SCISA locks in teams for latest reclassification. Here’s the plan
The South Carolina Independent School Association gave its members a first look Tuesday at what the league’s realigned classifications will look like for the next two years.
The 2026-28 realignment was released to SCISA schools on Tuesday. There was no movement for area schools Hammond, Heathwood Hall, Ben Lippen, Cardinal Newman, who all will stay in Class 4A for all sports.
Northside Christian in Lexington will stay in 3A for football and 4A in all other sports. Richard Winn, WW King and Newberry Academy will stay in 8-man football and Class A for other sports.
The biggest moves in the realignment statewide for football are with Pinewood Prep in Charleston and John Paul II in Ridgeland. Both will move up to Class 4A for football.
Pinewood, which is coached by former South Carolina standout DeVonte Holloman, has won back-to-back Class 3A championships. It will be the first time John Paul II is in Class 4A for football.
There will be 10 teams in 4A football, up from nine in the last realignment. Camden Military will be in 4A flex, meaning Complete schedule of games from all four classes but ineligible for playoffs.
Bethesda (Georgia), the Class A football champions, are seeking to move up to Class 3A.
Catawba Westminster, located in Rock Hill, is joining SCISA after playing in a private school league in North Carolina. Catawba doesn’t have a football team and will be in Class 3A for other sports.
All moves are pending appeals by the schools.
SCISA realignment numbers are based on boys eighth through 12th grade for football. With other sports, the total of boys and girls eighth through 11th grade are factored in.
SCISA FOOTBALL CLASSIFICATIONS
Listed with number of boys ...
Class 4A: Porter-Gaud 231; Ben Lippen 217; Cardinal Newman 193; Hammond 174; Laurence Manning 153; Pinewood Prep 145; Heathwood Hall 139; Augusta Christian 132; Northwood 130; John Paul II 129
4A Flex: Camden Military 155
Class 3A: Wilson Hall 121; Hilton Head Christian 119; First Baptist 116; Trinity Collegiate 105; Northside Christian 101; Hilton Head Prep 101; Florence Christian 95; Spartanburg Christian 88; Thomas Sumter 83
Class 2A: Colleton Prep 75; Williamsburg Academy 75; St. John’s Christian 72; Pee Dee Academy 72; Greenwood Christian 65; Orangeburg Prep 62; Patrick Henry 61; Spartanburg Day 61; Calhoun Academy 60; Cross Schools 60
Class A: Bethesda 55 (appealing to move to 3A); Clarendon Hall 54; Beaufort Academy 53; Dillon Christian 51; Lee Academy 49; Holly Hill Academy 49; Dorchester Academy 46; Carolina Academy 45; Thomas Heyward 40
8-Man: Laurens Academy 41; Jefferson Davis 41; Community Christian 41; Andrew Jackson 41; WW King 40; Cambridge Academy 31; Newberry Academy 28; Richard Winn 27; Wardlaw 22
Want to play 8-Man: Palmetto Christian 82; Cathedral 71; The King’s Academy 57
SCISA REGION CLASSIFICATIONS (ALL SPORTS BUT FOOTBALL)
With total number of boys and girls eighth through 11th grade submitted by the school
Class 4A: Ben Lippen 430; Porter-Gaud 415; Cardinal Newman 366; Hammond 334; Heathwood Hall 299; Laurence Manning 286; Northwood 280; Pinewood Prep 275; John Paul II 261; Hilton Head Christian 252; Wilson Hall 229; Augusta Christian 223; Northside Christian 203; Trinity Collegiate 200; First Baptist 193; Hilton Head Prep 191; Ashley Hall 175 (all girls); Camden Military 155 (all boys)
Class 3A: Palmetto Christian 181; Westminster Catawba 181; Florence Christian 174; Thomas Sumter 172; Spartanburg Christian 166; Spartanburg Day 151; Greenwood Christian 144; Williamsburg Academy 144; Calhoun Academy 136; Pee Dee Academy 135; First Presbyterian 131; Colleton Prep 127; Clarendon Hall 124; Orangeburg Prep 122; Cathedral 119; Cross Schools 119
Class 2A: Charleston Collegiate 112; St. John’s Christian 110; Christian Academy 109; The King’s Academy 101; Patrick Henry 100; Dillon Christian 99; Marlboro Academy 99; Dorchester Academy 97; Carolina Academy 96; Oakbrook Prep 91; Lee Academy 90; Community Christian 89; Holly Hill 89; Our Lady of the Rosary 88; Faith Christian 86; Beaufort Academy 85; Andrew Jackson Academy 85; Conway Christian 82
Class A: Laurens Academy 79; Jefferson Davis 77; Thomas Heyward 77; Curtis Baptist 75; Mead Hall 72; 71; Crown Leadership 68; WW King 67; Richard Winn 64; Cambridge Academy 62; Bethesda 56; Newberry Academy 54; Anderson Christian 53; Wardlaw 50; Valorous Academy 46; Ragin Prep 44; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 43; Emmanuel Christian 43; Sandhills School 40; Holy Trinity 37; South Aiken Baptist 33; Ridge Christian 31; Covenant Classical 30; Lowcountry Prep 27; North Myrtle Beach Christian 22; Thomas Hart Academy 6
This story was originally published January 13, 2026 at 11:09 AM.
