The top athletic classification in South Carolina, Class 5A, will be split into two divisions for the next two seasons following a 12-1 vote by the S.C. High School League's executive committee. The split will result in Class 5A crowning two state champions instead of one, with Division I consisting of the largest schools and Division II comprising the remaining schools. This change only impacts playoffs, while regions and regular-season play will remain the same.

By the Numbers
  • 36 schools were part of Class 5A in the previous realignment, which has now increased to 54 schools.
  • There will be eight regions in Class 5A, with unique playoff designations for Upper State and Lower State teams.
Yes, But

The split of Class 5A into two divisions may pose logistical challenges, particularly in organizing venues and schedules for the playoffs.

State of Play
  • Class 5A will have two divisions for the 2024-26 school years, enhancing competition and opportunities for schools in the state's largest classification.
  • The realignment maintains the existing regions and regular-season structure, focusing the split solely on the post-season playoffs.
What's Next

The new divisional setup in Class 5A is expected to bring heightened excitement and competitiveness to high school sports in South Carolina, with schools gearing up for the revised playoff format.

Bottom Line

Splitting Class 5A into two divisions signifies a significant shift in the state's top high school sports classification, aiming to offer a more balanced and competitive playing field with dual state champions while maintaining the integrity of regular-season matchups.