By Thomas Grant, Jr.
The much-anticipated finalized classification for the South Carolina High School League school years from 2024-26 were released Tuesday.
Class 5A will nearly double among Lexington and Richland County schools will four moving up from Class 4A. This group includes for the first time Irmo, along with Ridge View, Westwood, and Blythewood.
Reports indicate Class 5A will be split into two 26-team divisions. Based on those numbers, Lexington, Ridge View, Blythewood, River Bluff and Dutch Fork will be in Division I and Westwood, White Knoll, Chapin, and Irmo in Division II.
The new realignment adds three local schools to Class 4A. Brookland-Cayce is back after a four-year absence, while Gilbert and Gray Collegiate make their debut in the higher classification.
In the case of the War Eagles, its move from Class 2A was based upon a 3.0 multiplier formula used for all charter schools. Bishop England also moved up to Class 4A, while Oceanside Collegiate returned to Class 3A.
Class 3A includes American Leadership Academy in Lexington and Swansea. Pelion, Mid-Carolina and Batesburg-Leesville stay in Class 2A.
“Appreciation is expressed to those who served on the Reclassification/Realignment Guidelines Committee,” said Dr. Jerome Singleton, SCHSL Commissioner said in the release. “Classification placement of schools is the initial phase of the process. The next step for the League staff is to place the schools into regions in their respective classifications.”
The Executive Committee will meet January 18-19, 2024, to hear appeals regarding the classification placements.
S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE REALIGNMENT 2024-26
Class 5A
(5) Spring Valley – 2,502
(9) Lexington – 2,169
(17) Ridge View – 1,909
(18) Blythewood – 1,901
(21) River Bluff – 1,882
(26) Dutch Fork – 1,823
(33) Westwood – 1,664
(34) White Knoll – 1,664
(36) Chapin – 1,643
(51) Irmo – 1,440
Class 4A
(3) Richland Northeast – 1,400
(7) Gray Collegiate – 1,296
(14) Airport – 1,232
(28) Brookland-Cayce – 1,114
(38) Gilbert – 1,027
Class 3A
(19) Swansea – 801
Class 2A
(13) Pelion – 572
(17) Mid-Carolina – 554
(31) Batesburg-Leesville – 481
