North Carolina High School Athletic Association

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) is the governing organization of high school athletics in North Carolina, United States. The association maintains the official rule books and governs the officiating standards across the state.

The NCHSAA organizes member schools into conferences and oversees the state championships for each of the sanctioned sports. The NCHSAA headquarters is located at 222 Finley Golf Course Road, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The mailing address for the NCHSAA is PO Box 3216, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27515.

History

The NCHSAA was founded in 1913 by Dr. Louis Round Wilson, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The university served as the primary source of funding and leadership for the Association from 1913 through 1947, before the organization adopted its current model, which provides school administrators with direct influence through the presence of the NCHSAA Board of Directors. The NCHSAA remained affiliated with UNC until 2010, when it became an independent organization.

The first state playoffs were held in the NCHSAA's inaugural year of 1913, in both football and track. Baseball (1914), basketball (1915), and tennis (1916) were added over the next three athletic seasons. The organization has sanctioned a variety of different sports throughout its history, including: soccer (1927), wrestling (1931), golf (1937), swimming (1950), cross country (1956), softball (1975), volleyball (1976), indoor track (1987), and lacrosse (2010). Women's sports were first sanctioned in 1968, with women's golf being the first sport having an NCHSAA championship.

Classifications

The high schools within the state have been organized (since 1929) into classifications based by the size of the student population. Prior to 1929 all schools played in a single "open" format and postseason play was decided within "east" and "west" regions by meetings of school administrators. The east versus west postseason approach continues to this day. In 1929 the NCHSAA first split schools into "Class A" and "Class B," generally by school size.

In December 1929, in the Piedmont and western foothills region of the state, 16 charter member high schools formed the Western North Carolina High School Activities Association (WNCHSAA). This association grew to as many as 42 high schools and four different conferences. The WNCHSAA schools merged into the NCHSAA in 1977.

The NCHSAA, due to segregation, also did not include African American high schools. These historically black high schools competed in the North Carolina High School Athletics Conference (NCHSAC) and would start to merge into the NCHSAA in 1967.

Several other changes occurred to NCHSAA classifications between 1929 and 1958, which eventually went to three classifications. In 1959 due to significant growth and consolidation of North Carolina high schools, member schools were split into four classifications, identified by 1A, 2A, 3A, & 4A. The states 4A class is made up of the largest high schools, and 1A the smallest. These four classes have remained as the different classification sizes of North Carolina high schools to the current day.

Prior to 1993, a set minimum enrollment number delineated each school's classification. In 1993, schools were split so that approximately 25% of the schools were in each of the four classifications. A new approach was instituted in 2017, known as the 20-30-30-20 model, with the largest 20% in the 4A classification and the smallest 20% in the 1A classification. The middle 60% was split between 2A and 3A. This model received considerable criticism for the unbalanced classes, and the NCHSAA moved back to the 25-25-25-25 model in 2021. The classifications and conferences of each school are assessed every four years based on updated student population numbers.

All NCHSAA sanctioned sports have a separate state championship competition and title for each of the 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A classifications. The only exceptions are sports in which the 1A and 2A classifications are combined (in some instances 1A, 2A, and 3A have been combined). In football, starting in 2002, each classification was separated into a single "A" and double "AA" classification, with the double "AA" classification being made up of larger schools than the single "A". Classes were 1A, 1AA, 2A, 2AA, 3A, 3AA, 4A and 4AA for football only. This single "A" and double "AA" format lasted until the fall of 2021, when the NCHSAA went back to football being only 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A class sizes.

There are a number of different high school conferences throughout the state for local play. Many conferences are grouped with high schools all being in the same classification, with some conferences consisting of schools from two different classifications.

Sports

The NCHSAA sanctions the following sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Track and Field, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Cheerleading, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

Many North Carolina schools, particularly in larger metropolitan areas, have programs in field hockey, girls and boys beach volleyball, and gymnastics, but these sports are currently not sanctioned by the NCHSAA.

