THOMASTON — The Georgia High School Association has reconfigured its classifications adding one class and eliminating another.
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 respectively. The highest classification, currently called 6A, will become Class 7A.
Ware County is part of the Class 4A movement to Class 5A along with current Region 1 members Warner Robins, Perry and Wayne County.
Benedictine is requesting to move up to Class 5A after being placed in Class 4A, which is currently AAA. New Hampstead was placed in Class 4A.
All 454 member schools were placed into the seven classifications Monday, November 3 in preparation for the 2026-27 school year. Fifty-six schools are slated to go up in class, while 46 can go down.
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.
The governing body heard appeals Monday (November 10) for schools either wanting to move up or down in classification. When those appeals are done, the GHSA will place schools into regions. The GHSA has eight regions in each classification.
A projected region alignment could include Ware County, Warner Robins, Perry, Wayne County, Statesboro and Benedictine if approved.
Pierce County, along with current Region 3-AA members Crisp County, Tattnall County, Appling County and Cook are being reclassified to AAA.
Brantley County, who has played in the Class A DI classification the last two years, is moving up one classification to Class 3A bypassing Class AA for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 cycle.
A possible region alignment for both Pierce County and Brantley County could include a combination of Crisp County, Tattnall County, Appling County, Toombs County (defending Class A DI champion), Cook and Worth County.
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, has appealed to move into Class 5A.
Appealing to reclassify down to Class 2A are Gordon Central, Islands, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Mount Vernon, North Cobb Christian, Savannah Christian and Washington County.
Requesting a move up are Mc-Nair and Towers.
