AHSAA announces classifications for next 2 years

The Alabama High School Athletic Association announced new classifications Tuesday morning, effective for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.

The AHSAA reclassifies every two years based on school enrollment numbers. The top 32 schools are placed in Class 7A, with Classes 1A-6A holding roughly 64 schools.

There was no change among the local schools, as Hewitt-Trussville remains in Class 7A and Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley will stay in 6A. Clay-Chalkville was close to the 7A threshold, coming in as the second largest 6A school now, according to enrollment numbers provided by the AHSAA.

Among schools in the Birmingham area, the most significant change in class was Chelsea, which moved up from 6A into 7A. 

Region and area alignments for fall sports (football, volleyball, cross-country and swimming and diving) were also released.

In football, Hewitt-Trussville will stay in Region 3, with the only change the addition of Chelsea. The Huskies will still compete against Hoover, Oak Mountain, Spain Park, Tuscaloosa County, Thompson and Vestavia Hills. 

Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley will continue to be region foes in Region 6, although the rest of the region looks a little different. The Cougars and Indians will now be playing against Center Point, Huffman, Oxford, Pell City and Shades Valley.

Hewitt-Trussville’s volleyball area will look different as well, as the Huskies face Spain Park, Chelsea and Oak Mountain now in Area 6. Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley will be in Area 12 with Mortimer Jordan.

Hewitt’s cross-country section is identical to the football region, but Clay and Pinson’s Section 5 will include Center Point, Cullman, Fort Payne, Gadsden City, Huffman, Mortimer Jordan, Oxford and Pell City.

Region and area alignments for winter and spring sports will be announced once those sports complete their seasons this school year.