From 1A to 8A: The New Look of NCHSAA Sports
As the 2025–26 high school sports year kicks off, fans may notice the landscape looks very different. Back in the early spring, the NCHSAA approved a major realignment that took effect this fall, and this week marks the first full slate of games under the new system.
From 1A–4A to 1A–8A
For decades, North Carolina schools competed in four classifications. That changed in March, when the association voted to expand to eight classes (1A through 8A) to better balance school sizes statewide.
Locally, schools shifted as follows:
Kinston – 3A
Greene Central – 3A
North Lenoir – 4A
Jones Senior – 1A
South Lenoir – 3A
This change will remain in place through the 2029 season.
New Conference Alignments
The reclassification also reshaped conferences. Some are split across two classes, while others remain uniform.
Three Rivers 4A Conference
This is the only league in the state where every team shares the same classification:
Eastern Wayne
North Johnston
North Lenoir
North Pitt
SouthWest Edgecombe
Washington
West Craven
Eastern Plains 2A/3A Conference
A mixed conference featuring two local programs:
Tarboro (2A)
Ayden-Grifton (3A)
Beddingfield (3A)
Farmville Central (3A)
Greene Central (3A)
Kinston (3A)
Coastal Plains 1A/2A Conference
Jones Senior continues here, facing familiar small-school competition with a few bigger opponents:
Jones Senior (1A)
Northside (Pinetown) (1A)
East Carteret (2A)
Lejeune (2A)
Pamlico County (2A)
Southside (2A)
East Central 3A/4A Conference
South Lenoir joins a conference with some heavy hitters:
Heide Trask (3A)
Pender (3A)
South Lenoir (3A)
Clinton (4A)
East Duplin (4A)
Southwest Onslow (4A)
Playoffs Now RPI-Only
Perhaps the biggest shift is how playoff brackets will be determined. In past years, automatic berths went to conference champions. Starting now, playoffs are seeded strictly by RPI (Ratings Percentage Index).
That formula weighs:
Winning percentage
Opponents’ winning percentage
Opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage
This means strength of schedule carries more weight than ever before. Non-conference games and week-to-week consistency will heavily impact postseason chances.
What It Means This Fall
North Lenoir plays in the state’s only all-4A conference, ensuring a level playing field each week.
Kinston and Greene Central will fight through the Eastern Plains, a league known for its parity and historic rivalries.
Jones Senior faces the challenge of balancing 1A opponents with bigger 2A schools in the Coastal Plains.
South Lenoir takes on a tough East Central mix, highlighted by perennial contenders Clinton and East Duplin.
This week’s football openers and the start of fall sports mark the first taste of the new era. The reclassification decision may have been made months ago, but now it becomes reality under the Friday night lights and across gyms, fields, and courts statewide.
