VHSL reclassification

[tornado99]

46 minutes ago, Stelley said:

The appeals weren’t solely because they’ve had their best football teams in well over a decade. Could have easily gotten 1-2 more state championships in baseball and competed pretty well in basketball

I know. Just pointed out the optics on the football side and it was probably historically better compared to past Lebanon teams considering basketball and baseball, especially having success already. Football and basketball Graham and Union have been on a higher level. Had Lebanon been Class 1, they would’ve had a much higher chance of winning titles in all. Again, I don’t blame them. It’s just how it looked at the time from an outsider. All state titles are huge achievements. I think in SWVA and the fact it is the highest revenue sport at schools, football is the crown jewel.

[Tigerman10]

18 hours ago, Stelley said:

The appeals weren’t solely because they’ve had their best football teams in well over a decade. Could have easily gotten 1-2 more state championships in baseball and competed pretty well in basketball

The appeal was pretty straightforward-Leb had less ADM last year than Luray, Wythe, Grayson and Riverheads and yet played AA while the others all played single A.  

I am sure there are more than a few Leb folks wondering why they didn’t just go get a lawyer like Grayson 

 

[tornado99]

22 minutes ago, Tigerman10 said:

The appeal was pretty straightforward-Leb had less ADM last year than Luray, Wythe, Grayson and Riverheads and yet played AA while the others all played single A.  

I am sure there are more than a few Leb folks wondering why they didn’t just go get a lawyer like Grayson 

 

Yeah. Those that are bigger playing down look much worse.

[Union_Fan]

On 7/17/2026 at 12:36 PM, VHSLhelper said:

Except they don't. Last time they did was over 40 years ago.

Well, for Class 1 they do...

VHSL member schools are classified based on enrollment into six classifications, 1 through 6, with schools having an enrollment of 475 or less in the smallest (1) classification. The remainder of the League’s member schools are divided equally into fifths, with the largest schools in Class 6.

[tornado99]

I can’t remember what year they switched back from using grades 9-12 to 9-11, but I’m sure that affected the cutoff number. I remember them setting the Class 1 limit. I’m not sure of the spread now, but I remember it was significantly different when comparing say Grayson to Hurley.

[tornado99]

3 hours ago, Union_Fan said:

Well, for Class 1 they do...

VHSL member schools are classified based on enrollment into six classifications, 1 through 6, with schools having an enrollment of 475 or less in the smallest (1) classification. The remainder of the League’s member schools are divided equally into fifths, with the largest schools in Class 6.

I remember this, but my memory may be backwards in the order of things in my last post, so feel free to correct me. I was rationalizing whether the hard cutoff number would have changed with the method of counting.

[Union_Fan]

4 hours ago, tornado99 said:

I remember this, but my memory may be backwards in the order of things in my last post, so feel free to correct me. I was rationalizing whether the hard cutoff number would have changed with the method of counting.

I think it's subjective to how bad schools complain and what best quiets the noise.

I remember years ago they were just dividing the schools in each region.

Then, they had the "Rye Cove" rule. If a school in a Class was half the size of the largest in the region, that school could petition to play down. At that time RC had less than half the enrollment of Lee High.

Not sure when, but at some point they started going by enrollment 1st and adjusting the Region's geography to fit it. I remember when Lebanon was considered Region C.

There was also the time when some larger, consolidated schools were allowed to play down because they were geographically isolated from schools close to their own enrollment. I think Lee and Carroll Co both took advantage of that.

I'm not exactly sure what year the 475 and below numer came into existence, but the 9-11 count has only been in place since 2023(the current 4 year cycle).

There may not be hard cutoff numbers for each class, except for Class 1, but enrollment does play a role in grouping. It will never be fair to everyone, but overall, it's not that bad.

[VHSLhelper]

10 hours ago, Union_Fan said:

Well, for Class 1 they do...

VHSL member schools are classified based on enrollment into six classifications, 1 through 6, with schools having an enrollment of 475 or less in the smallest (1) classification. The remainder of the League’s member schools are divided equally into fifths, with the largest schools in Class 6.

Except they don't.
That's the EXACT same AI slop that some know-nothing posted on Facebook last week.

