The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
HIGH SCHOOLS
Carrollton, St. Pius and Woodward Academy have reason to be nervous about the latest plan to increase the GHSA’S reclassification multiplier. Buford, Calhoun and Lovett might be fine with it.
The GHSA’S reclassification committee will meet again Monday to discuss reclassifying its 450-plus member schools for the two-year cycle beginning in 2022-23.
The plan gaining the most support, proposed last week, would increase the out-ofzone enrollment multiplier to 2.5 from the 2.0 used for the current cycle. A 3.0 multiplier also was proposed. Multipliers are designed to move certain schools — mainly city and private schools — into higher classifications by counting their out-of-zone students more than once. It’s believed those schools’ ability to draw students out of zone is an unfair competitive advantage.
The latest plan also calls for no cap on the number of classifications a school can be moved up by the multiplier. Currently, there is a two-class limit along with the assurance the multiplier can’t move a school into 7A, the highest class.
Below are rough projec- tions on the impact of 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 multipliers with cap removals on private and city schools, their designed target. The projections are based on enrollment numbers from the spring because the department of education hasn’t released fall enroll- ment totals. The projections assume each school’s outof-zone percentages will remain roughly the same as 2019, the last time they were compiled. They also assume schools with 550 or fewer students will be in Class A regardless. Among the takeaways: ■ St. Pius and Wood- ward Academy could end up in Class 7A with the most aggressive multiplier. They won appeals in 2019 to keep them below 6A. It’s unknown if their arguments would hold weight again. Greater Atlanta Christian also won a 2019 appeal to avoid 4A but could wind up in 6A with a 3.0 multiplier.
■ Unless its enrollment statistics have changed since 2019, Lovett might need a 3.0 multiplier to dislodge it from Class 2A. It was Lovett’s allsports success (five state titles in 2020-21) along with that of Pace Academy, another current 2A school, that re-ener- gized the movement to miti- gate private-school domination. In 2019, Lovett reported 37% out-of-zone students. Those at St. Pius, Woodward Academy and GAC exceeded 90%. Also, Pace Academy has enrollment below the Class A threshold and is not included in the projections.
■ Carrollton in 2019 reported more out-of-zone students than any city school at around 34% and could end up in Class 7A if the 7A blockade is lifted. Valdo- sta, already on the 7A/6A bubble, also seems destined for the highest classification despite only 8% out-of- zone enrollment. Similarly, Gainesville might go down from 7A because of enroll- ment changes.
■ Buford’s placement in 6A and Calhoun’s in 5A might be impervious to multipli- ers. Both are on the lower end of their classifications in enrollment.
■ Increasing multipliers can cause collateral damage. Chamblee, a Class 5A Dekalb County charter school, is the GHSA’S 101st-largest school by enrollment but ranks 39th with a 2.5 multiplier on its 31.5% out-of-zone population. That would put the Bulldogs in Class 7A. The GHSA granted several appeals in 2019 that seemed to solve those concerns, however.
The GHSA could approve a new reclassification plan as early as Oct. 3-4. Monday’s reclass meeting, open to the public, will start at 11 a.m. at
the Thomaston Civic Center.