The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has released the third draft of conferences for the 2025-2029 realignment.
The first draft was released on Dec. 18. The second draft was released on January 21, after the realignment committee worked through over 170 response forms from member schools.
This third draft will come after a series of in-person appeals by schools. The realignment committee heard these appeals in Chapel Hill over a two-day period the week of February 3.
After this draft, which is the final proposal from the realignment committee, schools will have a chance to appeal to the NCHSAA Board of Directors before the conferences are approved for the 2025 school year. Once the conferences are confirmed by the Board of Directors, the NCHSAA Bylaw Task Force will present a plan for playoff qualifying, seeding, and practice size, which will have to be approved by the Board as well.
It is likely that there will be specially called meetings of the Board before their regular spring meeting to approve all of these realignment and playoff changes.
Alexander Central was returned to the Draft 1 proposal which included
Alexander Central..6A
Freedom…6A
South Caldwell…6A
Watauga…6A
St Stephens…6A
McDowell…7A
For the first time in its extensive history, the NCHSAA will have member schools divided into eight classifications. The largest class, 8A, will have the 32 largest schools in the state by population. The 1A through 7A classes will be evenly divided and have just under 60 schools apiece.
Some other area conferences
6A-7A
North Iredell…6A
Statesville…6A
Davie County…7A
Lake Norman…7A
Mooresville…7A
South Iredell…7A
4A-5A
Bandys…4A
Bunker Hill…4A
Fred T Foard…4A
Maiden…4A
Newton-Conover…4A
West Iredell…4A
East Lincoln…5A
Hickory…5A
North Lncoln…5A
3A-4A
NorthWilkes…3A
Surry Central…3A
West Wilkes…3A
Ashe County…4A
Forbush…4A
North Stokes…4A
Wilkes Central…4A
3A-4A
East Burke…4A
Hibriten…4A
RS Central…4A
Chase…3A
East Rutherford…3A
Patton…3A
West Caldwell…3A