 

[Bluebird]

It’s already July and we have no clue on what will happen with reclassification for the next year.  I no longer live in Virginia but my suggestion is to go to your local school in Virginia and ask the administrators if they know any thing about how reclassification will be for next year.  They may or may not know.  

[ehcwasp]

1 hour ago, Bluebird said:

It’s already July and we have no clue on what will happen with reclassification for the next year.  I no longer live in Virginia but my suggestion is to go to your local school in Virginia and ask the administrators if they know any thing about how reclassification will be for next year.  They may or may not know.  

Executive committee meets in September, February, and May....so would expect a final plan to be released this fall

[VHSLhelper]

Yeah, but we've pretty much already known by now.

[VHSLhelper]

1 hour ago, Bluebird said:

... go to your local school in Virginia and ask the administrators if they know any thing about how reclassification will be for next year. 

And they'll ask "don't you have anything better to do? "

 

[Union_Fan]

5 hours ago, VHSLhelper said:

Except they don't.
That's the EXACT same AI slop that some know-nothing posted on Facebook last week.

Nope. That is directly from the VHSL.org website. 🤔

[Sixcat Adjacent]

15 hours ago, VHSLhelper said:

Except they don't.
That's the EXACT same AI slop that some know-nothing posted on Facebook last week.

 

Except, it's printed right on the VHSL website under CLASSIFICATION about a third of the way down the page in the link provided below. No "AI slop" required. Just some old-school reading comprehension.  

 

https://www.vhsl.org/about-vhsl/#:~:text=the district program.-,CLASSIFICATION,largest schools in Class 6.

 

[tornado99]

Here’s what doesn’t make sense to me to support my previous comment. The website does say 475. However, the supporting documentation of tables is based on the 9-11 numbers beginning in 2022, which reflected Lebanon and company or the largest of the large with numbers in the 360s range. I blame the VHSL and lack of website updates for the explanation or most current information.

[tornado99]

The table I’m referring to has ADM numbers showing Graham and Tazewell as 393, with Lebanon 363. Obviously, all are way under 475, so it’s confusing.

[Tigerman10]

24 minutes ago, tornado99 said:

The table I’m referring to has ADM numbers showing Graham and Tazewell as 393, with Lebanon 363. Obviously, all are way under 475, so it’s confusing.

ADM on that table is referring to 9-11 not the full high school enrollment.  The VHSL used to be based on a hard number 9-12

[VHSLhelper]

15 hours ago, Union_Fan said:

Nope. That is directly from the VHSL.org website. 🤔

FUNNY !!!!! See below.

 

[VHSLhelper]

10 hours ago, Sixcat Adjacent said:

Except, it's printed right on the VHSL website under CLASSIFICATION about a third of the way down the page in the link provided below. No "AI slop" required. Just some old-school reading comprehension.  

 

https://www.vhsl.org/about-vhsl/#:~:text=the district program.-,CLASSIFICATION,largest schools in Class 6.

 

 

6 hours ago, tornado99 said:

 I blame the VHSL and lack of website updates for the explanation or most current information.

Well... I'd be about 90% in agreement with you.
And that's why I chose my handle 30 years ago and started a web page 28 years ago.

 

[VHSLhelper]

5 hours ago, Sixcat Adjacent said:

Except, it's printed right on the VHSL website under CLASSIFICATION about a third of the way down the page in the link provided below. No "AI slop" required. Just some old-school reading comprehension.  

 

https://www.vhsl.org/about-vhsl/#:~:text=the district program.-,CLASSIFICATION,largest schools in Class 6.

 

My GOD... y'all are HILARIOUS!!!
You think a guy who's been doing ratings for over 30 years and has the handle "VHSL-helper" doesn't know what he's talking about?

Here's the last part of page 3 from the last realignment...

