THOMASTON — The Georgia High School Association placed its 454 member schools into seven classifications Monday in preparation for the 2026-27 school year.
Fifty-six schools are slated to go up in class, while 46 can go down.
Brantley County is one of the 56 schools moving up in classification. The Herons, who is currently playing in Class A Division I for the second year, is headed back to Class AAA for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 cycle.
Region 1 mate and current top-ranked and unbeaten Worth County will join BCHS in the classification jump.
The seven classes are the same as in the current cycle, but they have new names. Class A’s divisions I and II will become Class 2A and Class A. The highest classification, currently called 6A, will become Class 7A.
The GHSA will continue to separate private schools in classes 3A, 2A and A (4A, 3A and 2A in 2026) into their own playoff division known as 4A-2A Private, though they will compete with public schools in the regular season.
Schools may appeal until Sunday at noon. Appeals hearings will begin 10 a.m. Monday. When those appeals are done, the GHSA will place schools into regions. The GHSA has eight regions in each classification.
There are currently 64 schools in Class AAA (AA the last two years) which, in an ideal world, would lead to eight-team regions.
The classification, though will be short. Barrow Arts and Science Academy in Winder is currently a non-playing football school. Marist, a private school in Atlanta, always plays in Class 5A and above.
A possible region alignment for Brantley County could include Pierce County, Crisp County, Tattnall County, Appling County, Toombs County (defending Class A DI champion), Cook and Worth County.
Tattnall County is the lone school of the other seven who did not make the 2025 playoffs.
