North Carolina’s High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) recently announced a change to the current four-tiered classification structure according to number of students – smallest to largest – 1A through 4A.
Franklin High School (FHS) is currently designated a 3A school. Starting with the 2025-26 school year, the tiers are scheduled to increase up to eight (1A-8A). This change brings with it a level of uncertainty as it pertains to Macon County high school athletics. More specifically, what impact this will have on Bartram Academy and Macon Early College (MEC) students, some of whom are part of the FHS athletic program composition. The changes were discussed at the June school board meeting. The board voted unanimously to only allow FHS students to participate in NCHSAA sports to retain its mid-tier designation.
“MEC and Bartram have been able to participate for the past three years only because we had the four classifications,” said Macon County Schools Superintendent Josh Lynch. “The average daily membership (ADM), combined for both schools (under current rules), did not change the [3A] classification.” For this upcoming 2024-25 school year, both schools can continue to have students participate within FHS athletic programs.
Once the new classification takes effect, placement will be dictated by the ADM for the subsequent four years. Currently, the enrollment at FHS is around 1,000. If Bartram and MEC are included, the ADM would increase by around 250, which would then most likely bump FHS up into the new 6A tier. This means playing against different, larger schools and longer traveling distances to play them.
“Even if only one or two of those (Bartram or MEC) athletes ended up playing in a sport at FHS, the ADM would reflect the total potential athletes that could play,” Lynch explained. For context, approximately 20 MEC students participated in FHS sports programs last school year and only one Bartram student.
“This was a very difficult decision because of how it affects the students,” relayed Macon County Board of Education Chairman Jim Breedlove. He explained that numerous Macon County Schools officials have attempted to gain better insight into additional specifics regarding the changes but that NCHSAA has not been very transparent in providing information.
“We were told by the NCHSAA that what we have is all the information we were going to get,” Breedlove expressed. “We’re sitting here not having any idea about where we are going to fall. And based on where we fell, how that would impact in terms of who we’d be playing.”
Breedlove said that although he could not speak for the entire school board, if MEC was interested in participating in a separate, different conference due to the new changes coming in 2025-26, “we would make that happen.” He also added, “It’s kind of sad; those students have contributed a lot. This is a decision that affected a lot of kids adversely and that’s not fun.”
MEC Principal Caleb Parham was honest in his response to the changes. “I felt some disappointment because I care for our kids. My heart breaks for them but I also understand why the decision was made. I will always support my leadership and the school board,” said Parham.
“If some of our kids are more interested in sports than staying here, I have that grace,” he added. “They deserve to be able to make those decisions based on their desires and goals. If anyone does want to transfer out, I will support them.”
Regarding MEC becoming part of another, smaller (probably 1A) athletic classification, Parham was hopeful but also realistic with his assessment.
“There are certain guidelines for that to happen – we have to have a minimum number of teams for different sports and sustain that over three seasons. We could also look into doing independent sports, like track and swimming … there are a lot of questions we still need to ask before we can make decisions going forward.”
For his part, Bartram principal Brian Moffitt offered, “Bartram is fine with the decision. Our students were only allowed to participate in FHS athletics since the winter of 2021. And since then, we’ve only had one student participate. This decision does not affect us as much as MEC and its participation numbers.”
As for the academic side of the house and the new Franklin High School scheduled to be in place by 2026, Breedlove clarified that the plan to relocate Bartram Academy within the new high school, has not changed. While still operating as its own entity, Bartram will reside within the new facilities once completed.