The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has announced a major restructuring of its postseason model, which will include six classifications for public schools and two classifications for private schools. This change aims to address the competitive landscape of high school athletics within the state and is set to apply only during the postseason.
AHSAA Central Board member Heath Harmon indicated that this restructuring aligns with the current climate, stating that now is an appropriate time for these changes. Notably, public and private schools will compete against one another in the regular season, but their postseason classifications will be distinctly different. The private schools will be classified solely based on enrollment figures, without a multiplier or competitive balance consideration.
In addition, the AHSAA plans to appoint a new director for private school championships, confirming that all schools—public and private—will maintain their AHSAA membership and have access to the association’s benefits.
Public schools will now be divided into six classifications, with Class 6A comprising 32 schools and the remaining classifications evenly distributed among the other schools. On the other hand, private schools will have two classifications: AA, which includes the 17 largest private schools, and A.
Harmon emphasized that a complete separation of public and private entities was never part of the discussions and clarified that the goal is to restructure the championship pathways, not to create divisions. Future meetings and brackets for the championships are planned, with important discussions around tiebreakers and competition dynamics to take place in early February.
As part of the announcement, the AHSAA also outlined specific classifications and regions for various schools, detailing a comprehensive breakdown for both public and private institutions. For example, the Class 1A Region 6 includes schools such as Alabama Aerospace & Aviation and Fayetteville, while various other regions have been established for different classifications.
This reclassification promises a more organized and equitable competitive environment for high school athletics in Alabama, allowing for clearer pathways to success in postseason play. The changes foster hope for schools and student-athletes as they navigate their athletic careers under this new framework.