Gilmer High School will compete in a new athletic classification and region beginning next fall.
Georgia High School Association schools reported their enrollment last month, and the organization compiled and released the data Nov. 5.
Gilmer High reported an enrollment of 1,191. Out-of-district students are counted twice, which brought Gilmer’s reclassification count to 1,194, making it the second smallest school in Class 4A.
Schools were given a week to appeal their classification assignments, and six Class 3A schools made the request to move up to 4A.
In turn, the GHSA looked to drop six schools from Class 4A down to 3A to keep a balance, and Gilmer was extended the opportunity and accepted.
“They asked the bottom six schools if they wanted to move down, and we kind of anticipated that early on,” said GHS athletic director Matt Johnson. “We were prepared to appeal, but once they asked us if we wanted to move down there was no need.”
Johnson discussed the decision process and why GHS chose to play in 3A.
“We felt like it was best for our student athletes and school in general,” he said. “We (along with principal Carla Foley) met with all the coaches before we made the decision, and did a lot of talking with (county athletic director) Rodney Walker, and just felt it would be in the best interest because of our numbers and athletes we’re going up against.”
With a drop in classification comes a new region, and GHS will compete in Region 7-3A starting in 2020-2021 alongside Dawson County (1,119 students), Lumpkin County (1,125), White County (1,194), West Hall (1,176), North Hall (1,207) and Cherokee Bluff (971).
Gilmer’s previous home, Region 6-4A, also bids farewell to LaFayette (1,133), who moved down to Class 3A.
The new Region 6-4A will consist of Northwest Whitfield (1,437), Southeast Whitfield (1,432), Pickens (1,350), Heritage (1,331), Ridgeland (1,312), Cedartown (1,331) and Central Carroll (1,233).
Even though Gilmer and its archrival Pickens will no longer compete in the same region, Johnson does not believe that will keep the two from facing each other.
He said keeping Pickens and Fannin (now in Class 2A) on the football schedule will be a “priority.”
“Pickens is a neighboring county, and we have a good relationship with them and we’d like to keep that as long as we can; same with Fannin,” he said.
Schools have until Friday to appeal region assignments. The GHSA will hear appeals to move teams laterally within classifications, and Johnson said GHS will not appeal its placement in Region 7-3A.