New PIAA classification parameters move 11-time WPIAL champion Thomas Jefferson to 5A football

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, November 7, 2025 | 1:30 PM

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One of the WPIAL’s strongest football classifications is adding an 11-time champion next season when Thomas Jefferson moves up to 5A.

The PIAA released updated classification parameters for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, a key step in the realignment process that occurs every two years. The parameters list the top and bottom enrollment number for each classification, with Class 5A football to include schools having 413 to 578 boys.

Thomas Jefferson has 453 boys in grades 9-11, the years used by the PIAA to determine a school’s enrollment. The school district has seen an influx of new students, especially in a sophomore class that has around 180 boys, said TJ football coach and athletic director Bill Cherpak. He said other grades have around 130.

The high school counted 398 boys for the current PIAA cycle.

“I knew it was going to happen since I saw the numbers at the beginning of the year, so it’s not a big deal,” said Cherpak, who predicted the Jaguars would likely return to Class 4A football in 2028.

The PIAA hasn’t yet released updated enrollment numbers for each school.

Thomas Jefferson has won 11 WPIAL titles, including 10 since Cherpak became coach in 1995. The defending champion Jaguars play McKeesport in a Class 4A semifinal Friday.

But Thomas Jefferson won’t be the only newcomer to Class 5A football next year. Big Six champion Trinity is also moving up with an updated enrollment of 468 boys, said Hillers coach and assistant principal Dan Knause.

Two other playoff teams in Class 4A — Mars and McKeesport — are under the cut line to stay in 4A.

Elsewhere, South Fayette and Central Valley are both joining Class 4A football. South Fayette is dropping from 5A, said coach Marty Spieler. Central Valley’s enrollment was only four boys above the cutline for 3A, said CV athletic director Sam Cercone.

For the next two years, schools with 579 or more boys will play in Class 6A football, down from a cut off of 620 in the current cycle. But the WPIAL’s big-school classification seems likely to still have only seven football teams unless Butler returns.

Class 6A: 579 or more

Class 5A: 413 to 578

Class 4A: 282 to 412

Class 3A: 200 to 281

Class 2A: 142 to 199

Class A: 141 or less

Each sport has its own parameters.

The PIAA is expected to release updated enrollments for each school in December, after teams decide whether to voluntarily “play up” in a higher classification.

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.

Tags: Central Valley, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity