VHSL reclassification

[Jags52]

Saw this on FB I think this would be a terrible idea for this side of the state. What do y’all think?

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CA3XKvyZi/?mibextid=wwXIfr

[Sixcat Adjacent]

Terrible concept for Class 1. The gap between Class 1 and Class 2 is wider than it’s ever been. It’s not likely to improve anytime soon, either. 
 

Class 1 should be left alone. Then divide the rest of the state into 3 or 4 even-ish classifications based on enrollment. Stop fighting over ADM. Use actual enrollment figures from the Department of Education per pupil expenditures. 

[MMcMahon26]

Leave it alone completely. I think I’m in the minority, but I believe we have a really good system. Some say we take too many to the playoffs, but I think you’d always rather take too many than not enough. Galax was your state champion in 2023 and won it as a 5 seed, so I say leave it alone. Might have to adjust cutoff numbers, but I think we still have a ways to go before we get there.

[Gridiron60]

Very unfair for Class A; keeping six classes is more advantageous for VHSL in general. I don’t foresee this movement getting any traction in Charlottesville. 

[JDHoss]

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but it appears to be a "proposal" by some random blogger on Facebook . The VHSL would laugh this guy out of the room. There's no known universe where the VH$L will cut out two classifications and lose the revenue from 62 total playoff games. It'd be an unmitigated disaster for Class A teams in SWVA as well. 

[CPF]

44 minutes ago, MMcMahon26 said:

Leave it alone completely. I think I’m in the minority, but I believe we have a really good system. Some say we take too many to the playoffs, but I think you’d always rather take too many than not enough. Galax was your state champion in 2023 and won it as a 5 seed, so I say leave it alone. Might have to adjust cutoff numbers, but I think we still have a ways to go before we get there.

This

[BigWinners]

1 hour ago, MMcMahon26 said:

Leave it alone completely. I think I’m in the minority, but I believe we have a really good system. Some say we take too many to the playoffs, but I think you’d always rather take too many than not enough. Galax was your state champion in 2023 and won it as a 5 seed, so I say leave it alone. Might have to adjust cutoff numbers, but I think we still have a ways to go before we get there.

Agreed.  Id rather a non deserving team make it as opposed to a deserving team getting left out. 

[Jags52]

13 hours ago, JDHoss said:

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but it appears to be a "proposal" by some random blogger on Facebook . The VHSL would laugh this guy out of the room. There's no known universe where the VH$L will cut out two classifications and lose the revenue from 62 total playoff games. It'd be an unmitigated disaster for Class A teams in SWVA as well. 

Oh yeah this is 100% someone from NOVA just throwing something out there. I know people on here have been against sub .500 teams not deserving to make the play off but that doesn’t happen that often and when the do it’s a tune up game for the 1 seed. But the difference between 1 and 2 is huge you would be potentially cutting 1a out of post season consideration completely 

[Graham32]

If VHSL reclassifies it's a grave mistake. Plus they make more money with this current format. 

[JDHoss]

6 hours ago, Graham32 said:

If VHSL reclassifies it's a grave mistake. Plus they make more money with this current format. 

And that is why this will never happen. 

[vol_husky]

23 hours ago, BigWinners said:

Agreed.  Id rather a non deserving team make it as opposed to a deserving team getting left out. 

That seems to be the best argument for the current system. 
 

I don’t understand why people want to change something that’s working?

 

 

[Real Sasquatch]

I like the idea of 4 classifications.  I think the cutoff for 1 A should be around 450 (3 grades) or 600 (4 grades).

 

6 is too watered down.  

Maybe go to 5 as a conpromise?

[VHSLhelper]

I've said 5 for decades.

Around 320 schools in VA, so... hmmm... 64 teams per class, 16 per Region.

Top 8 from each Region makes the playoffs, so half the schools get in.

[Jags52]

14 hours ago, VHSLhelper said:

I've said 5 for decades.

Around 320 schools in VA, so... hmmm... 64 teams per class, 16 per Region.

Top 8 from each Region makes the playoffs, so half the schools get in.

