North Carolina high school athletic conferences for 2025-29 are closer to being finalized.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s realignment committee released the third draft of proposed conferences for its 440+ member schools on Friday.
Schools dissatisfied with their conference still have a chance to make an appeal. The NCHSAA board aims to approve a final draft sometime this spring.
Whatever is finalized will be a radical shift from the classification structure the NCHSAA has operated under for decades. The state will move from four classifications (1A-4A) to eight for the first time in its history (1A-8A). The classifications were determined by Average Daily Membership numbers, with the 32 highest enrollments being placed in 8A (“Big 32”) and the rest of the divisions having between 57-59 schools.
Here are some details on the third realignment draft (scroll below for the full list of proposed conferences 1A-8A):
- The proposal features 64 total conferences, with all but one featuring between six and nine schools.
- Fifty-three conferences are “split” leagues, with schools from more than one classification included (i.e. 1A/2A, 5A/6A, etc.). There are three “pure” 1A leagues in the proposal and just one single-classification conference in the 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A ranks. The 8A division has two leagues with only 8A schools, both based in the Triangle area.
- Ten proposed conferences have schools from three classifications (including a 6A/7A/8A conference and three 3A/4A/5A leagues).
- This draft features one “super league” – a 1A/2A split conference with 13 schools from the far western part of the state. But only seven schools from this league play football – Cherokee, Hayesville, Murphy, Swain County, Rosman, Robbinsville and Andrews.
- This draft eliminates a proposed 11-school conference of 4A and 5A schools from six different WNC counties that had been in the second revision.
- Mecklenburg County schools will be dispersed among five conferences under this proposal. Those schools are currently grouped into three leagues.
- Reigning 1A state football champion Tarboro will be classified as a 2A school, per ADM numbers. As in the previous draft, the Vikings will be the lone 2A school in a 2A/3A split league with Ayden-Grifton, Beddingfield, Farmville Central, Greene Central and Kinston.
- Monroe, which won the 2A football title in 2024, will now be 5A and will join a split 4A/5A conference. Nothing has changed in this draft for Monroe’s proposed conference.
- West Charlotte captured the 3A football crown last season but will compete in the 8A classification starting this fall. The Lions will be in a fierce 7A/8A division with Butler, Independence, North Meck, Chambers and Mallard Creek. This conference is the same as the second draft
- Greensboro’s Grimsley High, which won the 4A football title, will play in the 7A ranks this fall. Grimsley’s proposed 6A/7A split conference has changed somewhat. Southwest Guilford has been added in this draft, joining Ben. L. Smith, Dudley, Ragsdale, Western Guilford and Page.
- North Iredell and Swansboro both plan to appeal their conference placement to the NCHSAA board, per Joel Bryant from HighSchoolOT. North Iredell is one of two 6A schools in a six-team 6A/7A split league. Swansboro also is a 6A school in a proposed 6A/7A league that includes seven members.
