Cherokee County teams not affected by UIL realignment

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) is the largest inter-school organization of its kind, providing educational extracurricular academic, athletic and music contests for public school students.

Every two years, the UIL reassesses the classification and alignment of schools for the purpose of creating equitable competition with schools of comparable size.

Texas schools are currently placed in one of six conferences in order of enrollment, 6A, 5A, 4A 3A, 2A and 1A.

The 2020-2022 realignments will be complete and districts announced on Feb. 3, 2020.

The UIL has released preliminary numbers based on enrollment figures submitted by school districts on Oct. 25.

Conferences will be divided as follows (previous numbers in parenthesis):

- 6A – 2220 and above, 245 schools;

- 5A – 1230-2219 (1210-2219), 255 schools;

- 4A – 515-1229 (515-1209), 205 schools;

- 3A – 230-514, 235 schools;

- 2A – 105-229, 201 schools; and

- 1A – 104.9 and below, 208 schools.

Division I and Division II numbers for 1A-5A conference football are:

- 1A Division I: 59.5-104.9, 77 schools;

- 1A Division II: 59:4 and below, 76 schools;

- 2A Division I: 165.5-229, 97 schools;

- 2A Division II: 105-165.4, 93 schools;

- 3A Division I: 350-514, 105 schools;

- 3A Division II: 230-349, 106 schools;

- 4A Division I: 880-1220 (865-1209), 93 schools;

- 4A Division II: 515-879 (515-864), 93 schools;

- 5A Division I: 1922-2219 (1900-2219), 128 schools; and

- 5A Division II:1230-1921 (1210-1899), 125 schools.

According to the information already released by UIL regarding classifications, all Cherokee County schools will remain in their current classes, although some district opponents may be different once districts are announced.

Alto remains under 2A-1 classification.

Their current football district opponents remain under the same classification with the exception of Cushing, which has been named a 2A-2 school.

Bullard and Rusk remain under the 4A-2 designation with their opponents Brownsboro, Canton and Wills Point also continuing in the same class.

Jacksonville will remain a 5A-2 school along with competitors Hallsville, Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Nacogdoches, Pine Tree and Whitehouse.

Due to lower enrollment numbers Lindale has dropped to a 4A-1 classification.

Troup will remain under a 3A-2 designation along with current district opponents Arp, Grand Saline, Harmony, Quitman and Winona. Alba-Golden and Frankston have both been reclassified 2A-1.

Although New Summerfield and Wells have no football teams, they will remain under their current classifications for other sports – 2A and 1A, respectively.

Despite teams remaining under the same classifications as the current designations, district opponents are subject to change. The 2020-2022 district alignments will be released Monday, Feb. 3, for basketball, football and volleyball.

District alignments for other activities will be released in the order of their seasons.

Preliminary numbers and additional information regarding UIL alignments can be found online at uil.texas.org/alignments.