20 football teams to change WPIAL classifications next season

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 8:13 PM

Recent state champions Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon and Central Valley are among 20 WPIAL football teams in position to switch classifications next season.

The PIAA this week released updated enrollment numbers for all schools, a key step in the realignment process that takes place every two years. The new classifications affect the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.

Thomas Jefferson and Central Valley are among 11 WPIAL teams poised to move into a higher classification because of their updated enrollments. However, Belle Vernon and eight others are likely moving down.

Belle Vernon counts 276 boys (down from 318), a decrease from two years ago that drops the Leopards back to Class 3A, where they won WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2022 and ’23. They played the past two seasons in 4A.

The PIAA determines enrollment by counting students in grades nine through 11.

Also positioned to drop in classification are Kiski Area, Shaler and South Fayette to 4A; Ambridge, Knoch and West Mifflin to 3A; Quaker Valley to 2A and Washington to A.

Teams have until Dec. 1 to choose whether to voluntarily “play up” to a high classification.

The updated enrollment numbers will force 11 WPIAL teams to move up.

Thomas Jefferson, Trinity and West Allegheny are climbing to Class 5A, Central Valley to 4A, Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Shady Side Academy, South Park and Waynesburg to 3A and Neshannock to 2A.

Thomas Jefferson, a five-time state champion, most recently won PIAA Class 4A titles in 2021 and ’22. Central Valley won consecutive state 3A titles in 2020 and ’21.

Quaker Valley (2017) and Beaver Falls (2016) also won state titles in the past decade.

The PIAA last week announced classification parameters, which list the top and bottom enrollment numbers for each. For football, Class 6A has schools with 579 or more boys, Class 5A is 413 to 578, Class 4A is 282 to 412, Class 3A is 200 to 281, Class 2A is 142 to 199 and Class A has 141 or fewer.

Shady Side Academy’s enrollment fell nine boys above the cutline between Class 2A and 3A. The school is credited by the PIAA as having 209 boys, a total inflated by a co-op with Neighborhood Academy.

Each sport has its own parameters.

In boys basketball, Baldwin (6A), Peters Township (6A), Mt. Pleasant (4A), Ellwood City (4A), Propel Braddock Hills (3A) and Neshannock (3A) are among the teams moving up for the 2026-27 season based on enrollment.

In girls basketball, WPIAL Class 2A champion Aliquippa and runner-up Neshannock are moving up to 3A, whereas Class A finalists Union and Clairton are joining 2A.

The Baldwin, Bethel Park, Fox Chapel and Peters Township girls are all joining 6A.

It’s unknown whether any of the teams dropping to a lower classification instead will voluntarily play up.

The PIAA competitive-balance rule also will move some teams into a higher classification. The Pine-Richland football team could be moved to Class 6A if the Rams reach the state finals this year.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.