LHSAA Releases Final Redistricting Plan For 2024-2026 Classification Cycle

by Hunter Bower // GeauxPreps.com Owner

The LHSAA released its final redistricting plan for the 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 sports seasons to member schools Thursday.

The plan was finalized during the association’s winter executive committee meeting on Wednesday. The final classification meeting proved pivotal as the committee navigated through the final appeals and hashed out district details for the upcoming cycle.

Three schools appeared before the committee on Wednesday to appeal their placement.

Bunkie, looking to relocate from a central Louisiana district, expressed a desire to join an Acadiana area-based district. On the other hand, Springfield proposed a unique five-team district, aiming to include Livingston Parish teams Doyle and Albany, along with Parkview Baptist and Collegiate Baton Rouge.

In the realm of Class 5A, Warren Easton brought forth a comprehensive proposal encompassing three distinct options. The initial plan, originating from the LHSAA’s second classification meeting, placed both Easton and Edna Karr in the Catholic League. However, Easton’s move to Class 5A triggered a reevaluation.

The first option outlined a district of Jefferson Parish schools, featuring Bonnabel, East Jefferson, Higgins, John Ehret, Riverdale, and West Jefferson, with both Karr and Easton making the move.

Option two proposed a district arrangement with Easton alongside Ben Franklin, Bonnabel, East Jefferson, and Riverdale, while Chalmette, Ehret, Higgins, Karr and West Jefferson would form another in relation to geographical location.

The third and final option, perhaps the most significant departure, involved a restructuring of the Catholic League. Easton would find itself in a district alongside Ben Franklin, Brother Martin, Edna Karr, Jesuit, Holy Cross, and St. Augustine. The other district would have included Bonnabel, Archbishop Chapelle, Archbishop Rummel, East Jefferson, John Ehret, John Curtis, L.W. Higgins, Riverdale and West Jefferson.

After hearing appeals, the committee voted to finalize the plan as is with no changes to the aforementioned districts.

LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine stated that playoff divisions for Non-Select and Select would be announced at a later date. Member schools must ratify the current playoff structure at the organization’s annual convention in January.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FINAL DRAFT DOCUMENT

2024-2026-Final-Classification-11-29-2023