On Tuesday, the IHSA released a statement regarding their latest Board of Directors meeting, and it included some slight changes that have a monumental effect on small and large schools in Southern Illinois.
The first thing that the IHSA board did was change the classification ranges for all sports. In 4-Class sports like Boys & Girls Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball, the changes are as follows:
1A enrollments will be 1-300.
2A enrollments will be 301-700.
3A enrollments will be 701-1600.
4A enrollments will be 1601 and up.
Previously, classifications were:
1A – up to 286
2A – 287-656
3A – 657-1519
4A – 1520 and up.
What seems like a small change on paper, has shifted some schools in our area into a new class.
Eldorado, Lawrenceville, and Carlyle move from Class 2A to Class 1A for 4-Class Sports.
Herrin, Effingham, and Olney will move from Class 3A to Class 2A for 4-Class Sports.
Here are some other area enrollments for reference;
1A –
Grayville – 86
NCOE – 195
Gallatin Co. – 200
Edwards Co. – 219
Lawrenceville – 291
Eldorado – 298
2A –
Hamilton Co. – 315
Flora – 351
Pinckneyville – 385
Carmi-White Co. – 417
Fairfield – 443
Mt. Carmel – 452
Harrisburg – 481
Benton – 604
Herrin – 639
Carterville – 668
Olney – 668
Effingham – 688
Some schools will love this slight class change, as they go from being the smallest school in one class to now the largest school in another. Other area schools like Hamilton County, Flora, Pinckneyville and Carmi-White County find themselves towards the bottom of 2A in terms of enrollment, not quite close enough to make the jump down to 1A.
Another change the IHSA made is in regards to non-boundary private schools.
There is no longer an automatic waiver for non-boundary schools, meaning all non-boundary schools will have their enrollment multiplied by 1.65 and then placed into one of the four classes based on that multiplied enrollment.
Non-boundary schools can apply for an annual waiver to play at their actual enrollment to the IHSA. The IHSA board will review each waiver application and vote whether or not it will accept the application and allow those schools to play at their actual enrollment.
However, there is also a “success factor” that will now come into play. Non-boundary schools are not eligible to apply for a waiver if over the previous 3 years a team has won;
- A Sectional Semifinal contest in Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Baseball, or Softball.
- A Regional Championship in Wrestling or Scholastic Bowl
- A Sectional Championship or finishes in the Top 10 as a team in the State Finals in Track & Field, Tennis, Competitive Cheer, or Competitive Dance.
- A Regional Championship or Qualifies for the IHSA State Finals in Cross Country or Golf
- Wins at least one IHSA Playoff Game in Football
For example, Belleville Althoff just this school year has won a State Championship in 1A Football, and they placed 2nd in State in 2A Basketball. Belleville Althoff will not be eligible to apply for a waiver to play at their actual enrollment, therefore being forced to play with the 1.65 multiplier that will likely place them in a higher class.
There has been a steady argument from public school communities (like Southern Illinois) about forcing private schools to play in their own league or in the highest class possible. That likely will never happen, but these multipliers and success factors do make an attempt to level the playing field between private and public schools.
All of these new implications will come into effect for this upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
