Six Classification Issues and
Concerns
Four Year Cycle Proposal
Six Classification:
The Future
Four Year Cycle Proposal
Proposed criteria for mid-cycle adjustments
Any classification assignment may be
appealed to the VHSL Alignment Committee.
Four Year Cycle Proposal
Proposed criteria for mid-cycle adjustments
At the mid point of a four year cycle a school
will remain in its current classification if the
school is no more than 5% above the highest
school’s previous ADM within the
classification in which they wish to remain.
March 31, 2012 ADM
Schools with Highest ADM
5A – Freedom (PW) –
4A – Nansemond River –
3A – Warhill –
2A – R E Lee (St) –
1854
1468
1112
728
+5%
1946
1541
1167
764
March 31, 2014 ADM
Five 5A schools moved to 6A
Albemarle at 1835 is the largest 5A school
Using the 5% buffer - 1946
Mt. Vernon – 1952 – Only school that moves to 6A
Freedom(PW)-1901; Manchester-1870; Clover Hill1847; Kellam 1842 – Would remain 5A for the last
two years of the cycle absent an appeal.
March 31, 2014 ADM
Three 4A schools moved to 5A
Woodgrove at 1453 is the largest 4A school
Using the 5% buffer – 1542
Glen Allen – 1617 – Only school that moves to 5A.
Nansemond River-1507; J R Tucker-1491 - Would
remain 4A for the last two years of the cycle
absent an appeal.
March 31, 2014 ADM
Six 3A schools moved to 4A
Blacksburg at 1121 is the largest 3A school
Using the 5% buffer – 1167
John Champe-1291; Loudoun Valley-1225; Kettle Run1179; Huguenot-1171 – Move to 4A.
William Byrd-1147; Lafayette-1132 – Would remain 3A
for the last two years of the cycle absent an appeal.
March 31, 2014 ADM
No 2A schools moving to 3A would be
affected by this proposal.
Four Year Cycle Proposal
Exception
Absent an appeal this new criteria WILL
NOT apply to schools in Class 1 as they
are operating under a “hard number”
ceiling (475)
Questions?
Six Classification
The Future
There have been many concerns conveyed relative
to six classification alignment.
Member schools and outside groups have offered
these concerns.
It is paramount that VHSL member schools
control their organizations destiny.
These are concepts/ideas that MAY
answer some of the global and local
concerns regarding the future of the
VHSL in a six classification configuration.
Option One
Remain as is with
district/conference/region and state.
Allowing the existing entities to work
out sectionalizing, conference play
requirement, governance, travel and
money issues.
Pluses – Some have worked through the
issues; two years experience with the
product; we now know what works and what
does not.
Minuses – Geography; travel; missed time
from school; some say they are
“hemorrhaging money”. Can these be fixed?
Option Two
Legislate no conference scheduling
unless it can be accomplished outside
the double round robin district
scheduling.
Pluses – Bring emphasis back to the district
schedule (which had always been the
intention of the alignment committee);
makes the conference grouping as it was
initially intended – the first level of playoffs,
not a scheduling mechanism.
Minuses – Have to figure a way to seed
teams; may never see a team in a
conference until the playoffs; there will
be potential exceptions to the double
round robin based on contest limits (FBXC-Golf-Wrestling-Soccer-Tennis- Track –
Field Hockey) and district size (9, 10 and
11 school districts).
Option Three
Legislate Four regions per class (12-14
schools per region) and remove
conferences all together. Play a district
schedule and then use the smaller
regions as the playoff grouping.
Pluses – Eliminates a component
(conferences) that some believe is not
working; gives some old system (three
classification) feel to the new system (six
classification); football region finals now can
occur within the region schedule; two reps
per region – eight team state event most
sports.
Minuses – All-in region creates travel
issues greater than with the conference
component; some regions have worked
out the issues and actually have a well
functioning situation; this is change on
top of change.
Option Four
Allow classifications to determine their
regional make-up, playoff formatting etc.
Class 1A & 2A like the way the current
system works. They have worked out their
issues and believe the
district/conference/region/state system
works for them.
Class 3A, 4A, 5A & 6A want to eliminate
conferences and organize their
classification in four smaller regions.
Pluses – Gives each classification the
opportunity to build upon what they
feel is best for them; allows some of the
old three-class system to blend with the
new six-class system; offers an
opportunity for classifications to decide
how they would like to be divided.
Minuses – Calendar differences with
regard to classifications wishing to have
eight teams in playoffs (state Q-Finals)
vs. those that do not; representation on
the Executive Committee would have to
be addressed.
OPTION 5
Two Classes not six – with option to play up
Draw line at 1150/1200 or “half”.
Four year cycle and back to “districts” with
schools in your class.
Class decides on # of championships and
bracketing.
OPTION 5
Pluses - Recognizes that “big” schools have
different geography and financial concerns;
very little shifting is required each R&R cycle;
More schools in the “class” would allow
“districts” to look more like old AAA districts
and division play.
OPTION 5-Minuses
May end up with very different “systems”
between “big” and “small” classes.
Potential for fewer championships in some
activities based on Class decisions.
”Districts” would have to include ALL schools even
the geographic outliers in regular season play.
Potentially need to allow “small” to play up in only
certain activities (FH, Lacrosse, etc.).
Other important points
These options are not for immediate
implementation.
They need to be thoroughly vetted.
It may take a cycle to implement.
Potential next steps
Discussion at VIAAA Conference.
Survey of interest of all options (not just those in
this presentation) – conducted in April.
May report to Executive Committee on survey
results.
Potential next steps
Alignment Committee discussion.
October meeting discussion.
Other appropriately representative
meetings.
Questions and Discussion