The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) is preparing to unveil its new alignments for the next two school years on Friday. This announcement follows a meeting of the AHSAA Central Board held on Thursday, during which officials reviewed and finalized classification data for the 2026-28 academic years. A formal meeting is scheduled for Friday morning to approve the new alignments for fall sports, including football and volleyball.
Once the meeting concludes, the AHSAA will make a public announcement regarding the classifications. Alignments for winter and spring sports will typically be released at a later date. The anticipation surrounding this round of reclassification is heightened, as the AHSAA undergoes this process every two years. Under the current system, region alignments are established for a two-year cycle.
Reclassification was initially set for mid-December but was postponed “due to current mediation,” introducing additional complexity into the current landscape of high school athletics in Alabama. Recent weeks have seen Alabama lawmakers propose bills that could significantly alter the AHSAA’s authority over high school sports in the state.
One of the most contentious issues involves the potential division of public and private schools. Private institutions are often perceived to have advantages over public schools in terms of enrollment numbers. To address this disparity, the AHSAA has implemented measures such as the attendance multiplier and competitive balance initiatives.
As the reclassification process unfolds, it remains uncertain how private schools will be categorized this year. The AHSAA may choose to maintain the current structure or consider separating private schools in some capacity.
Village Living will provide updates on this story following the announcement on Friday, shedding light on the implications of the new alignments and the ongoing discussions regarding the governance of high school athletics in Alabama.
