805 PM 10-16-20 This has been updated as the TSSAA has changed some numbers. There is only one projected change and that is highlighted in red.
The new classification period is here and the TSSAA is trying to sort through everything. They had previously voted to keep football at 6 public (D1) classes and 3 private (D2) classes. Placement in a specific classification is strictly based on enrollment figures that have been turned in to the state and then given to the TSSAA.
In regards to the public side, once they determine the total number of schools that are playing football, they divide them evenly by 6 and you have your six different classifications (1A-6A). There will be 49 teams in each classification. They will determine what the regions are after teams decide whether or not they want to play up in a higher classification. Schools can choose to play up in a higher classification than they are in but they can't play down in a lesser one. Each school will have a chance to notify the TSSAA if they want to move up prior to the Board of Control meeting on November 12.
The private schools have their classification set by a predetermined number instead of just dividing them up evenly as the public schools do. D2A is 0-265, AA is 266-530 and AAA is 530 and up. Schools can choose to play up as well.
With all of that being said, here is our best guess of where all of the area teams will wind up. This does not take into consideration whether a team plays up or not. These are strictly based on the numbers.
1A
Bluff City, BTW, MASE, Middle College, Westwood
2A
Fairley, Freedom Prep, Hillcrest, KIPP, MAHS, Manassas, MLK Prep, Mitchell, Oakhaven
3A*
Bolton, Covington, Douglass, East, Hamilton, Memphis Business Academy, Millington, Raleigh Egypt, Sheffield, Trezevant, Wooddale
4A*
Craigmont, Fayette Ware, Kirby, Melrose, Ridgeway
5A
Brighton, Central, Kingsbury, Munford, Overton, Southwind
6A
Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Cordova, Germantown, Houston, White Station, Whitehaven
D2A West***
Clarksville Academy, Columbia Academy, FACS, Fayette Academy, Harding Academy, Jackson Christian, Nashville Christian, Tipton Rosemark, Trinity Christian, USJ
D2AA West***
ECS, Lausanne, Northpoint Christian, St. George's
D2AAA West***
Briarcrest, CBHS, MBA, MUS, Pope John Paul, St. Benedict
There has been some talk of rotating the Nashville schools so MBA & PJP could be replaced with Brentwood Academy and Father Ryan
*Covington will probably be in Region 7 and Millington could find itself there as well.
**Fayette Ware could go either way (Region 7 or 8). If any of the other area teams choose to play up, there is a good chance that the Wildcats would be in Region 8. If not, they would probably be with the Jackson area schools.
***These will be all of the teams in each league unless a team chooses to play up.