NCHSAA Realignment | Proposed Conferences 2025-29 | Third Draft
1A Conference 1
- Bear Grass Charter (1A)
- Cape Hatteras (1A)
- Columbia (1A)
- Hobgood Charter (1A)
- Mattamuskeet (1A)
- Ocracoke (1A)
1A Conference 2
- North East Carolina Prep (1A)
- North Edgecombe (1A)
- Rocky Mount Prep (1A)
- Sallie B. Howard (1A)
- Washington County (1A)
- Wilson Prep (1A)
1A Conference 3
- Ascend Leadership (1A)
- Central Carolina Academy (1A)
- Chatham Charter (1A)
- Clover Garden (1A)
- River Mill Academy (1A)
- Southern Wake Academy (1A)
- Woods Charter (1A)
1A/2A Conference A
- Jones (1A)
- Northside (Pinetown) (1A)
- East Carteret (2A)
- Lejeune (2A)
- Pamlico County (2A)
- Southside (2A)
1A/2A Conference B
- East Columbus (1A)
- East Bladen (2A)
- Hobbton (2A)
- Lakewood (2A)
- North Duplin (2A)
- Union (2A)
- West Columbus (2A)
1A/2A Conference C
- KIPP Pride (1A)
- Southeast Halifax (1A)
- Weldon (1A)
- Northampton County (2A)
- Northwest Halifax (2A)
- Warren County (2A)
1A/2A Conference D
- Neuse Charter (1A)
- East Wake Academy (2A)
- Franklin Academy (2A)
- Raleigh Charter (2A)
- Research Triangle (2A)
- Roxboro Community (2A)
- Triangle Math and Science (2A)
- Voyager Academy (2A)
1A/2A Conference E
- Discovery Charter (1A)
- Excelsior Classical (1A)
- Falls Lake Academy (1A)
- Oxford Prep (1A)
- Vance Charter (1A)
- Eno River Academy (2A)
- Henderson Collegiate (2A)
1A/2A Conference F
- Chatham Central (1A)
- College Prep & Leadership (1A)
- North Stokes (1A)
- South Davidson (1A)
- Winston-Salem Prep (1A)
- Bishop McGuinness (2A)
- South Stokes (2A)
1A/2A Conference G
- Bethany Community (1A)
- Millenium Charter (1A)
- NC Leadership Academy (1A)
- Phoenix Academy (1A)
- Triad Math and Science (1A)
- Cornerstone Charter (2A)
- Piedmont Classical (2A)
1A/2A Conference H
- Andrews (1A)
- Blue Ridge Early College (1A)
- Highlands (1A)
- Hiwassee Dam (1A)
- Nantahala (1A)
- Robbinsville (1A)
- Rosman (1A)
- Summit Charter (1A)
- Tri-County Early College (1A)
- Cherokee (2A)
- Hayesville (2A)
- Murphy (2A)
- Swain County (2A)
1A/2A/3A Conference A
- Bonnie Cone (1A) – Football only
- Thomas Jefferson (1A) – Football only
- Albemarle (2A)
- Gray Stone Day (2A)
- Mountain Island Charter (2A) – Football only
- North Rowan (2A)
- South Stanly (2A)
- North Stanly (3A)
- Union Academy (3A)
1A/2A/3A Conference B
- Bonnie Cone (1A)
- Carolina International (1A)
- Jackson Day (1A)
- NCSSM (Morganton) (1A)
- Thomas Jefferson (1A)
- Mountain Island Charter (2A)
- Queens Grant (2A)
- Sugar Creek (2A)
- Piedmont Community (3A)
1A Independent
- Eastern NC School for the Deaf
- North Carolina School for the Deaf
2A Conference 1
- Bertie (2A)
- Camden County (2A)
- Gates County (2A)
- John A. Holmes (2A)
- Manteo (2A)
- Perquimans County (2A)
2A/3A Conference A
- Tarboro (2A)
- Ayden-Grifton (3A)
- Beddingfield (3A)
- Farmville Central (3A)
- Greene Central (3A)
- Kinston (3A)
2A/3A Conference B
- Rosewood (2A)
- Goldsboro (3A)
- James Kenan (3A)
- Midway (3A)
- Princeton (3A)
- Spring Creek (3A)
- Wallace-Rose Hill (3A)
2A/3A Conference C
- Alleghany (2A)
- East Wilkes (2A)
- Elkin (2A)
- Starmount (2A)
- East Surry (3A)
- Mount Airy (3A)
2A/3A Conference D
- Avery (2A)
- Mitchell (2A)
- Hendersonville (3A)
- Madison (3A)
- Mountain Heritage (3A)
- Owen (3A)
- Polk County (3A)
2A/3A/4A Conference A
- American Leadership – Johnston (2A)
- Louisburg (3A)
- NCSSM Durham (3A)
- Wake Prep (3A)
