Alabama High School Athletic Association approves new classification system for 2026-28, ending seven-class format and separating public and private schools for postseason play

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Central Board of Control has approved a new classification system for championship play beginning with the 2026-27 school year, marking a major structural change to statewide high school athletics.

Under the plan, the AHSAA will move to a six-classification system for public schools and a two-classification system for private (independent) schools for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. The seven-class format, which has been in place since the 2014-15 school year, will be discontinued.

The reorganization also eliminates two long-standing measures applied to private school programs. The 1.35 enrollment multiplier, in effect since 1999, has been removed, along with the competitive balance factor added in 2018. The changes create a structure in which public and private schools will compete in separate divisions for state championships.

Despite the separate championship divisions, all AHSAA member schools will continue to be allowed to schedule and compete against any other member school during the regular season.

The board also released region, area, and section alignments for fall sports, including football, volleyball, flag football, cross country, and swimming and diving. Those alignments complete championship planning for fall sports for the upcoming classification cycle. Alignments for winter and spring sports will be determined after those championship seasons conclude.

Football classifications for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons were also announced. The 32 largest schools will compete in Class 6A. Class 5A, Class 4A and Class 3A will each contain 64 schools. Class 2A and Class 1A will each include 63 schools. Private schools will be divided into Private Double-A, with 16 schools, and Private Single-A, with 28 schools.

The AHSAA said the new format creates opportunities for more championship events than at any time in the organization’s history.

Below, you can view where each team covered by the RadioAlabama Sports' family of networks was placed in Friday's reclassification:

Class 1A, Region 6

Alabama Aerospace & Aviation
Fayetteville
Lafayette
Loachapoka
Notasulga
Wadley
Winterboro
Woodland

Class 2A, Region 4

B.B. Comer
Central-Coosa
Dadeville
Horseshoe Bend
Lanett
Ranburne
Randolph County
Reeltown

Class 3A, Region 4

Ashville
Childersburg
Cleburne County
Handley
Munford
Talladega
Weaver
White Plains

Class 4A, Region 6

Alexandria
Anniston
Central-Clay
Jacksonville
Leeds
Lincoln
Moody
Sylacauga

Class 5A, Region 2

Benjamin Russell
Park Crossing
Percy Julian
Pike Road
Rehobeth
Russell County
Stanhope Elmore
Wetumpka

Class 6A, Region 2

Auburn
Carver-Montgomery
Central-Phenix City
Dothan
Enterprise
Johnson Abernathy Graetz (JAG)
Opelika
Smiths Station

Private AA, Region 2

American Christian Academy
Briarwood Christian School
John Carroll Catholic High School
Lee-Scott Academy
Madison Academy
Randolph School
St. John Paul II Catholic High School
Westminster Christian Academy