Update, Wednesday, December 20, 2023: Class 4A, Region 5 - which includes Haleyville High School - has been modified due to an error in a report used by the Alabama High School Athletic Association to determine classifications. Winfield and J.B. Pennington high schools have been reassigned to Class 3A based on data in a holdback/promotion portion of the Average Daily Membership data used by the AHSAA to determine a school's classification for athletics. Haleyville High School's data was not incorrect.
The AHSAA obtains the Average Daily Membership data from the Alabama State Department of Education. After the AHSAA was alerted to a possible error, the AHSAA requested the State Department of Education recompute the data. That was when the the error was confirmed and it was shown that Winfield and J.B. Pennington needed to remain in 3A.
“The ALSDE regrets the error, and we apologize to our member schools,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs.
After the change, Haleyville will remain in Class 4A, Region 5 in football and will still have Fayette County, Hamilton, Cordova, Curry and Good Hope in the region. Dora High School has been moved back into Haleyville's region, and Fultondale High School will now be in Haleyville's region, as well.
Haleyville will remain in Class 4A Area 10 in volleyball, only losing Winfield as an area opponent. Fayette County and Hamilton will remain Haleyville's area opponents.
Winfield High has been reclassified to Class 3A Region 5 and will face Carbon Hill, Gordo, Hanceville, Midfield, Oakman, Phil Campbell and Vinemont in region play. Winfield will be in Class 3A Area 10 for volleyball, with Gordo, Oakman and Carbon Hill as area opponents.
WINSTON /MARION - The Alabama High School Athletic Association has approved the classification system and fall sports alignments for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. For two local teams, there are some significant changes.
When it comes to football, Winston County High School will see the biggest change, remaining in Class 2A, but moving from Region 5 to Region 8. This will place the Yellow Jackets back in the same region as Red Bay and Tanner. Other teams in Region 8 are Belgreen, Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, Lexington and Tharptown.
Haleyville will remain in Class 4A, Region 5, but is losing a few region opponents and gaining some old foes into their region. Both Winfield and Fayette County have been moved up from Class 3A to Class 4A and will be in Haleyville's region, along with Hamilton, Cordova and Curry. Good Hope will now be in Haleyville's region, as well, along with J.B. Pennington out of Blount County.
Lynn, Addison, Meek and Phillips will all remain in Class 1A. Class 1A, Region 5 - where Lynn plays football - will remain the same with the exception of losing Holy Spirit, which will move into Class 1A Region 3. Addison, Meek and Phillips will all remain within the same region, but the number is being changed from 8 to 7. Nothing else will change about their regional opponents.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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