Conferences

These are the conference alignments starting with the 2021–2022 school year. With minor adjustments to accommodate new schools, these alignments will remain through the 2024–2025 school year.

4A

;CAP 6
All schools located in Raleigh, North Carolina
*Athens Drive High School, "Jaguars"
*Needham B. Broughton High School, "Capitals"
* Cardinal Gibbons High School, "Crusaders"
*William G. Enloe High School, "Eagles"
*Leesville Road High School, "Pride"
* Jesse O. Sanderson High School, "Spartans"

;Central Piedmont
Schools located in Davie and Forsyth counties
*Davie County High School, "War Eagles"
* East Forsyth High School, "Eagles"
*Robert B. Glenn High School, "Bobcats"
*Mount Tabor High School, "Spartans"
*Parkland Magnet High School, "Mustangs"
*Ronald W. Reagan High School, "Raiders"
*Richard J. Reynolds High School, "Demons"
* West Forsyth High School, "Titans"

;DAC-VII
Schools located in Durham, Orange, and Alamance Counties
* Chapel Hill High School, "Tigers"
*East Chapel Hill High School, "Wildcats"
* Hillside High School, "Hornets"
* Charles E. Jordan High School, "Falcons"
* Northern High School, "Knights" (men), "Ladies" (women)
* Riverside High School (Durham), "Pirates"
*Southern Alamance High School, "Patriots"

;Greater Neuse River
Schools located southern Wake County and northern Johnston County
*Corinth Holders High School, "Pirates"
* Clayton High School, "Comets"
* Cleveland High School, "Rams"
* Fuquay-Varina High School, "Bengals"
*Garner Magnet High School, "Trojans"
*South Garner High School, "Titans"
*Southeast Raleigh High School, "Bulldogs"
*Willow Spring High School, "Storm"

;Greater Metro
Schools located along the I-85 corridor north of Charlotte
* A. L. Brown High School, "Wonders"
*Cox Mill High School, "Chargers"
*Hickory Ridge High School, "Ragin' Bulls"
*Lake Norman High School, "Wildcats"
* Mooresville High School, "Blue Devils"
*South Iredell High School, "Vikings"
* West Cabarrus High School, "Wolverines"

;Metro
Schools located in Guilford County
*Grimsley High School, "Whirlies"
*Northern Guilford High School, "Nighthawks"
*Northwest Guilford High School, "Vikings"
*Walter Hines Page Senior High School, "Pirates"
*Ragsdale High School, "Flying Tigers"
*Southeast Guilford High School, "Falcons"
*Southwest Guilford High School, "Cowboys" (men), "Cowgirls" (women)
*Western Guilford High School, "Hornets"

;Northern Athletic
Schools located in northern Wake County
* Heritage High School, "Huskies"
* Knightdale High School, "Knights"
* Millbrook High School, "Wildcats"
*Rolesville High School, "Rams"
*Wake Forest High School, "Cougars"
* Wakefield High School, "Wolverines"

;South Meck
Schools located in Mecklenburg County
*Ardrey Kell High School, "Knights"
*Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, "Cardinals"
*Harding University High School, "Rams"
*Myers Park High School, "Mustangs"
* Olympic High School, "Trojans"
*South Mecklenburg High School, "Sabres"

;Southern Carolina
Schools located in Union County
*Cuthbertson High School, "Cavaliers"
*Marvin Ridge High School, "Mavericks"
* Piedmont High School, "Panthers"
* Porter Ridge High School, "Pirate"
*Sun Valley High School, "Spartans"
*Weddington High School, "Warriors"

;Southwest Wake
Schools located in southwestern Wake County
*Apex High School, "Cougars"
*Apex Friendship High School, "Patriots"
*Cary High School, "Imps"
*Green Hope High School, "Falcons"
*Green Level High School, "Gators"
*Holly Springs High School, "Golden Hawks"
* Middle Creek High School, "Mustangs"
* Panther Creek High School, "Catamounts"

