WA high school classification numbers finalized. Here’s what new leagues could look like
The dust has nearly settled. Soon, league affiliations will be concrete. Classification numbers for the 2024-28 cycle have been finalized by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).
Some schools are moving up, some are moving down. In the South Sound, these schools are moving up:
- Auburn (4A from 3A)
- Auburn Riverside (4A from 3A)
- Yelm (4A from 3A)
- Bonney Lake (4A from 3A)
- Spanaway Lake (4A from 3A)
- Stadium (4A from 3A)
- Enumclaw (3A from 2A)
- White River (3A from 2A)
- Shelton (3A from 2A)
- Eatonville (2A from 1A)
Bellarmine Prep, a private school in Tacoma with 2A enrollment, has long opted up to Class 4A. Bellarmine is opting up instead to 3A this time around. Tacoma public schools Silas and Mount Tahoma, which both have 2A enrollment, also are opting up to 3A. Kent-Meridian, which has 3A enrollment this cycle, successfully appealed to 3A. Federal Way, previously in 4A, is moving down to 3A.
Bonney Lake, Spanaway Lake and Yelm are likely joining the 4A SPSL. Bellarmine, which is moving down to 3A, will join the new 3A league in the South Sound, a merger of the 3A South Sound Conference and the 3A Pierce County League. The new league will likely include Central Kitsap, Peninsula, Gig Harbor, Bellarmine, Mount Tahoma, Silas, Lincoln, Lakes, North Thurston, Timberline and River Ridge.
Shelton, which had its appeal to stay in 2A denied, is moving up to 3A and finds itself in no man’s land geographically. Shelton athletic director Scott Chamberlain told the TNT on Monday that Shelton will continue to compete in the Class 2A Evergreen Conference and will go its separate way in the postseason, competing in 3A district and state tournaments.
“The competition level (in the 2A EvCo) is good for us, the travel is good for us,” Chamberlain said. “They were willing to take us. Now we’ve got some work to do for what postseason looks like.”
Eatonville, which competed in the 1A Evergreen last cycle, plans to move to the 2A South Puget Sound League, which is losing White River and Enumclaw. White River and Enumclaw are likely headed to the 3A North Puget Sound League, replacing Auburn and Auburn Riverside, which will move to the 4A NPSL.
Stadium, which lost its appeal to remain in 3A with the other Tacoma public schools, is targeting a move to the 4A NPSL, a source told the TNT, but Stadium could still end up in the 4A SPSL. Federal Way, which competed in 4A last cycle, is moving to the 3A NPSL.
Here’s what some of the new local leagues could look like:
4A NPSL
Auburn
Auburn Riverside
Kennedy Catholic
Kentridge
Kentwood
Mount Rainier
Stadium (TBD)
Tahoma
4A SPSL
NORTH DIVISION
Bonney Lake
Curtis
Puyallup
Rogers
South Kitsap
Sumner
SOUTH DIVISION
Bethel
Emerald Ridge
Graham-Kapowsin
Olympia
Spanaway Lake
Yelm
3A NPSL
Auburn Mountainview
Decatur
Enumclaw
Federal Way
Kent-Meridian
Kentlake
Thomas Jefferson
Todd Beamer
White River
NEW 3A LEAGUE (name TBD)
NORTH DIVISION
Central Kitsap
Silas
Bellarmine
Mount Tahoma
Lincoln
Gig Harbor
SOUTH DIVISION
Timberline
Capital
River Ridge
North Thurston
Peninsula
Lakes
2A SPSL
Clover Park
Eatonville
Fife
Foss
Franklin Pierce
Orting
Steilacoom
Washington
2A EvCo
Aberdeen
Black Hills
Centralia
Shelton (3A)
Tumwater
W.F. West
1A Nisqually
Annie Wright
Bellevue Christian
Cascade Christian
Charles Wright
East Jefferson
Klahowya
Life Christian
Seattle Christian
Vashon Island
League affiliation across the state is expected to be finalized by the end of January.
This story was originally published January 22, 2024 at 2:51 PM.
