NCHSAA releases third draft of 2025-29 conference realignment plan

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.

Biggest shake-ups:

1A East
super charter conference in the 704
Cumberland schools reorganize
new conferences formed as 9-team leagues get cut back here & there
Asheville area reorganizes too https://t.co/6Ed297kPNp — J. Mike Blake – HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) (@JMBpreps) February 14, 2025

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)