WVSSAC Board of Control Approves Classification Structure
The WVSSAC’s Board of Control unanimously approved a classification structure for high school athletics across the state. The measure passed by a vote of 150-0 among those present and voting.
The Board of Control is comprised of principals (or designees) from secondary schools in the state.
The approved proposal states that each member high school shall be classified as either AAAA, AAA, AA or A based on the total enrollment figures of grades 9-12 based on enrollment figures from the West Virginia Department of Education. The enrollment figure will be calculated at the start of the second school month of the year preceding classification.
Schools with an enrollment of 1,050 or more will be in Class AAAA, schools with enrollment of 625-1,049 will be Class AAA, schools with an enrollment of 351-624 will be Class AA, and schools with an enrollment of 350 or less will be Class A.
The reclassification will take effect beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.
In a separate vote, the Board of Control determined which sports would utilize four, three, or no classifications.
Sports utilizing the four-class structure will be volleyball, football, cheerleading, girls basketball, boys basketball, baseball and softball.
Sports utilizing a three-class (Class AAAA, Class AAA and Class AA/A) will be golf, cross country, soccer, wrestling, tennis and track.
Participants in swimming will compete without a designated classification.