Central - L 367 
Lebanon 363  
Randolph-Henry 360  
James River - B 359 
Riverheads 357  
Mountain View (Q) 355 

 CLASS 1
Westmoreland 348 
Grayson County-move down to 1 364  
George Wythe-W - move down to 1 353 

March '22 alignment ADMs - 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tXskxsDUTfyw6i7ke4cQWmzVWtAOoSW/view

Now, let me quickly explain the problem with AI and why it's called "slop"... AI has NO BRAIN. 
That info is not only UNOFFICIAL... it's almost a decade old! 
If you had actually used that "old-school reading comprehension ", 
you would've looked JUST A LITTLE BIT lower, you'll see ALIGNMENT, followed by links for ... 2017 !!!!
The rules have been changed since then. There's a rulebook... the VHSL Handbook... and there's NOTHING like that in it.
(In fact, equal sixths isn't even in it now.)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j-77TvSbMm_YeSWP9fpDgKjFCItmKdKF/view

[tornado99]

43 minutes ago, Tigerman10 said:

ADM on that table is referring to 9-11 not the full high school enrollment.  The VHSL used to be based on a hard number 9-12

I know. Those 2 pieces of information don’t line up as presented as a consistent one stop source of information.

That’s my beef with the website.

[Union_Fan]

7 hours ago, VHSLhelper said:

My GOD... y'all are HILARIOUS!!!
You think a guy who's been doing ratings for over 30 years and has the handle "VHSL-helper" doesn't know what he's talking about?

Here's the last part of page 3 from the last realignment...

Central - L 367 
Lebanon 363  
Randolph-Henry 360  
James River - B 359 
Riverheads 357  
Mountain View (Q) 355 

 CLASS 1
Westmoreland 348 
Grayson County-move down to 1 364  
George Wythe-W - move down to 1 353 

March '22 alignment ADMs - 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tXskxsDUTfyw6i7ke4cQWmzVWtAOoSW/view

Now, let me quickly explain the problem with AI and why it's called "slop"... AI has NO BRAIN. 
That info is not only UNOFFICIAL... it's almost a decade old! 
If you had actually used that "old-school reading comprehension ", 
you would've looked JUST A LITTLE BIT lower, you'll see ALIGNMENT, followed by links for ... 2017 !!!!
The rules have been changed since then. There's a rulebook... the VHSL Handbook... and there's NOTHING like that in it.
(In fact, equal sixths isn't even in it now.)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j-77TvSbMm_YeSWP9fpDgKjFCItmKdKF/view

 

So, the VHSL handbook is not all inclusive of every policy or rule??  I would agree!

I'm not trying to argue with or belittle you as I enjoy your contributions to the board, but your information is simply not correct. You want me/us to believe what we see/read on the VHSL's information or in news articles is incorrect and you are 100% right because you've been doing ratings for 30 years and your screen name is VHSLhelper?

Ratings have changed numerous times over that period so nothing 30 years ago is applicable now. The VHSL isn't even officially using them across the league anymore. Although, there breakdown IS listed in the current 2026-27 handbook.

Unless your name is buried in the "Sound" or "Special effects" credits, it doesn't appear as an employee on any of the VHSL information. So, that tells me that the "helper" part of the screen name is voluntary and not because you run the VHSL? I can change my screen name to "Batman", but that doesn't make me 100% accurate on all things bat, Batman or Michael Keaton.

There was a hard cutoff for Class 1 at 475 for 9-12 as late as 2021, not 10+ years ago. This is just one of the many articles I've read over the years.  https://www.newsleader.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/09/02/buffalo-gap-moving-down-classification-following-vhsl-vote/5693351002/

 

Buffalo Gap will be playing in Class 1B beginning with the 2021-22 academic year pending approval from the executive committee on Sept. 23....

...The Average Daily Membership (ADM), the formula the VHSL uses to determine classification, for Buffalo Gap this year is 475 students, said Grove(Andrew Grove - Athletic Director), but the projected enrollment drops to 471 in 2021-22. The number is increases slightly to 473 in 2022-23. 

 

I guess the AD "AI'd" that too? One would think an AD would know something like that.

They adjusted that number to 348 when they changed the ADM to grades 9-11.

475 / 4 = 118.75 per class on average. If you took that number and multiplied by 3(9-11), that would give you 356.25. Since most senior classes, on average, are smaller than the other grades that number has obviously been revised down to 348. Very coincidental to not be using hard cutoff numbers for Class 1.

They list their cutoffs in a board doc here: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/vhsl/Board.nsf/files/D8YNNM60C417/$file/Alignment Committee Minutes and Plan.pdf  There's a 5% +/- variance allowed to move up or down.

Class 5 - 1503
Class 4 - 1204
Class 3 - 898
Class 2 - 564
Class 1 - 348

If the classifications are equally divided, as you say, then why aren't there 5 classes with 53 schools and 1 class with 52? Instead they're divided like below.