;Southwestern
Schools located in Mecklenburg and Union counties
*David W. Butler High School, "Bulldogs"
*Charlotte Catholic High School, "Cougars"
*East Mecklenburg High School, "Eagles"
*Garinger High School, "Wildcats"
* Independence High School, "Patriots"
* Providence High School, "Panthers"
* Rocky River High School, "Ravens"

3A–4A

;All American Conference

Schools are located in Cumberland and Harnett County Areas

* Overhills High School (4A), "Jaguars"
*Pine Forest High School (4A), "Trojans"
* E. E. Smith High School (3A), "Golden Bulls"
*Harnett Central High School (3A), "Trojans"
*Terry Sanford High School (3A), "Bulldogs"
* Triton High School (3A), "Hawks"
*Western Harnett High School (3A), "Eagles"
* Westover High School (3A), "Wolverines"

;Big East

Schools located in the central-eastern portion of the state.

* D. H. Conley High School (4A), "Vikings"
*New Bern High School (4A), "Bears"
*Havelock High School (3A), "Rams"
* Jacksonville High School (4A), "Cardinals"
* Northside High School (Jacksonville) (3A), "Monarchs"
*Junius H. Rose High School (3A), "Rampants"
* South Central High School (3A), "Falcons"

;Mideastern

Schools are located in the southeastern corner of the state.

*Eugene Ashley High School (4A), "Screaming Eagles"
*John T. Hoggard High School (4A), "Vikings"
*Emsley A. Laney High School (4A), "Buccaneers"
*New Hanover High School (4A), "Wildcats"
*Topsail High School (4A), "Pirates"
*North Brunswick High School (3A), "Scorpions"
* South Brunswick High School (3A), "Cougars"
*West Brunswick High School (3A), "Trojans"

;Mountain

Schools located in Asheville and surrounding communities
*A. C. Reynolds High School (4A), "Rockets"
*Asheville High School (4A), "Cougars"
*McDowell High School (4A), "Titans"
*T. C. Roberson High School (4A), "Rams"
*Enka High School (3A), "Jets"
*Clyde A. Erwin High School (3A), "Warriors"
*North Buncombe High School (3A), "Black Hawks"

;Northwestern

Schools are located in the foothills and high country areas of northwestern part of state.
*Alexander Central High School (4A), "Cougars"
*South Caldwell High School (4A), "Spartans"
*Watauga High School (4A), "Pioneers"
*Ashe County High School (3A), "Huskies"
* Freedom High School (3A), "Patriots"
*Hibriten High School (3A), "Panthers"

;Queen City

Schools located in Charlotte

* Hopewell High School, "Titans" (4A)
*William A. Hough High School, "Huskies" (4A)
*Mallard Creek High School, "Mavericks" (4A)
*North Mecklenburg High School, "Vikings" (4A)
*Julius L. Chambers High School, "Cougars" (4A)
*West Charlotte High School, "Lions" (3A)
*West Mecklenburg High School, "Hawks" (3A)

;Sandhills

Schools located in the Sandhills region of the state

*Hoke County High School (4A), "Bucks"
*Pinecrest High School (4A), "Patriots"
*Richmond Senior High School (4A), "Raiders"
* Lee County High School (3A), "Yellow Jackets"
*Scotland High School (3A), "Scots"
* Southern Lee High School (3A), "Cavaliers"
*Union Pines High School (3A), "Vikings"

;United 8

Schools located in the Fayetteville and surrounding areas

*Jack Britt High School (4A), "Buccaneers"
*Gray's Creek High School (4A), "Bears"
* Lumberton High School (4A), "Pirates"
*South View High School (4A), "Tigers"
*Purnell Swett High School (4A), "Rams"
*Douglas Byrd High School (3A), "Eagles"
*Cape Fear High School (3A), "Colts"
*Seventy-First High School (3A), "Falcons"

