Macon schools get final new classifications, first look at new regions

The first round of appeals for reclassification with the GHSA was not a good one for the four-dozen-plus schools interested in a change.

They batted 32.7%, compared to almost double that rate two years ago.

Middle Georgia schools didn’t fare as well as usual. Westside and Howard appeals to move down from 4A were denied, as was Washington County’s hope to drop down from 3A. But Central (from 5A to 3A), Putnam County (3A to 2A) and Twiggs County (2A to A) were approved.

That’s not good news for Westside football — in the market for a new head coach with the impending end of Spoon Risper’s career with the Seminoles — or Howard football, which is coming off its worst season since 2016.

The Huskies are in the second year in 3A after a decade in 4A, while the Seminoles have bounced between 4A and 3A in the last several reclassification cycles before a move to 2A recently.

Central has had its appeals approved in recent years because of an enrollment bolstered by its IB program and unrelated to sports. The Chargers’ performance on the football field of late has impacted the appeals as well.

Central, which was in 3A from 2010-2021, is with three other Bibb County public schools teams in 2A and 3A.

Upon hearing Monday’s appeals, the GHSA set about to put the 450-plus schools into specific regions, and posted the first look at new regions — the regions are not finalized yet — that evening.

Conversations about further appeals then commenced.

The return of a Class 7A and elimination of divisions in Class A spread things out. Teams may be in a higher classification but against familiar teams. The difference in classifications will likely show more in the postseason

Central and current Region 2-A Division I opponents Northeast and Southwest remain together in Region 2-3A, while being joined by Rutland from 2A.

Westside trades one Bibb County public school rival, Rutland, for another, returning to region play with Howard on the schedule. The two were in the same region from 2020-2023.

They pick up a chunk of Middle Georgia region opponents in what would be a stacked region for football: Baldwin, Mary Persons, Peach County and Upson-Lee.

ACE Charter, meanwhile, lost county opponents as it moved to Region 2-2A but keeps current region rivals Bleckley County, Dodge County, Dublin and East Laurens.

The next step is for schools to appeal for a lateral region move. It’s doubtful any Bibb County schools will appeal, since there remain local and geographic advantages to their new regions.

Another key change is that none of the Bibb County teams are in a massive, 10-team region like those currently in Region 2-A/Division I, which had room for only one non-region football game and limited non-region opponents in other sports.

Area teams for the most part avoided large regions allowing for minimal non-region games.

THE NEW CLASSIFICATIONS AND REGIONS (Macon teams bolded):

Class 4A

Region 2

Baldwin

Howard

Mary Persons

Peach County

Spalding

Troup

Upson-Lee

Westside

Class 3A

Region 2

Callaway

Central

Jackson

Lamar County

Northeast

Pike County

Rutland

Southwest

Class 2A

Region 2

ACE Charter

Bleckley County

Dodge County

Dublin

East Laurens

Vidalia