Class 6 - 59
Class 5 - 48
Class 4 - 51
Class 3 - 56
Class 2 - 49
Class 1 -  54

These numbers do correspond amazingly close to those cutoffs listed in the boarddocs. And maybe these cutoffs will be different for the next 4 year cycle. I have no clue, but it is beyond obvious that there are indeed cutoffs. Otherwise, how could a school possibly appeal to move down. If they were equally divided by number and not enrollment, you could possibly have the top 52 schools all above 1500 students and number 53 with 989. How fair would that be?

I'm sorry, but there's too much documentation to show that the VHSL uses some sort of enrollment numbers to classify schools, not simply dividing by 6. These reporters don't pull info from thin air. They get their info from the VHSL and school administrators.

[VHSLhelper]

17 hours ago, Union_Fan said:

So, the VHSL handbook is not all inclusive of every policy or rule??  ....

Never said anything like "So, the VHSL handbook is not all inclusive of every policy or rule??", but anyone that's involved in HS sports knows that.

"But your information is simply not correct."  Then let's see the RULE !!!

 "You want me/us to believe what we see/read on the VHSL's information or in news articles is incorrect..."??   Well, YES!!!
Edgar Allen Poe's line from 180 years ago is MORE TRUE today than it was back then...  “Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.” 

I want EVERYONE to believe that whatever they see on the internet, or in 'print',  may NOT be correct, ESPECIALLY now with AI. Lot's of people THINK they know what they're talking about when they don't. I see a few examples of that in this post. 
AND do a little research instead of believing whatever Google spits out, ESPECIALLY when someone says "that's AI slop".

"... and you are 100% right because you've been doing ratings for 30 years and your screen name is VHSLhelper?" Again,  never said that. Impossible to be 100% right, but the number of times I've been wrong about VHSL stuff in 30 years is most likely in the single digits. 

"Ratings have changed numerous times over that period so nothing 30 years ago is applicable now. "  SO?  I never said anything was.
"The VHSL isn't even officially using them across the league anymore. " Again.. SO ???
"Although, there breakdown IS listed in the current 2026-27 handbook." Really?  Where?? Seems like you would've put that first if you had the proof.
 
"that tells me that the "helper" part of the screen name is voluntary and not because you run the VHSL?"  Well, you did get ONE THING right...  the thing that I alluded to yesterday.

"There was a hard cutoff for Class 1 at 475 for 9-12 as late as 2021, not 10+ years ago."
Yet again, I didn't say that. But YOU DID say "Ratings have changed numerous times over that period".  You really seem to love twisting everything I say/post. And Sixcat provided the link to the page that shows the 2017 alignments. 

-----
Now, I'm going to skip around a bit to make it easier to follow as I blow the next part to pieces.

"I guess the AD "AI'd" that too? One would think an AD would know something like that."
Know something like what? Nothing was quoted. We don't know what the AD said.  

"Buffalo Gap will be playing in Class 1B beginning with the 2021-22 academic year pending approval from the executive committee on Sept. 23...."
That shows that the REPORTER was wrong on at least one thing... there was/is no "Class 1B".
"pending approval" means they requested a change. But FROM what TO what????
The URL shows the story is from 2020, then YOU note that the system changed ... "they changed the ADM to grades 9-11"

"... 356.25. Since most senior classes, on average, are smaller than the other grades that number has obviously been revised down to 348."
Well, no, they AREN'T on average, smaller. It's smaller when enrollment is increasing. As YOU posted, THEIR numbers were fluctuating.... 475, down to 471, up to 473.   Since your math didn't work out the way you wanted, you made a wild, unsubstantiated claim that the number "has obviously been revised down to 348." by the VHSL.  Why? Why so much? If you take the smaller number from the larger number, the difference would be 4, not 8.

"They list their cutoffs in a board doc"?? Nope. 
Those were the splitting-point numbers at the time of the meeting. It doesn't say they're cutoff numbers, and that's because there ARE NO cutoff numbers anymore. 

"If the classifications are equally divided, as you say, then why aren't there 5 classes with 53 schools and 1 class with 52? "
B/c, as anyone who keeps up with this a little knows, schools can successfully petition to change classes.

