outside its own county be moved up one classification. Buford has an enrollment of 1299 students and would have otherwise been placed in Class AAAA. There were several middle and south Georgia county schools impacted by the new rule, but they were left in their original classification following appeals to the GHSA committee. As a result, only private and independent (city system) schools with greater than 3 percent out-of-county composition were moved up for the 2016-18 cycle. Woodland is the fifth largest school in the classification with 1643 students. Cass is the 19th largest school in the classfication with 1560 students. There are 55 schools in Class AAAAA for 2016-18. Cartersville remains in Class AAAA. Cartersville is the 33rd largest of 54 schools assigned to the AAAA classification which primarily contains schools ranging in size from 1127 to 1341 students. The schools moved up to Class AAAA due to the new "out of county rule" include Woodward Academy, Jackson (Atlanta), St. Pius X, Jefferson, Blessed Trinity, and Riverside Military.

Adairsville stays in Class AAA with 948 students. With most schools ranging in size from 875 to 1115 students, Adairsville is the 41st largest school of 56 schools currently assigned to Class AAA. The schools moved up the Class AAA due to the "out of county rule" include private schools Westminster, Marist, Greater Atlanta Christian, and Lovett. The "out of county" move up also included Bremen, which is an independent, city school. Excel Christian Academy with 91 students remains in Class A and will compete in the private school division for state playoffs.

GHSA Schools listed by 2016-18 Classification NOTE: Region assignments are scheduled for release Dec. 1

Class 7A (AAAAAAA)

Mill Creek Norcross Brookwood Peachtree Ridge Meadowcreek Collins Hill Lambert

South Forsyth Lowndes Parkview Berkmar

East Coweta North Cobb Grayson North Gwinnett Duluth

Walton Campbell South Gwinnett Archer Cherokee Pebblebrook Camden County Colquitt County West Forsyth North Forsyth Etowah Hillgrove Newton McEachern Shiloh Newnan Woodstock Central Gwinnett Milton Lassiter Tift County Marietta Kennesaw Mountain Forsyth Central Wheeler Lakeside, DeKalb Discovery Rockdale County Roswell North Paulding Mountain View Westlake

Class 6A (AAAAAA)

Johns Creek Dacula South Cobb Alpharetta Valdosta Harrison Richmond Hill Cambridge Pope Osborne Alcovy Gainesville Chattahoochee Centennial Langston Hughes Habersham Central Northview Creekview Winder-Barrow Douglas County Effingham County Lee County

Glynn Academy Heritage, Conyers Coffee Evans

Grovetown Dalton Sequoyah Tucker Drew South Paulding Mundy's Mill Northside, W. Robins Tri-Cities

Lanier Northgate Houston County Lovejoy Allatoona Brunswick Sprayberry Mays Greenbrier Alexander Creekside New Manchester North Atlanta Apalachee Jonesboro Paulding County

Rome Dunwoody Bradwell Institute East Paulding Lakeside, Evans River Ridge

Class 5A (AAAAA)

Harris County McIntosh Flowery Branch M. L. King Woodland, Cartersville Clarkston

Hiram North Springs Forest Park Stephenson South Effingham Jones County Villa Rica Statesboro Lithia Springs Mt. Zion, Jonesboro Cedar Shoals Ware County Cass Ola Warner Robins Banneker Riverwood Cross Keys Loganville Veterans Miller Grove Dutchtown Union Grove Stockbridge Bainbridge Kell Carrollton Wayne County

Thomas County Central Woodland, Stock. Johnson, Gainesville Whitewater Clarke Central Lithonia Walnut Grove Locust Grove Griffin Starr's Mill New Hampstead Ridgeland

Eastside

Eagle's Landing

Chamblee

Chapel Hill

Grady

Fayette County

Northside, Columbus

Southeast Whitfield

Arabia Mountain

Madison County

Buford

Class 4A (AAAA)

Pickens Richmond Academy

Riverdale Morrow Heritage, Catoosa

Northwest Whitfield

Troup Perry North Clayton

Upson-Lee

LaGrange

Americus-Sumter

Howard Salem Chestatee Carver, Atlanta

Druid Hills

Hardaway

Columbus Baldwin Westover Spalding Sandy Creek

Southwest DeKalb

LaFayette Shaw Thomson Columbia Gilmer Cross Creek Mary Persons West Laurens

Cartersville Carver, Columbus

Cairo North Oconee

Burke County

Central, Carroll

Decatur

Stephens County

White County

Cedartown

Hampton

West Hall

Luella Oconee County

East Hall

Pike County Woodward Academy Jackson, Atlanta St. Pius X Jefferson

Blessed Trinity

Riverside Military

Class 3A (AAA)

