Shakeups ahead for some leagues

The reclassification merry-go-round is starting again.

Preliminary enrollment figures for the 2008-09 school year are in, and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has posted classification assignments, based on 17 percent of the state's schools divided into each of the top four classifications (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A).

Schools have until Dec. 14 to confirm changes and/or notify the WIAA of their intent to opt up a classification.

This school year is the end of the first reclassification period using a percentage system, designed to create more balance in the number of schools in each of the top four levels. Previously, fixed cutoff figures were used.

Current enrollment levels are 1,281 and up for Class 4A, 919-1,280 for 3A, 468-918 for 2A, 188-467 for 1A, 88-187 for 2B and 0-87 for 1B.

Some changes:

• Franklin will drop from 4A to 3A and appears likely to return to the Metro League.

• Skyline, Issaquah and Newport came in with 4A numbers. They currently are in KingCo 3A.

KingCo 3A and 4A athletic directors will meet Dec. 10 to go through their options. A single, 4A/3A multi-classification conference is possible.

• Auburn and Auburn Riverside will be back in the South Puget Sound League 4A North Division after two years in SPSL 3A. Auburn Mountainview remains in SPSL 3A.

• Foster of Tukwila remains 2A in size but is moving from the Nisqually League to the Seamount and will opt up to 3A, unless the league changes to a 3A/2A mix.

WesCo might be one of the few conferences not getting a facelift.

With so many changes in the last two reclassification periods, many schools are looking for more stability. In April, the WIAA Representative Assembly will consider freezing classifications for four years rather than two.

Other developments:

SPSL

Decatur will return to the SPSL 4A South, creating two nine-team divisions. Federal Way and Jefferson will remain in the North.

That would leave only six schools in the SPSL 3A, including Franklin Pierce, which plans to opt up despite 2A numbers. But Clover Park, Lakes and Peninsula have applied for SPSL 3A membership.

Seamount

The league must decide whether to remain strictly 3A or try a 3A/2A configuration. Evergreen, Renton, Tyee and Kennedy have opted up from 2A the past two years.

Metro

Bainbridge, after considering a move to the 3A Olympic League, will stay in Metro. "We received strong feedback from parents and student athletes that they enjoy the relationship with Metro League schools," said principal Brent Peterson.

Information in this article, originally published Dec. 5, 2007, was corrected Dec. 5, 2007. A previous version of this story contained an error. Skyline, Issaquah and Newport high schools all have enrollments that will move them from Class 3A to 4A for the next two school years. The original version of this article incorrectly said that the three Eastside schools would remain 3A.