"But it is beyond obvious that there are indeed cutoffs". Once again, nope.

"I'm sorry, but there's too much documentation to show that the VHSL uses some sort of enrollment numbers to classify schools, not simply dividing by 6."

Well, I won't comment on that first part, but OF COURSE they use numbers... it's called ADMs, and it IS simply divided by 6. All you have to do is look at some of the "too much documentation" about it. For the 2024 alignment, the breakdown ...
53, 54 (=107), 52 (=159), 53 (=212), 53 (=265), 52 (=317).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tXskxsDUTfyw6i7ke4cQWmzVWtAOoSW/view

"These reporters don't pull info from thin air. They get their info from the VHSL and school administrators."

You posted ONE thing from a reporter, which immediately showed that he was wrong with the "Class 1B" thing.

[Union_Fan]

4 hours ago, VHSLhelper said:

Never said anything like "So, the VHSL handbook is not all inclusive of every policy or rule??", but anyone that's involved in HS sports knows that.

"But your information is simply not correct."  Then let's see the RULE !!!

 "You want me/us to believe what we see/read on the VHSL's information or in news articles is incorrect..."??   Well, YES!!!
Edgar Allen Poe's line from 180 years ago is MORE TRUE today than it was back then...  “Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.” 

I want EVERYONE to believe that whatever they see on the internet, or in 'print',  may NOT be correct, ESPECIALLY now with AI. Lot's of people THINK they know what they're talking about when they don't. I see a few examples of that in this post. 
AND do a little research instead of believing whatever Google spits out, ESPECIALLY when someone says "that's AI slop".

"... and you are 100% right because you've been doing ratings for 30 years and your screen name is VHSLhelper?" Again,  never said that. Impossible to be 100% right, but the number of times I've been wrong about VHSL stuff in 30 years is most likely in the single digits. 

"Ratings have changed numerous times over that period so nothing 30 years ago is applicable now. "  SO?  I never said anything was.
"The VHSL isn't even officially using them across the league anymore. " Again.. SO ???
"Although, there breakdown IS listed in the current 2026-27 handbook." Really?  Where?? Seems like you would've put that first if you had the proof.
 
"that tells me that the "helper" part of the screen name is voluntary and not because you run the VHSL?"  Well, you did get ONE THING right...  the thing that I alluded to yesterday.

"There was a hard cutoff for Class 1 at 475 for 9-12 as late as 2021, not 10+ years ago."
Yet again, I didn't say that. But YOU DID say "Ratings have changed numerous times over that period".  You really seem to love twisting everything I say/post. And Sixcat provided the link to the page that shows the 2017 alignments. 

-----
Now, I'm going to skip around a bit to make it easier to follow as I blow the next part to pieces.

"I guess the AD "AI'd" that too? One would think an AD would know something like that."
Know something like what? Nothing was quoted. We don't know what the AD said.  

"Buffalo Gap will be playing in Class 1B beginning with the 2021-22 academic year pending approval from the executive committee on Sept. 23...."
That shows that the REPORTER was wrong on at least one thing... there was/is no "Class 1B".
"pending approval" means they requested a change. But FROM what TO what????
The URL shows the story is from 2020, then YOU note that the system changed ... "they changed the ADM to grades 9-11"

"... 356.25. Since most senior classes, on average, are smaller than the other grades that number has obviously been revised down to 348."
Well, no, they AREN'T on average, smaller. It's smaller when enrollment is increasing. As YOU posted, THEIR numbers were fluctuating.... 475, down to 471, up to 473.   Since your math didn't work out the way you wanted, you made a wild, unsubstantiated claim that the number "has obviously been revised down to 348." by the VHSL.  Why? Why so much? If you take the smaller number from the larger number, the difference would be 4, not 8.

"They list their cutoffs in a board doc"?? Nope. 
Those were the splitting-point numbers at the time of the meeting. It doesn't say they're cutoff numbers, and that's because there ARE NO cutoff numbers anymore. 

"If the classifications are equally divided, as you say, then why aren't there 5 classes with 53 schools and 1 class with 52? "
B/c, as anyone who keeps up with this a little knows, schools can successfully petition to change classes.

"But it is beyond obvious that there are indeed cutoffs". Once again, nope.

