EAST LANSING, Mich. – March 31 – Classifications for Michigan High School Athletic Association elections and post-season tournaments in traditionally classified sports (A, B, C, D) for the 2010-11 school year have been announced, as well as the enrollment breaks for post-season tournaments set up by divisions.
Classifications for the upcoming school year are based on a second semester count date, which for MHSAA purposes was February 10. 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 September 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 767 tournament-qualified member schools were ranked according to enrollment, and then split as closely into quarters as possible. For 2010-11, there are 192 schools each in Classes A, B and C; and 191 schools in Class D.
Effective with the 2010-11 school year, schools with 967 or more students are in Class A in MHSAA post-season tournament competition. The enrollment limits for Class B are 468 to 966; Class C is 218 to 467; and schools with enrollments of 217 and under are Class D. The breaks decreased 20 students between Classes A and B, and Classes B and C; and 6 students between Classes C and D.
The new classification breaks will see 26 schools move up in class for 2010-11, while 21 schools will move down.
Schools were recently notified of their classification. MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts said that schools may not subsequently lower their enrollment figure. However, if revised enrollment figures should be higher and indicate that a school should be playing in a higher class, that school would be moved up.
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, August 15 for winter sports, and October 15 for spring sports.
MHSAA tournament sports conducted in traditional classifications for 2010-11 are Basketball and Girls Volleyball. Football will use traditional classifications to determine playoff points.
Sports which will compete in nearly equal divisions are: Baseball, Bowling, Girls Competitive Cheer, Lower Peninsula Cross Country, Lower Peninsula Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing, Softball, Lower Peninsula Swimming and Diving, Lower Peninsula Tennis, Lower Peninsula Track and Field, and Wrestling. Lower Peninsula Soccer will have 20 percent of sponsoring schools in Division 4 and the remaining schools divided equally into Divisions 1, 2 and 3. Visit the respective sports pages on the MHSAA Website beginning Thursday (April 1) to review the divisional alignments.
The eight divisions of the MHSAA Football Playoffs will be announced on Selection Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010. A complete list of school enrollments used to determine classifications for the 2010-11 school year can be found on Enrollment & Classification page of the MHSAA Website. (Here is a direct link to the page -- http://www.mhsaa.com/Schools/Administrators/EnrollmentClassification.aspx)
Here is a complete list of the schools changing classification for 2010-11 (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 Website):
Moving Up From Class B To Class A
Grand Rapids Union
Ann Arbor Skyline
Hamtramck
Warren Lincoln
Byron Center
St. Clair
Trenton
Petoskey
Moving Down From Class A To Class B
Grand Rapids Christian
Carleton Airport
Wayland Union
Ionia
Detroit Central
Center Line
Detroit Osborn
Moving Up From Class C To Class B
Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy
River Rouge
Mason County Central
Olivet
Parchment
Dearborn Henry Ford Academy
Harper Woods
Morley Stanwood
Moving Down From Class B To Class C
Vassar
Detroit Fredrick Douglass
Hillsdale
Erie-Mason
Ypsilanti Willow Run
Wyoming Lee
Moving Up From Class D To Class C
Detroit PEC Preparatory
Detroit Cristo Rey
Benton Harbor Dream Academy
Covert
Johannesburg-Lewiston
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
Detroit Henry Ford Academy
Eau Calire
Hancock
Taylor Trillium Academy
Moving Down From Class C To Class D
Morenci
Kentwood Grand River Preparatory
West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy
Rogers City
Three Oaks River Valley
Munising
Detroit City
Detroit Weston Preparatory Academy
New Post-Season Eligible Tournament Schools in 2009-10
Flint Madison Academy (Class D)
Enrollment Breaks By Classes – 2010-11
(Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A -- 967 and above (192)
Class B -- 468 to 966 (192)
Class C -- 218 to 467 (192)
Class D -- 217 and below (191)
