IHSAA sets its new classifications. 28 schools will change divisions next year
Idaho’s high school sports governing body set the classifications teams will play in for the next two school years Tuesday, providing clarity to a flurry of changes for the state’s athletes, schools and leagues.
Twenty-eight of the state’s schools will have classification changes in sports starting in the 2026-27 school year. The Idaho High School Activities Association finalized that number after its board ruled on 56 appeals from 27 schools Tuesday at its meeting in Idaho Falls.
Student population still remains the starting point for Idaho’s classifications, but schools can appeal their assignment. IHSAA board president Shawn Tiegs noted those appeals are now final.
“This process is an appeal of that original ruling, so it truly is an appeal already,” Tiegs said during Tuesday’s meeting. “We do not plan to accept follow-up appeals that are still based on the merits of this current appeal.”
The Idaho Statesman broke down all the schools and teams changing divisions next fall below.
CENTENNIAL
Although the majority of the Patriots’ sports team will compete in the 6A classification, the IHSAA board approved Centennial’s football and girls basketball moves down to 5A.
The football team received unanimous approval after going a combined 15-81 (.156) at the varsity level the last 11 seasons and 4-32 (.111) at all levels the past two years.
The girls basketball program received a closer vote, 8-6, after going 14-30 (.318) at the varsity level and 17-74 (.187) across all levels the past two years.
MIDDLETON
The Vikings will end their split identity, joining the 6A classification for all athletic programs starting in the fall of 2026.
Middleton previously petitioned up in football and baseball, and its girls basketball program will play in the 6A SIC this winter. But a growing enrollment (1,466.5 students) comfortably pushed the Vikings above the 1,399-student maximum for 5A.
CAPITAL
Both of the Eagles’ soccer programs received approval to drop to the 5A level. The varsity girls soccer program is on a 29-game winless streak, while the boys program is a combined 7-50-1 (.123) the past two years at the varsity and junior varsity levels.
RIDGEVUE
The IHSAA board approved all four of the Warhawks’ requests to play in 5A with 6A enrollment numbers (1,649).
Ridgevue’s girls soccer and softball programs received unanimous approval to move from 6A to 5A starting next school year. The football program also received a 12-2 approval to remain in the 5A SIC. But it took a tiebreaker vote for the boys soccer program to drop to 5A.
CANYON RIDGE
The IHSAA granted waivers for all but one of the Warhawks’ team sports — boys soccer — to play in 5A with 6A enrollment numbers (1,434.5). Its individual sports, like golf, tennis and cross country, will remain in 6A.
Only Canyon Ridge’s girls basketball (.162) and softball (.194) squads met the IHSAA winning percentage guidelines to move down. But the Twin Falls-based school cited travel concerns to move down, and all current members of the 5A Great Basin Conference signed a letter supporting Canyon Ridge’s return in every sport but boys and girls soccer.
CALDWELL
The Cougars will become a 5A program for all sports starting next fall thanks to falling enrollment. Caldwell hosted an average of 1,398.5 students in the last state enrollment count, falling just under the 5A maximum by 1.5 students. Caldwell previously petitioned down in all sports but boys soccer and their individual sports. Now all teams will become part of the 5A Southern Idaho Conference
NAMPA
The Bulldogs’ declining enrollment (1,303 students) placed them in the 5A classification for all sports, ending their current split, which saw individual sports like wrestling and track compete in 6A.
All but girls soccer will reunite in the 5A SIC next school year. That program received a unanimous IHSAA exemption to drop to the 4A classification after entering the school year on a 34-game losing streak and forfeiting its 5A SIC conference schedule this fall.
EMMETT
The Huskies spent 24 of the past 26 years in what’s now known as the 5A SIC. But declining enrollment pushed Emmett back down to the 4A level, where it rejoins the Snake River Valley conference and will become the state’s largest school in that classification, with an average of 683.5 students in the last state count.
Emmett previously spent two years in the classification from 2014-15 to 2015-16, winning the program’s only state football title in 2015.
PRESTON
Another enrollment drop moves the Southeast Idaho school down to the 4A classification next fall for the first time since the 2003-04 school year. Preston averaged 679.5 students in the last state count, falling under the 4A maximum (699) and making it the second largest school in the division.
That spells trouble for the state’s 4A boys basketball programs as the Indians built a powerhouse on the hardwood, capturing five state titles in the past 10 years.
SHELLEY
The Russets’ baseball program has long struggled, posting an 18-87 (.171) varsity record in the past five years. Shelley was allowed to drop from 5A to 4A in baseball only.