"I'm sorry, but there's too much documentation to show that the VHSL uses some sort of enrollment numbers to classify schools, not simply dividing by 6."

Well, I won't comment on that first part, but OF COURSE they use numbers... it's called ADMs, and it IS simply divided by 6. All you have to do is look at some of the "too much documentation" about it. For the 2024 alignment, the breakdown ...
53, 54 (=107), 52 (=159), 53 (=212), 53 (=265), 52 (=317).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tXskxsDUTfyw6i7ke4cQWmzVWtAOoSW/view

"These reporters don't pull info from thin air. They get their info from the VHSL and school administrators."

You posted ONE thing from a reporter, which immediately showed that he was wrong with the "Class 1B" thing.

I've been on this board for 12 years or so. Not the longest, but plenty long enough to realize that you consider yourself the foremost expert on the VHSL and have an incessant need to be correct.

I'm not going to get in a tit for tat as it's not worth it. I will address a few of these since you asked so nicely

Never said anything like "So, the VHSL handbook is not all inclusive of every policy or rule??", but anyone that's involved in HS sports knows that.

There's a rulebook... the VHSL Handbook... and there's NOTHING like that in it.
(In fact, equal sixths isn't even in it now.)

I was agreeing that not everything is in the rule book.

 

 

"There was a hard cutoff for Class 1 at 475 for 9-12 as late as 2021, not 10+ years ago."
Yet again, I didn't say that.

  On 7/16/2026 at 11:23 AM, Fairlawncat said:

And it's not Lebanon's fault. The VHSL sets the cutoff numbers just like the other 49 states set their cutoff numbers. 

Except they don't. Last time they did was over 40 years ago.

You didn't say 10. My bad!

 

 

Know something like what? Nothing was quoted. We don't know what the AD said.

The quote was in my post and the linked news article, but I'm sure a lesser intellect would have missed it too

 

 

"Although, there breakdown IS listed in the current 2026-27 handbook." Really?  Where?? Seems like you would've put that first if you had the proof.

I just assumed that you knew how to find the 2026-27 handbook. My bad... again.

 

 

My GOD... y'all are HILARIOUS!!!
You think a guy who's been doing ratings for over 30 years and has the handle "VHSL-helper" doesn't know what he's talking about?

I would say this pretty much addresses everything else.

Good evening! 🙂

[ehcwasp]

17 hours ago, Union_Fan said:

I've been on this board for 12 years or so. Not the longest, but plenty long enough to realize that you consider yourself the foremost expert on the VHSL and have an incessant need to be correct.

I'm not going to get in a tit for tat as it's not worth it. I will address a few of these since you asked so nicely

Never said anything like "So, the VHSL handbook is not all inclusive of every policy or rule??", but anyone that's involved in HS sports knows that.

There's a rulebook... the VHSL Handbook... and there's NOTHING like that in it.
(In fact, equal sixths isn't even in it now.)

I was agreeing that not everything is in the rule book.

 

 

"There was a hard cutoff for Class 1 at 475 for 9-12 as late as 2021, not 10+ years ago."
Yet again, I didn't say that.

  On 7/16/2026 at 11:23 AM, Fairlawncat said:

And it's not Lebanon's fault. The VHSL sets the cutoff numbers just like the other 49 states set their cutoff numbers. 

Except they don't. Last time they did was over 40 years ago.

You didn't say 10. My bad!

 

 

Know something like what? Nothing was quoted. We don't know what the AD said.

The quote was in my post and the linked news article, but I'm sure a lesser intellect would have missed it too

 

 

"Although, there breakdown IS listed in the current 2026-27 handbook." Really?  Where?? Seems like you would've put that first if you had the proof.

I just assumed that you knew how to find the 2026-27 handbook. My bad... again.

 

 

My GOD... y'all are HILARIOUS!!!
You think a guy who's been doing ratings for over 30 years and has the handle "VHSL-helper" doesn't know what he's talking about?

I would say this pretty much addresses everything else.

Good evening! 🙂

Hearing that the buffer for eligibility to appeal is moving to 1%.  If so, could leave Grayson with only a hardship appeal.  But if they were to drop the two smallest class 2 schools down to account for Buch County consolidation, then Grayson would only have one more student than the biggest class 1 schools, so they would fall within the 1% buffer