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The Georgia High School Association Reclassification Committee will make next season a little more clear when it places schools in regions today.
On Nov. 21, GHSA-member schools were placed in classifications and had until Monday to request to play up. The new six-classification system goes into effect starting next school year and will remain in place for two years.
If a school wanted to move up, it could, with a Class A school going to Class AA, for example. Butler was placed in AAA but is instead going to Class AAAA.
Harlem is choosing to stay in Class AA.
“We’re not moving up. Whatever we’re going to do, we’ll do in AA,” Principal Dietmar Perez said. “In the past, it was advantageous (to move up), with the AAA schools in Augusta. It was based on travel and money.”
With this reclassification, local schools will be more spread out.
The new system tentatively has Evans, Greenbrier, Grovetown and Lakeside in Class AAAAA; Burke County, Cross Creek, Hephzibah and Richmond Academy in Class AAAA; and Butler, Glenn Hills, Jefferson County, Swainsboro, Thomson and Washington County in Class AAA.
Harlem, Josey, Laney, Screven County, Washington-Wilkes and Westside were put in Class AA, while Aquinas, A.R. Johnson, Davidson Fine Arts, Glascock County, Lincoln County and Warren County were placed in Class A.
After the committee places schools in regions today, appeals for lateral transfers will be heard Dec. 19.
The reclassification will be ratified Jan. 10.
