By Staff
EAST LANSING - Classifications for Michigan High School Athletic Association elections and post-season tournaments in traditionally classified sports (A, B, C, D) for the 2005-06 school year have been announced, and the enrollment breaks for post-season tournaments set up by divisions will be announced on Thursday (March 31) on the MHSAA Web site.
Classifications for the upcoming school year are based on a second semester count date, which was February 23. The enrollment figure submitted for athletic classification purposes may be different from the count submitted for school aid purposes, as it does not include students ineligible for athletic competition because they reached their 19th birthday prior to Sept. 1 of the current school year and will not include alternative education students if none are allowed athletic eligibility by the local school district.
After all the counts are submitted, the 756 tournament-qualified member schools are ranked according to enrollment, and then split as closely into quarters as possible. For 2005-06, it works out that 188 schools are in Class A; 189 schools are in Classes B and D; and 190 schools are in Class C.
Effective with the 2005-06 school year, schools with 1,058 or more students are in Class A in MHSAA competition. The enrollment limits for Class B are 496 to 1,057; Class C is 251 to 495; and schools with enrollments of 250 and under are Class D. The break increased 22 students between Classes A and B; increased 9 students between Classes B and C; and the break between Classes C and D increased by 18 students.
Schools were recently notified of their classification. MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts said that schools may not appeal their classification if the appeal is to play in a lower class. However, if revised enrollment figures indicate that a school should be playing in a higher class, that school would be moved up.
The new classification breaks will see 11 schools move up in class for 2005-06, while 23 schools will move down.
Schools have the option to play at any higher classification for a minimum of two years, but must exercise the option by April 15 for fall sports, Aug. 15 for winter sports, and Oct. 15 for spring sports.
Here is a list of the schools changing classification for 2005-06 (Note: This list does not include schools opting up in class/division for tournaments, which can be found on the Administrators page of the MHSAA Web site):
Moving Up From Class C To Class B
Detroit Communication Media Arts
East Jackson
Albion
Moving Down From Class B To Class C
Saginaw Nouvel
Vassar
Wyoming Kelloggsville
Berrien Springs
Flint Beecher
Grandville Calvin Christian
White Cloud
Moving Down From Class C To Class D
L'Anse
Eau Claire
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
Pellston
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett
Lutheran Westland
Lawrence
Ontonagon
Enrollment Breaks By Classes – 2005-06
(Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A - 1,058 and above (188)
Class B - 496 to 1,057 (189)
Class C - 251 to 495 (190)
Class D - 250 and below (189)