Estimates Released On How Many Schools Will Play In New Classes

Although enrollment numbers aren’t official as Washington high schools switch from four classifications to five, they are close enough to estimate how many schools will be in each class.

That’s the message from Pat Hoonan, Washington Interscholastic Activities Association director in charge of reclassification.

“The numbers aren’t cast in stone, but they’re pretty close,” he said. “There are still some appeals being made… . Some leagues are still being formed.”

The last time there was a change in classification was 28 years ago when the current AAA division was added.

The 4A classification, which will include the Greater Spokane League, has 77 schools. That number includes 18 schools of 3A size choosing to play at the 4A level.

In 3A, which will include the larger schools of the Frontier League, there are 82 schools with six moving up from 2A.

The 2A has 50 schools. Among those will be an eight-team league of the smaller Frontier and the larger Northeast A schools.

In 1A, there are 57 schools, just one of which is a B school opting up. In this area, there are only three schools in that classification, the three smallest NEA.

There are 112 schools at the B level.

The numbers should be set at the WIAA executive board meeting at the end of the month. The next step will be to determine league allocations into state playoffs, which should take place in February.

There was a meeting Wednesday in Ellensburg for B schools that play football. They explored options for preserving 8-man football.

, DataTimes