6 South Mississippi schools move up a class after MHSAA shakes up regional athletics
The Mississippi High School Activities Association has released the new classifications and regions for the academic years 2023-2025.
This was the first time the reclassification was based on ninth through 11th grade enrollment figures only in order to get a more accurate picture of school sizes over a two-year period.
Six South Mississippi schools are moving up to the brand new seventh classification, causing a significant shakeup in how athletic regions look across the Coast.
Here’s which class every school landed within, including the newest official enrollment figures for each school:
7A
- Ocean Springs: 1,456
- Gulfport: 1,325
- Biloxi: 1,305
- Harrison Central: 1,204
- D’Iberville: 1,100
- St. Martin: 1,018
6A
- Hancock: 944
- West Harrison: 911
- Pascagoula: 904
- George County: 825
- Pearl River Central: 780
- Picayune: 763
- Long Beach: 714
5A
- Gautier: 683
- East Central: 558
- Vancleave: 558
- Stone: 544
4A
- Pass Christian: 477
- Poplarville: 437
- Bay High: 398
- Moss Point: 347
3A
- St. Stanislaus: 340
- St. Patrick: 334
- Our Lady Academy: 246
1A
- Resurrection
In total, 12 South Mississippi schools are moving up a class while St. Patrick is returning to an MHSAA schedule after a year off as an independent.
The regions and rivalries have shifted across the state and the same goes for the schools around the Coast. The 24 football-playing schools are spread out among seven different regions.
Here’s a look at the new football districts beginning next season.
R4-7A
- Biloxi
- D’Iberville
- Gulfport
- Harrison Central
- Ocean Springs
- St. Martin
R3-6A
- Forest Hill
- Hattiesburg
- Jim Hill
- Pearl River Central
- Terry
- West Jones
R4-6A
- George County
- Hancock
- Long Beach
- Picayune
- Pascagoula
- West Harrison
R4-5A
- East Central
- Gautier
- Laurel
- Stone
- Vancleave
- Wayne County
R8-4A
- Bay High
- Greene County
- Moss Point
- Pass Christian
- Poplarville
R8-3A
- Perry Central
- St Patrick
- St Stanislaus
- Tylertown
- West Marion
R8-1A
- East Marion
- Enterprise
- Lumberton
- Resurrection
- Sacred Heart
- Salem Attendance Center
Click here to see the new basketball and baseball regions.
This story was originally published November 3, 2022 at 3:01 PM.
