AHSAA logo.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association reclassifies its schools every two years based on enrollment numbers.
It's a process that typically is pretty straightforward, with the greatest suspense being which few schools will move up or down a classification based on fluctuating enrollment, along with area and region alignments.
Occasionally, new wrinkles have been thrown into the mix. The AHSAA added a seventh classification (Class 7A) to house its largest 32 schools in 2014. Multipliers and competitive balance measures have been added to private school metrics over the years as well.
But this year's reclassification has the potential to significantly alter the landscape of high school athletics in Alabama.
Reclassification is typically unveiled in early December every other year, shortly after the conclusion of the Super 7 football championships. Last month, the AHSAA delayed the postponement of this year's announcement.
"Due to current mediation the AHSAA Central Board of Control is postponing reclassification from December 15, 2025, to January 23, 2026," AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon said in a statement.
While the AHSAA has not confirmed a more tangible reason for the delay, the Tuscaloosa News reported the potential for a public-private school split in AHSAA competition, which would change the landscape of high school sports statewide.
There are nearly 60 private schools that currently compete in the AHSAA, including schools in the Birmingham area like Briarwood, John Carroll, Altamont and Westminster-Oak Mountain.
Homewood has been a 6A school since 2014, after many years of bouncing back and forth from 5A to 6A. The Patriots are expected to remain in 6A. John Carroll is one of the private schools that could be affected by the AHSAA's decision. John Carroll has been a 5A school since 2006, but some sports — like volleyball — have risen all the way to 7A at times due to competitive balance.
Homewood Star will continue to monitor this story.