I really like this idea so our new regions would be

 

Class 1 region D

Northwood/ Twin Springs/ JI Burton/ Holston/ Thomas Walker/ Rye Cove/ Castlewood / Rural Retreat/ Honaker/ Patrick Henry/ Eastside/ Tazewell/ Chilhowie/ Lebanon/ John Battle/ Graham

Class 1 region C

Bath County/ Craig County/ Narrows/ East Mont/ Parry Mcluer/ Bland/ Giles/ Fort Chiswell/ George Wythe/ Galax/ Auburn/ Grayson/ James River/ Radford/ Martinsville/ Gretna/ Tunstall/ Staunton River/

 

Class 2 Region D

Ridgeview/ Lee/ Marion/ Wise Central/ VA high/ Gate City/ Richlands/ Union/ Hidden Valley/ Southern Gap/ Abingdon/ Lord Botetourt/ Carroll County/ Cave Springs/ Christiansburg/ Pulaski

Class 2 Region C

Nelson County/ Dan River/ Glenvar/ Chatham/ LCA/ Floyd/ Patrick County/ Appomattox/ Liberty(Bedford)/ Rustburg/ Alleghany/ East Rockingham/ Staunton/ Spotswood/ Wilson Memorial/ Brookville

 

I actually do not hate this set up out side of Graham being in class one that would be a blood bath but I dont think you would have to twist Marions arm too hard to move them down. 

this was going off the VHSL website numbers

 

[1inStripes]

I hate it for the legit 1A schools.  If Graham doesn't have a few kids come over from WV they may be 1A anyway. In a lot of sports those schools will stand very little chance of ever winning a title.  And that's fine, winning titles should be hard, but they will be much fewer opportunities for them.

Heck Grayon may fight to be 0A in this arrangement (kidding).  

[Real Sasquatch]

Graham and Tazewell both had around 490 students total this year.  They could probably both drop to single A in the near future.  Tazewell is losing students at a faster rate then Graham.  But I could see them both being single A in the not too distant future.  I can also see consolidation of primary and elementary schools in both towns consolidating soon and having one K-7 and one 8-12 School in each location.  Same for Richlands one K-7 and one 8-12 for a total of 6 schools plus the Vocational School in the county.  It will be hard to justify keeping all of the schools open.

[Gridiron60]

8 hours ago, 1inStripes said:

I hate it for the legit 1A schools.  If Graham doesn't have a few kids come over from WV they may be 1A anyway. In a lot of sports those schools will stand very little chance of ever winning a title.  And that's fine, winning titles should be hard, but they will be much fewer opportunities for them.

Heck Grayon may fight to be 0A in this arrangement (kidding).  

Grayson always causing issues. 😂 

[1inStripes]

Folks were talking bout Eastside/RC being heated.....I don't think they are aware of the Fort/Grayson rivalry.

[Gridiron60]

59 minutes ago, 1inStripes said:

Folks were talking bout Eastside/RC being heated.....I don't think they are aware of the Fort/Grayson rivalry.

There’s a video floating around of the Grayson/George Wythe game last week. It seemed to be getting heated. 

[Cousin_Hoyt]

Southern Gap enrollment could be interesting. Some Students from Twin Valley are closer to Richlands. Students from Council are closer to Honaker and those near Dickinson County may go to Ridgeview. As for Hurley, some may go to Phelps, KY or Riverview, WV, or when they get to the Big Rock Bridge do they take a left to Southern Gap or a right to East Ridge, KY. Much better road to the right. 

 

[Jags52]

Is there anywhere you can find updated numbers for the updated reclassification? Lastest numbers I have found in 2022. I only ask because I think both Marion and Lebanon should be dang close to being class 1

[Real Sasquatch]

42 minutes ago, Jags52 said:

Is there anywhere you can find updated numbers for the updated reclassification? Lastest numbers I have found in 2022. I only ask because I think both Marion and Lebanon should be dang close to being class 1

Lebanon, Graham and Tazewell would definitely be 1A.  Marion would be close.

[CPF]

1 hour ago, Jags52 said:

Is there anywhere you can find updated numbers for the updated reclassification? Lastest numbers I have found in 2022. I only ask because I think both Marion and Lebanon should be dang close to being class 1

Most likely end of March 2026

[bucfan64]

100% "Something is Afoot" in regards to possible reclassification. May not happen, but it is 100% on the table and we may see some formal proposal this month. 

[TS Fan]

On 2/7/2026 at 8:16 PM, Sixcat Adjacent said:

Terrible concept for Class 1. The gap between Class 1 and Class 2 is wider than it’s ever been. It’s not likely to improve anytime soon, either. 
 

Class 1 should be left alone. Then divide the rest of the state into 3 or 4 even-ish classifications based on enrollment. Stop fighting over ADM. Use actual enrollment figures from the Department of Education per pupil expenditures. 

The gap for class 1 is already is large for the small schools compared to the top.