3A

;Big South
Schools located in Cleveland and Gaston counties
*Ashbrook High School, "Green Wave"
* Crest High School, "Chargers"
* Forestview High School, "Jaguars"
*Hunter Huss High School, "Huskies"
*Kings Mountain High School, "Mountaineers"
*North Gaston High School, "Wildcats"
*Stuart W. Cramer High School, "Storm"
* South Point High School, "Red Raiders"

;Central
Schools located in the north-central portion of the state
* Cedar Ridge High School, "Red Wolves"
*Eastern Alamance High School, "Eagles"
*Northwood High School, "Chargers"
* Orange High School, "Panthers"
* Person High School, "Rockets"
*Western Alamance High School, "Warriors"
*Walter M. Williams High School, "Bulldogs"

;Coastal

Schools located along the Southeastern coast of North Carolina
*Croatan High School, "Cougars"
* Dixon High School, "Bulldogs"
* Richlands High School, "Wildcats"
* Swansboro High School, "Pirates"
*West Carteret High School, "Patriots"
* White Oak High School, "Vikings"

;Mountain 7
Schools located in the western North Carolina mountains
*East Henderson High School, "Eagles"
* Franklin High School, "Panthers"
*North Henderson High School, "Knights"
* Pisgah High School, "Black Bears"
*Smoky Mountain High School, "Mustangs"
*Tuscola High School, "Mountaineer"
*West Henderson High School, "Falcons"

;Mid-Piedmont
Schools located in Davidson, Montgomery, and Randolph counties
*Asheboro High School, "Blue Comets"
*Central Davidson High School, "Spartans"
*Ledford Senior High School, "Panthers"
*Montgomery Central High School, "Wolverines"
*North Davidson High School, "Black Knights"
* Oak Grove High School, "Grizzlies"

;Mid-State
Schools located in Guilford, Rockingham, andForsyth counties
* Simon G. Atkins Academic & Technology High School, "Camels"
*James B. Dudley High School, "Panthers"
*Eastern Guilford High School, "Wildcats"
*High Point Central High School, "Bison"
*Northeast Guilford High School, "Rams"
*Rockingham County High School, "Cougars"
*Ben L. Smith High School, "Golden Eagles"
*Southern Guilford High School, "Storm"

;Quad County
Schools located in Johnston, Wake, Wayne and Wilson counties
* Charles B. Aycock High School, "Golden Falcons"
*East Wake High School, "Warriors"
* Ralph L. Fike High School, "Demons"
*James B. Hunt Jr. High School, "Warriors"
*Smithfield-Selma High School, "Spartans"
*South Johnston High School, "Trojans"
*Southern Wayne High School, "Saints"
*West Johnston High School, "Wildcats"

;South Piedmont
Schools located in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and Rowan counties.
*Jesse C. Carson High School, "Cougars"
*Central Cabarrus High School, "Vikings"
* Concord High School, "Spiders"
*East Rowan High School, "Mustangs"
*Lake Norman Charter School, "Knights"
*Northwest Cabarrus High School, "Trojans"
*South Rowan High School, "Raiders"
*West Rowan High School, "Falcons"

;Western Foothills
Schools located in Catawba, Iredell, and Lincoln counties
*East Lincoln High School, "Mustangs"
* Fred T. Foard High School, "Tigers"
* Hickory High School, "Red Tornadoes"
*North Iredell High School, "Raiders"
*North Lincoln High School, "Knights"
*St. Stephens High School, "Indians"
*Statesville High School, "Greyhounds"
*West Iredell High School, "Warriors"

2A–3A

;The Big East
Schools located in Franklin and Nash counties
* Franklinton High School (3A), "Rams"
*Northern Nash High School (3A), "Knights"
*Rocky Mount High School (3A), "Gryphons"
*Southern Nash High School (3A), "Firebirds"
*Bunn High School (2A), "Wildcats"
* Louisburg High School (2A), "Warriors"
*Nash Central High School (2A), "Bulldogs"
*Roanoke Rapids High School (2A), "Yellow Jackets"