- Bunn (4A)
- Nash Central (4A)
- Roanoke Rapids (4A)
2A/3A/4A Conference B
- Bradford Prep (2A)
- Christ The King (2A)
- Community School of Davidson (2A)
- Corvian Community (2A)
- Langtree Charter (2A)
- Pine Lake Prep (3A)
- Lake Norman Charter (4A)
- Lincoln Charter (4A)
2A/3A/4A Conference C
- Cherryville (2A)
- Highland Tech (2A)
- Bessemer City (3A)
- Lincolnton (3A)
- Shelby (3A)
- West Lincoln (3A)
- Burns (4A)
- East Gaston (4A)
- Stuart Cramer (4A)
3A Conference 1
- East Davidson (3A)
- Providence Grove (3A)
- Thomasville (3A)
- Trinity (3A)
- West Davidson (3A)
- Wheatmore (3A)
3A/4A Conference A
- Heide Trask (3A)
- Pender (3A)
- South Lenoir (3A)
- Clinton (4A)
- East Duplin (4A)
- Southwest Onslow (4A)
3A/4A Conference B
- Eastern Randolph (3A)
- North Moore (3A)
- Northwood (3A)
- Jordan-Matthews (4A)
- Southwestern Randolph (4A)
- Uwharrie Charter (4A)
3A/4A Conference C
- North Wilkes (3A)
- Surry Central (3A)
- West Wilkes (3A)
- Ashe County (4A)
- Forbush (4A)
- North Surry (4A)
- West Stokes (4A)
- Wilkes Central (4A)
3A/4A Conference D
- CHASE (3A)
- Draughn (3A)
- East Rutherford (3A)
- Patton (3A)
- West Caldwell (3A)
- East Burke (4A)
- Hibriten (4A)
- R-S Central (4A)
3A/4A/5A Conference A
- Hertford County (3A)
- Martin County (3A)
- Northeastern (3A)
- Pasquotank County (3A)
- First Flight (4A)
- Currituck County (5A)
3A/4A/5A Conference B
- South Columbus (3A)
- West Bladen (3A)
- Whiteville (3A)
- Fairmont (4A)
- Red Springs (4A)
- South Brunswick (5A)
3A/4A/5A Conference C
- Bartlett Yancey (3A)
- McMichael (3A)
- Walkertown (3A)
- Carver (4A)
- Morehead (4A)
- Reidsville (4A)
- Rockingham County (5A)
4A Conference 1
- Eastern Wayne (4A)
- North Johnston (4A)
- North Lenoir (4A)
- North Pitt (4A)
- SouthWest Edgecombe (4A)
- Washington (4A)
- West Craven (4A)
4A/5A Conference A
- Carrboro (4A)
- Cedar Ridge (5A)
- Durham School of the Arts (5A)
- Orange (5A)
- Seaforth (5A)
- South Granville (5A)
- Webb (5A)
4A/5A Conference B
- Central Davidson (4A)
- Ledford (4A)
- Lexington (4A)
- Randleman (4A)
- T.W. Andrews (4A)
- High Point Central (5A)
- Montgomery Central (5A)
4A/5A Conference C
- Anson (4A)
- Central Academy (4A)
- Mount Pleasant (4A)
- West Stanly (4A)
- Forest Hills (5A)
- Monroe (5A)
- Parkwood (5A)
4A/5A Conference D
- Salisbury (4A)
- South Rowan (4A)
- Concord (5A)
- East Rowan (5A)
- Jay M. Robinson (5A)
- Jesse Carson (5A)
- Northwest Cabarrus (5A)
- West Rowan (5A)
4A/5A Conference E
- Bandys (4A)
- Bunker Hill (4A)
- Fred T. Foard (4A)
- Maiden (4A)
- Newton-Conover (4A)
- West Iredell (4A)
- East Lincoln (5A)
- Hickory (5A)
- North Lincoln (5A)
4A/5A Conference F
- Brevard (4A)
- East Henderson (4A)
- Pisgah (4A)
- Tuscola (4A)
- Franklin (5A)
- North Henderson (5A)
- Smoky Mountain (5A)
West Henderson (5A)
4A/5A/6A Conference A
- Cummings (4A)
- Graham (4A)
- Eastern Alamance (5A)
- Person (5A)
- Southeast Alamance (5A)
- Western Alamance (5A)
- Southern Alamance (6A)
- Williams (6A)
5A Conference 1
- Croatan (5A)
- Dixon (5A)
- Havelock (5A)
- Northside (Jacksonville) (5A)
- Richlands (5A)
- West Carteret (5A)
5A/6A Conference A
- C.B. Aycock (5A)
- Fike (5A)
- Hunt (5A)
- Rocky Mount (5A)
- Southern Nash (5A)
- Southern Wayne (5A)
- Northern Nash (6A)
5A/6A Conference B
- Douglas Byrd (5A)
- St. Pauls (5A)
- E.E. Smith (6A)
- Seventy-First (6A)
- South View (6A)
- Westover (6A)
5A/6A Conference C