Franklin County

Lumpkin County

Monroe Area

Liberty County

Jackson County

Crisp County

Central, Macon

Sonoraville

Westside, Macon

Windsor Forest

Haralson County

Rutland

Calhoun Cedar Grove Dawson County North Hall Monroe Pierce County Henry County Ringgold Redan Stone Mountain

Coahulla Creek Jackson North Murray Beach Morgan County Peach County Appling County Islands Hephzibah Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe

Murray County Jenkins Towers Hart County

Tattnall County

Brantley County

East Jackson

Southeast Bulloch

Adairsville

Kendrick

Dougherty

Worth County

Banks County

Long County

Gordon Central

Cook Rockmart Fannin County

Douglass, Atlanta

Westminster

Marist

Greater Atlanta Christian

Lovett Bremen

Class 2A (AA)

Pepperell Jeff Davis Southwest Savannah Arts

Dodge County

South Atlanta

Washington

Therrell

Toombs County

Spencer

Washington County

Callaway

Albany Fitzgerald

Chattooga Union County

Elbert County

Johnson, Savannah

Jefferson County

McNair

Berrien Jordan Butler Lamar County

Thomasville

Westside, Augusta

Coosa

Northeast

Benedictine

Putnam County

Harlem

Vidalia Glenn Hills

Bleckley County

Swainsboro St. Vincent's

Hapeville Charter

Model Groves Monticello Rabun County

Temple

Oglethorpe County

Early County KIPP Atlanta

Heard County

Screven County

Savannah Josey Dublin Bryan County East Laurens

Dade County

Bacon County

Metter Armuchee Laney Stilwell Arts

Social Circle

Brooks County

CLASS A (Public and Private)

Holy Innocents' Woodville-Tompkins Coretta Scott King

Telfair County

B.E.S.T Academy

Wesleyan

Greene County

Crawford County

Macon County

Manchester

Gordon Lee

Charlton County

Atkinson County

Chattahoochee County

Irwin County

Darlington

Washington-Wilkes

Seminole County

Pace Academy

Drew Charter

Mt. Paran Christian

Technical Career Magnet

McIntosh County Academy

Commerce Pelham Paideia

Marion County Mt. de Sales Trion Wilkinson County Morris Innovative

Davidson Fine Arts

Mt. Zion, Carroll

Bowdon

Claxton Lanier County Savannah Christian

Taylor County Terrell County Schley County Dooly County

Hawkinsville First Presbyterian

Mitchell County Turner County Lincoln County Eagles Landing Christian

Our Lady of Mercy

Clinch County Hebron Christian

Fellowship Christian

Walker Atlanta International Johnson, Augusta

Jenkins County Towns County Emanuel County Institute

North Cobb Christian

Johnson County

Treutlen Athens Academy

Brookstone DeKalb Arts St. Francis Stratford Academy

Calvary Day School

Greenville

Randolph-Clay Wilcox County Mt. Vernon Elite Scholars George Walton

Providence Christian

Hancock Central Galloway Montgomery County

Pinecrest Academy Mt. Pisgah

Georgia Military Academy Prince Avenue

Miller County

Landmark Christian

Tallulah Falls

Strong Rock Christian

Savannah Country Day

King's Ridge

Wheeler County

Whitefield Academy

Twiggs County

Aquinas

Lakeview Academy

Savannah Early College

Portal

Echols County

Athens Christian

Weber

Baconton Charter

Calhoun County

St. Anne-Pacelli

Glascock County

Tattnall Square

Central, Talbotton

Christian Heritage

Warren County

Fulton Leadership

Stewart County

Pataula Charter

Webster County

Ben Franklin Academy

Atlanta Jewish Academy

Excel Christian

Quitman County

Baker County

Lake Oconee Academy

ACE Charter

Greenforest Christian

Georgia School for Deaf

Georgia Academy for Blind

Atlanta Classical

W.D. Mohammed

Taliaferro County

SW Atlanta Christian

Woody Gap