THOMASVILLE – The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Board of Trustees “highly recommends” that the current classification system be reduced from eight to six. 

There was overwhelming support for the six classification system during Wednesday’s special called meeting. A motion, which was passed unanimously, was made and seconded to add an agenda item to the spring meeting of the GHSA Executive Committee in April.

“Travel comes up time and time again,” said GHSA Executive Director Robin Hines. “And losing 17 schools did not help that issue. I would like us not to commit to going back to six classifications the next time we reclassify, which will put more teams in each region and help with travel.”

The six classification system is recommended for the 2024-26 school years and would help reduce travel, especially with South Georgia schools.

The meeting addressed Georgia’s SB 328, which would require the GHSA to pay for schools’ travel when it exceeds 75 miles. Last fall, Thomasville was realigned to Class AAA beginning next school year, joining Carver-Columbus and Columbus and Crisp County in Region 1. It is approximately 145 miles from Thomasville to Columbus.

The six classification system would still maintain the Division 1 and Division 2 splits in Class A.

The current eight classification system has been in place since 2016.