- Northeast Guilford (5A)
- Southern Guilford (5A)
- Asheboro (6A)
- Eastern Guilford (6A)
- Northern Guilford (6A)
- Southeast Guilford (6A)
5A/6A Conference D
- Atkins (5A)
- North Davidson (5A)
- North Forsyth (5A)
- Oak Grove (5A)
- Glenn (6A)
- Mount Tabor (6A)
5A/6A Conference E
- Crest (5A)
- Forestview (5A)
- Hunter Huss (5A)
- North Gaston (5A)
- South Point (5A)
- Ashbrook (6A)
- Kings Mountain (6A)
5A/6A Conference F
- Enka (5A)
- Erwin (5A)
- North Buncombe (5A)
- A.C. Reynolds (6A)
- Asheville (6A)
- T.C. Roberson (6A)
6A Conference 1
- Harnett Central (6A)
- Lee County (6A)
- South Johnston (6A)
- Southern Lee (6A)
- Triton (6A)
- Union Pines (6A)
- West Johnston (6A)
- Western Harnett (6A)
6A/7A Conference A
- J.H. Rose (6A)
- Jacksonville (6A)
- Swansboro (6A)
- White Oak (6A)
- D.H. Conley (7A)
- New Bern (7A)
- South Central (7A)
6A/7A Conference B
- Gray’s Creek (6A)
- Scotland County (6A)
- Terry Sanford (6A)
- Cape Fear (7A)
- Lumberton (7A)
- Purnell Swett (7A)
6A/7A Conference C
- Franklinton (6A)
- Vance County (6A)
- East Wake (7A)
- Heritage (7A)
- Knightdale (7A)
- Wake Forest (7A)
6A/7A Conference D
- Cardinal Gibbons (6A)
- Felton Grove (6A)
- Middle Creek (6A)
- Cary (7A)
- Holly Springs (7A)
- Sanderson (7A)
6A/7A Conference E
- East Chapel Hill (6A)
- Northern Durham (6A)
- Chapel Hill (7A)
- Hillside (7A)
- Riverside (7A)
- Southern Durham (7A)
6A/7A Conference F
- Ben L. Smith (6A)
- Dudley (6A)
- Ragsdale (6A)
- Western Guilford (6A)
- Grimsley (7A)
- Page (7A)
- Southwest Guilford (7A)
6A/7A Conference G
- Charlotte Catholic (6A)
- Piedmont (6A)
- Sun Valley (6A)
- Cuthbertson (7A)
- Marvin Ridge (7A)
- Porter Ridge (7A)
- Weddington (7A)
6A/7A Conference H
- Berry Academy (6A)
- Central Cabarrus (6A)
- Harding University (6A)
- Olympic (6A)
- A.L. Brown (7A)
- Cox Mill (7A)
- Hickory Ridge (7A)
- West Cabarrus (7A)
6A/7A Conference I
- North Iredell (6A)
- Statesville (6A)
- Davie County (7A)
- Lake Norman (7A)
- Mooresville (7A)
- South Iredell (7A)
6A/7A Conference J
- Alexander Central (6A)
- Freedom (6A)
- South Caldwell (6A)
- St. Stephens (6A)
- Watauga (6A)
- McDowell (7A)
6A/7A/8A Conference A
- West Brunswick (6A)
- Ashley (7A)
- New Hanover (7A)
- North Brunswick (7A)
- Topsail (7A)
- Hoggard (8A)
Laney (8A)
7A Conference 1
- Clayton (7A)
- Cleveland (7A)
- Fuquay-Varina (7A)
- Garner (7A)
- Smithfield-Selma (7A)
- South Garner (7A)
- Southeast Raleigh (7A)
7A/8A Conference A
- Jack Britt (7A)
- Overhills (7A)
- Pine Forest (7A)
- Richmond (7A)
- Hoke County (8A)
- Pinecrest (8A)
7A/8A Conference B
- East Forsyth (7A)
- Parkland (7A)
- R.J. Reynolds (7A)
- Reagan (7A)
- Northwest Guilford (8A)
- West Forsyth (8A)
7A/8A Conference C
- Butler (7A)
- Independence (7A)
- North Mecklenburg (7A)
- Chambers (8A)
- Mallard Creek (8A)
- West Charlotte (8A)
7A/8A Conference D
- Hopewell (7A)
- West Mecklenburg (7A)
- Garinger (8A)
- Hough (8A)
- Myers Park (8A)
- South Mecklenburg (8A)
7A/8A Conference E
- Ballantyne Ridge (7A)
- Rocky River (7A)
- Ardrey Kell (8A)
- East Mecklenburg (8A)
- Palisades (8A)
- Providence (8A)
8A Conference 1
- Athens Drive (8A)
- Broughton (8A)
- Corinth Holders (8A)
- Enloe (8A)
- Leesville Road (8A)
- Millbrook (8A)
- Rolesville (8A)
- Wakefield (8A)
8A Conference 2
- Apex (8A)
- Apex Friendship (8A)
- Green Hope (8A)
- Green Level (8A)
- Jordan (8A)
- Panther Creek (8A)
- Willow Spring (8A)