WOOD RIVER
The Wolverines’ boys basketball program will join its girls basketball and football programs at the 4A level starting next fall after posting a .149 winning percentage across all levels the past two seasons.
BUHL
The Indians will drop to 3A by the thinnest of margins. Buhl had 349.5 students in the state enrollment count last school year. The max for 3A is 349. But IHSAA rules round fractions down, allowing Buhl to become the largest school in the classification.
PAYETTE
The Pirates considered petitioning to remain in the 4A SRV, Payette Athletic Director Jeremy Burgess told the Statesman. But the school opted to follow its enrollment numbers (345), which allow it to drop into the 3A classification in all sports next fall.
MARSH VALLEY
The Eagles drop to the 3A division in all sports after falling under the division’s max (349) with an average of 330.5 students in the last count. They will join the 2A Southeast Idaho Conference with Aberdeen, Malad, Soda Springs and West Side.
VISION CHARTER
The Golden Eagles will move up to the 3A WIC in girls basketball, becoming a 3A program in all sports. The Caldwell-based school tried to petition all team sports down to the 2A classification. All were rejected either by the IHSAA or the state’s superintendents.
NORTH STAR CHARTER
The Huskies will move up to the 3A WIC next school year in all sports but one — football. If North Star Charter fields its first football team next fall, the IHSAA granted it an exemption to compete in the 2A classification at the 8-man level. The state board rejected petitions for girls basketball and volleyball to stay in 2A.
SMALL SCHOOL CHANGES
LOGOS: The Moscow private school volunteered to move up to the 3A level and play 11-man football next season.
ALTURAS PREP: The Idaho Falls-based charter school moves up top 3A in volleyball only. The IHSAA allowed its boys and girls basketball programs to remain in 2A.
TRI-VALLEY: The co-op of Cambridge and Midvale high schools will move up to the 2A classification in all sports next year. The IHSAA rejected petitions to keep its girls basketball, boys basketball, football and volleyball in 1A to reduce travel.
GARDEN VALLEY: A growing population pushed another 1A Long Pin school up to the 2A level in all sports. The Wolverines averaged 95.5 students in the last state enrollment count, clearing the 89 maximum to stay in the state’s smallest division. Garden Valley did not fight to remain in 1A.
KENDRICK: The Tigers’ time in 2A will prove short-lived as Kendrick’s enrollment (83) dropped it below the 1A maximum of 89. Kendrick has won four straight football state championships, including a 2A title last fall. It is also the reigning champ in boys basketball and baseball.
HANSEN: All of the Huskies’ individual sports will drop to 1A level. Hansen already competes in 1A in all team sports, but a smaller enrollment (88.5) allows the entire program to reunite.
CLARK FORK: The Wampus Cats drop to 1A in all sports thanks to a smaller enrollment (74), joining its football program already in the classification.
CHALLIS: The Vikings return to 2A in all sports after a brief dip in student population.
LAKESIDE: The Knights’ football team will move up to the 2A level, joining the rest of their school after the IHSAA denied their petition to remain in 1A.
TAYLOR’S CROSSING: The Idaho Falls charter school will move up to 2A in boys basketball and girls basketball. The IHSAA allowed its volleyball team to remain in 1A.
TROY: The Trojans’ football team will drop to 1A after going 2-17 the past two years. The IHSAA board approved the move with a 12-2 vote. All other sports remain in 2A.
WALLACE: The Miners’ football program will return to 2A after the IHSAA rejected another request to remain in 1A. Wallace won a league title last year while playing down a level in the 1A North Star League.
MORE IDAHO CLASSIFICATION NEWS
BISHOP KELLY: All of the private school’s soccer and swim programs chose to remain at the 6A level until at least the 2027-28 school year. All other sports will remain in 5A.
SKYVIEW: The Hawks’ volleyball program will remain in the state’s top classification for the second straight time with IHSAA approval. Skyview has won 14 straight district volleyball titles and six state championships in the past decade. The rest of Skyview’s sports will remain at the 5A level.
MOSCOW: The IHSAA allowed the Bears’ football team to move down into the 4A Intermountain League last season, and Moscow went 7-3, won the league title and earned a playoff berth. Despite that success, Moscow’s petition to keep its football program in 4A was approved by a 10-4 vote.
POST FALLS: The Trojans’ girls soccer team received a unanimous waiver to play down at the 5A level. Post Falls last beat a 5A team in 2020, and their last win over a 6A program came in 2017.
This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 12:50 PM.