;Northeastern Coastal
Schools located in the northeastern corner of North Carolina
* Camden County High School (3A), "Bruins"
* Currituck County High School (3A), "Knights"
*First Flight High School (3A), "Nighthawks"
*Hertford County High School (2A), "Bears"
*John A. Holmes High School (2A), "Aces"
*Manteo High School (2A), "Redskins"
* Northeastern High School (2A), "Eagles"
*Pasquotank County High School (2A), "Panthers"

;Northern Lakes
Located in the north-central portion of the state
*Carrboro High School (3A), "Jaguars"
*Durham School of the Arts (3A), "Bulldogs"
* Southern High School (3A), "Spartans"
* Vance County High School (3A), (Vipers)
* Granville Central High School (2A), "Panthers"
*South Granville High School (2A), "Vikings"
* J.F. Webb High School (2A), "Warriors"

;Rocky River
Schools in the south-central portion of the state
*Central Academy of Technology and Arts (3A), "Cougars"
*Parkwood High School (3A), "Rebels"
* Anson High School (2A), "Bearcats"
* Forest Hills High School (2A), "Yellow Jackets"
*Monroe High School (2A), "Redhawks"
*West Stanly High School (2A), "Colts"

2A

;Catawba Valley Athletic
Schools located in Caldwell, Lincoln, and Burke counties
*Bandys High School, "Trojans"
*Bunker Hill High School, "Bears"
* East Burke High School, "Cavaliers"
*Lincolnton High School, "Wolves"
*Maiden High School, "Blue Devils"
*Newton-Conover High School, "Red Devils"
*West Caldwell High School, "Warriors"
*West Lincoln High School, "Rebels"

;East Central
Schools located in Duplin, Lenoir, and Onslow counties
* East Duplin High School, "Panthers"
* James Kenan High School, "Tigers"
* Kinston High School, "Vikings"
*North Lenoir High School, "Hawks"
*South Lenoir High School, "Blue Devils"
*Southwest Onslow High School, "Stallions"
* Wallace-Rose Hill High School, "Bulldogs"

;Eastern Plains
Schools located in the Pitt, Edgecomb, Greene, and Craven counties
*Ayden-Grifton High School, "Chargers"
*Farmville Central High School, "Jaguars"
*Greene Central High School, "Rams"
*North Pitt High School, "Panthers"
*Southwest Edgecombe High School, "Cougars"
* Washington High School, "Pam Pack"
* West Craven High School, "Eagles"

;Foothills
Schools located in Surry and Wilkes counties
*East Surry High School, "Cardinals"
*Forbush High School, "Falcons"
* North Surry High School, "Greyhounds"
*North Wilkes High School, "Vikings"
*Surry Central High School, "Golden Eagles"
*West Wilkes High School, "Blackhawks"
*Wilkes Central High School, "Eagles"

;Mid-State
Schools located in Stokes and Rockingham counties
*T. Wingate Andrews High School, "Red Raiders"
*Dalton L. McMichael High School, "Phoenix"
*John Motley Morehead High School, "Panthers"
* North Forsyth High School, "Vikings"
*Reidsville High School, "Rams"
*Walkertown High School, "Wolfpack"
*West Stokes High School, "Wildcats"

;Mountain Foothills 7
Schools located in the southwestern corner of the state
* Brevard High School, "Blue Devils"
*Chase High School, "Trojans"
*East Rutherford High School, "Cavaliers"
* Hendersonville High School, "Bearcats"
* R.L. Patton High School, "Panthers"
*Polk County High School, "Wolverines"
* R–S Central High School, "Hilltoppers"

;Neuse 6
Schools in Johnston, Wilson, and Wayne counties
* Beddingfield High School, "Bruins"
*Eastern Wayne High School, "Warriors"
*Goldsboro High School, "Cougars"
*North Johnston High School, "Panthers"
*Princeton High School, "Bulldogs"
* Spring Creek High School, "Gators"

;Southeastern Athletic
Schools located in Sampson, Robeson, and Bladen counties
* Clinton High School, "Dark Horses"
*East Bladen High School

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