For as long as I can remember, the FHSAA has divided schools into various classifications based solely on student population at each school. Under that setup, teams were competing in the playoffs against schools of a similar size (with one glaring issue - they've always used TOTAL number of students, so a public school with 800 students, roughly split evenly so having 400 boys, would be in the same classification as a private, all-boys school that had 800 boys).
For this season and next, they've first divided schools into two classifications - Metro and Suburban (there's also a "rural" classification for very small, private schools). The Metro consists of all schools in the 8 most highly populated counties. The Suburban classification is all schools in the other 59 counties. Both the Metro and Suburban classifications are the split into 4 divisions apiece, based on student enrollment.
The idea is an attempt at leveling the playing field after the State legislature made it far easier for a kid to use the "school choice" rules to go to a school other than where he is zoned based on residence. There are some who believe it's made it far easier for "football factory" type schools in larger population areas to cherry-pick most of the premier athletes from there general area.
It will be interesting to see how it works out; there was a lot of heated discussion leading up to the vote on the new classification system. A lot of coaches/administrators - especially those from programs who did well under the old rules - hate the idea.
For this season and next, they've first divided schools into two classifications - Metro and Suburban (there's also a "rural" classification for very small, private schools). The Metro consists of all schools in the 8 most highly populated counties. The Suburban classification is all schools in the other 59 counties. Both the Metro and Suburban classifications are the split into 4 divisions apiece, based on student enrollment.
The idea is an attempt at leveling the playing field after the State legislature made it far easier for a kid to use the "school choice" rules to go to a school other than where he is zoned based on residence. There are some who believe it's made it far easier for "football factory" type schools in larger population areas to cherry-pick most of the premier athletes from there general area.
It will be interesting to see how it works out; there was a lot of heated discussion leading up to the vote on the new classification system. A lot of coaches/administrators - especially those from programs who did well under the old rules - hate the idea.
Football Classifications Available for 2022-23 & 2023-24
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In February, the FHSAA Board of Directors voted to restructure Policy 12 for football classifications. Moving from an eight (8) class, enrollment only separation component, to organizing into three (3) divisions; Metro, Suburban, and Rural, and then factoring in enrollment...
fhsaa.com