The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association released updated enrollment numbers last week that will be used for the reclassification of schools for the 2024-25 school.
In past years, this step generally brings the picture more into focus regarding which schools will be moving up or down in classification.
But as it applies to some Class 4A and 3A schools, things remain very blurry.
The reason for this was an amendment passed last spring aimed at evening out the numbers of schools in 4A and 3A.
During the last reclassification process in 2020, a new rule allowed for uneven classifications. That left Class 3A with 79 schools. And with the larger classification size came a large state tournament format, one that sent 20 teams to instead of the previous 16.
But in the four years since, the 20-team bracket has become very unpopular. It causes scheduling headaches, and no matter how the WIAA framed it, there was little it could do to make those first state games — the round-of-20 games — feel like anything other than play-in games for the state tournament.
So an amendment was passed last spring that gives the WIAA Executive Board the authority to adjust classification ranges “to create balance where possible.”
Last May, the WIAA projected the line between 3A and 4A would drop to 1,225 from the previous 1,300. When preliminary enrollment numbers came in this school year, the line was dropped again to 1,201.
But that 1,201 boundary is not set in stone. And after the release of enrollment numbers last week, it is quite possible that line may need to be moved again.
According to the WIAA handbook, any classification with 69 to 83 schools in it will play a 20-team state tournament. But classifications that have between 50 and 68 schools play a 16-team tournament.
So 68 in 3A is the goal of the amendment passed last spring.
Numbers released last week had 63 schools with adjusted enrollments in the 3A range of 900-1,200 students in grades 9-11. Three of those schools (Davis, Eisenhower and West Valley-Yakima) have indicated their intention to opt-up to 4A. A fourth, Eastmont, likely will opt-up.
But two Seattle private schools (O’Dea and Holy Names) have indicated they will opt-up into 3A. That leaves us with a net of 61 schools.
In the last classification process, O’Dea and Holy Names were among the 15 schools that opted up into 3A. Two other of those 15 schools now have 3A enrollments with the new numbers. Four other schools are Seattle private schools that almost certainly will opt-up.
Now, we’re at 65. But what will those other seven schools do? If four opt-up, we’re at 69. And then there are three other schools that are currently 3A schools but now have 2A numbers. Will any of those schools want to opt-up to remain in 3A?
And that doesn’t even mention Ballard, which was a 4A school in the last classification but won an appeal to move down to 3A to remain with other Seattle Public Schools institutions (five others with current 2A numbers opted-up to 3A in the last classification cycle to do the same thing). It figures Ballard will appeal again, given its new enrollment number is 1,206.
So there are a lot of variables still at play. Schools have until Dec. 22 to declare to opt-up or to send notification of intent to appeal its classification placement. The formal deadline to file appeal paperwork is Jan. 5, and the appeals will be determined on Jan. 18-19.
Finally, the WIAA Executive Board will approve classification numbers and range balancing, if needed, on Jan. 21.
Until then, schools just below the cusp of the 1,200 enrollment line for 3A are playing a game of wait-and-see.
The five largest schools in the current 3A range are Mount Vernon (1,199), Prairie (1,189), Oak Harbor (1,179), Garfield of Seattle (1,178) and Mountain View (1,171).
“Ultimately, the process is out of our control, so we can’t let that take up head space right now,” Prairie athletic director Stephanie Watts said. “We continue to get a positive turnout of student athletes at Prairie. And whether we end up at the 3A or 4A level, we will continue to prepare for each season and compete the best we can.”
As far as other area schools go, all but three appear to remain in their current classification.
Kalama appears headed from 2B to 1A, Stevenson plans to opt-up from 2B to 1A, and Fort Vancouver plans to appeal down from 2A to 1A.
If all that comes to fruition, the 2A Greater St. Helens League and the 1A Trico League could both be eight-school leagues starting in 2023-24.
But until everything is formalized next month, we just won’t know for sure.
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Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached at tim.martinez@columbian.com, 360-735-4538 or follow @360TMart on Instagram and X (Twitter).
