The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) recently announced new school classifications for the 2026-27 academic year, which will move 38 schools into different divisions for postseason tournaments.
These changes are driven by updated enrollment numbers submitted by schools earlier this year.
Key Highlights of the 2026-27 Reclassification
- Total Moves: 38 schools will change classes (A, B, C, or D) or divisions (1-8 for football) compared to the current school year.
- Enrollment Range: The MHSAA sets classification breaks based on total member schools. For 2026-27, the breaks are:
- Class A: 811 students and above (187 schools)
- Class B: 385–810 students (187 schools)
- Class C: 176–384 students (187 schools)
- Class D: 175 students and below (188 schools)
- Football Divisions: These enrollment numbers also dictate the eight divisions for the football playoffs, where each division consists of 1/8th of the schools that sponsor football.
Example School Changes (Based on Preliminary Lists)
While the full list covers nearly 40 schools, several notable shifts reported by MLive and local outlets include:
| School [3, 12] | Move Direction | New Division/Class |
|---|---|---|
| Traverse City St. Francis | Up | Division 6 |
| Constantine | Down | Division 7 |
| Montrose Hill-McCloy | Up | Division 6 |
| New Lothrop | Down | Division 8 |
| Standish-Sterling | Up | Division 5 |
| Pontiac Arts and Tech | Up | Division 7 |
Purpose of Reclassification
The MHSAA re-evaluates these numbers annually to ensure “level playing fields” for postseason play. Schools with significant enrollment growth are moved up to face larger competition, while those with declining enrollment are moved down to balance the brackets.