In an effort to address competitive imbalances in high school sports, the NJSIAA has formed an Enrollment/Classification Committee to examine public school enrollment policies beyond traditional geographic boundaries. The dominance of non-traditional public schools in recent state basketball tournaments has prompted this necessary evaluation.

By the Numbers
  • College Achieve won the state boys Group I championship with a 39.8-point average margin in playoffs.
  • University won the state Group I girls championship with a 43.3-point average margin in playoffs.
Yes, But

The potential implementation of a "super group" for elite teams might face resistance and complexities in ensuring fair competition across different enrollment groups.

State of Play
  • The Enrollment/Classification Committee, primarily comprising school superintendents, will convene for its first meeting this month.
  • NJSIAA's executive director, Colleen Maguire, aims to gather feedback and ideas from stakeholders across the state to guide potential changes in the enrollment group system.
What's Next

Following the committee's meeting, decisions and potential revisions to the enrollment group system will be more defined, impacting competitive integrity in high school sports across New Jersey.

Bottom Line

The establishment of the Enrollment/Classification Committee signifies a crucial step towards rectifying competitive disparities in high school sports, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation and potential overhaul of enrollment policies to ensure fair and balanced competition.