ORDER GAME PHOTOS

It turns out that Idaho's classification system will be undergoing changes after all.

Throughout the summer, the Idaho High School Activities Association's Board heard arguments for and against reconfiguring Idaho's six classifications based upon enrollment numbers.

After narrowly passing first reading in June by a 7-6 vote, the proposal failed on second reading in August by two votes.  The Board voted against the proposal despite an informal survey that showed approximately 75% of Idaho schools were in favor of the changes.

In a stunning reversal, Idaho's superintendents used a seldom-used rule to supersede the Board's decision.

Ririe Athletic Director Matt Harris detailed the procedure on his X account, stating:

"Section 5 of the IHSAA Bylaws allow for the member schools to bring forth a 'member initiative', which could override what was voted on regarding classifications.'

IHSAA Executive Director Ty Jones revealed the results of the voting statewide at a brief meeting held on September 5th.  Here are those results, with the schools voting in favor of the changes:

CLASS 5A - 14 of 21 schools (67%)
CLASS 4A - 18 of 27 schools (67%)
CLASS 3A - 10 of 17 schools (59%)
CLASS 2A - 17 of 25 schools (68%)
CLASS 1A - 41 of 62 schools (66%)

In total, 100 of 152 schools (or 66%) voted for the newly proposed classification system.

Here's an additional look at how voting shook out, this time by district:

District 1 - 2 of 13 (15%)
District 2 - 6 of 17 (35%)
District 3 - 40 of 49 (82%)
District 4 - 25 of 31 (81%)
District 5 - 8 of 17 (47%)
District 6 - 14 of 25 (56%)

The newly proposed enrollment parameters were constructed via a committee, headlined by Timberline (Boise) Athletic Director Tol Gropp.  Here are what the new enrollment parameters will look like:

With these new changes in place, here's what Idaho's landscape will look like for the 2024-26 cycle.  Teams that are changing classifications are listed in bold font.

CLASS 6A (22 schools)

Inland Empire League (District 1)

Coeur d'Alene
Lake City
Post Falls

Southern Idaho Conference (District 3)

Boise
Borah
Caldwell
Capital
Centennial
Eagle
Kuna
Meridian
Mountain View
Nampa
Owyhee
Ridgevue
Rocky Mountain
Timberline (Boise)

High Country Conference (Districts 4-5-6)

Canyon Ridge
Highland (Pocatello)
Madison
Rigby
Thunder Ridge


CLASS 5A (25 schools)

Inland Empire League (Districts 1-2)

Lakeland
Lewiston
Moscow
Sandpoint

Southern Idaho Conference (District 3)

Bishop Kelly
Columbia
Emmett
Middleton
Skyview
Vallivue

Great Basin Conference (District 4)

Burley
Jerome
Minico
Mountain Home
Twin Falls
Wood River

South East Idaho Conference (District 5)

Century
Pocatello
Preston

High Country Conference (District 6)

Blackfoot
Bonneville
Hillcrest
Idaho Falls
Shelley
Skyline


CLASS 4A (19 schools)

Intermountain League (District 1)

Bonners Ferry
Timberlake

Snake River Valley Conference (District 3)

Cole Valley Christian
Fruitland
Homedale
McCall-Donnelly
Payette
Weiser

Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference (District 4)

Buhl
Filer
Gooding
Kimberly

South East Idaho Conference (District 5)

American Falls
Bear Lake
Marsh Valley
Snake River

Mountain Rivers Conference (District 6)

South Fremont
Sugar-Salem
Teton


CLASS 3A (26 schools)

Central Idaho League (Districts 1-2)

Coeur d'Alene Charter
Grangeville
Kellogg
Orofino
Priest River
St. Maries

Western Idaho Conference (District 3)

Ambrose
Compass Charter
Marsing
Melba
Nampa Christian
New Plymouth
Parma
Vision Charter

Canyon Conference (District 4)

Declo
Sun Valley Community School
Wendell

South East Idaho Conference (District 5)

Aberdeen
Malad
Soda Springs
West Side

Nuclear Conference (District 6)

Firth
North Fremont
Ririe
Salmon
West Jefferson


CLASS 2A (32 schools)

Scenic Idaho League (District 1)

Clark Fork
Genesis Prep
Lakeside
Wallace

Whitepine League (District 2)

Clearwater Valley
Kamiah
Kendrick
Lapwai
Logos
Potlatch
Prairie
Troy

Western Idaho Conference (District 3)

Council
Idaho City
Liberty Charter
North Star Charter
Notus
Riverstone
Victory Charter
Wilder

Snake River Conference (District 4)

Glenns Ferry
Hagerman
Hansen
Lighthouse Christian
Murtaugh
Oakley
Raft River
Shoshone
Valley

High Desert Conference (Districts 5-6)

Butte County
Challis
Grace


CLASS 1A (32 schools)

North Star League (District 1)

Kootenai
Mullan

Whitepine League (District 2)

Deary
Genesee
Highland (Craigmont)
Nezperce
St. John Bosco
Timberline (Weippe)

Long Pin Conference (District 3)

Cascade
Centennial Baptist
Garden Valley
Gem State
Greenleaf Friends
Horseshoe Bend
Meadows Valley
Rimrock
Salmon River
Tri-Valley

Sawtooth Conference (District 4)

Camas County
Carey
Castleford
Dietrich
Richfield

Rocky Mountain Conference (Districts 5-6)

Clark County
Grace Lutheran
Leadore
Mackay
North Gem
Rockland
Sho-Ban
Taylor's Crossing
Watersprings