It's official: Dragons to 4A

The IHSAA released official class announcements today, and there were no surprises for Hancock County schools.

As expected, New Palestine will move up to Class 4A in basketball/baseball/softball/volleyball. NPHS has 1,092 students and is the 100th-largest school in Indiana. It will be the second-smallest 4A school -- Roncalli will also move up. Mt. Vernon, with 1,077 students, will be the second-largest in Class 3A. NP was above the cutoff by five students.

Greenfield-Central (enrollment 1,410) is comfortably in 4A, ranking 72nd overall. Eastern Hancock (enrollment 355) remains in 2A, ranking 291st overall and 14 spots (and 36 students) ahead of the cutoff line.

Among HHC schools, Shelbyville will move back into 4A after a four-year stay in 3A. Delta, Rushville and Yorktown will remain 3A, while Pendleton Heights will remain 4A.

NP had been a 3A school ever since class sports were introduced in 1997-98. MV and EH have never changed classes. G-C started out as a 3A school, but moved up to 4A in 2003-04 and has remained there ever since.

In football, all three of the larger county schools will remain in Class 4A. G-C is the 10th-largest school in the class. EH will remain in Class A. None of the other HHC schools will change classes, although Delta is 4A's second-smallest school.

G-C has been a 4A school since the five-class system was created in 1985. NP and MV both moved up from Class 3A in 2007. EH has been a 1A school with the exception of a brief stay in 2A from 1995-98.

Boys and girls soccer will be classified for the first time next year. The three soccer-playing county schools will be in the largest of two classes. EH does not field a soccer program. The cutoff was between Yorktown (enrollment 755) and Hamilton Heights (enrollment 742). All HHC schools will be in 2A.

Here are the links to the IHSAA enrollments
BB/BA/SB/VB
Football
Soccer

Of note: Muncie Central is moving down to 3A in the major team sports. In football, northern 3A power Andrean is moving down to 2A. Two-time defending 1A runner-up Fountain Central is moving up to 2A, as is last year's semistate qualifier Churubusco. Lots of IPS reshuffling has several schools dropping classes.

BB/BA/SB/VB (4A has 101 schools, 3A & 2A have 102, 1A has 104).
New 4A schools
Up from 3A: Fort Wayne Wayne, Columbia City, New Haven, Shelbyville, New Palestine, Roncalli
Largest school: Ben Davis (4892). Smallest: Roncalli (1090)

New 3A schools
Down from 4A: Muncie Central, Indianapolis Manual, Indianapolis Arlington,
Up from 2A: Tri-West, Indian Creek, Jimtown, Garrett, Brownstown, Woodlan, Fairfield, North Putnam, Hanover Central, Guerin Catholic, Lawrenceburg, Tipton
Largest school: Kankakee Valley (1087). Smallest: Tipton (565)

New 2A schools
New schools: Indianapolis Marshall, Indianapolis Shortridge
Down from 4A: Indianapolis Broad Ripple
Down from 3A: Rochester, Sullivan, Southridge, Crawford County
Up from 1A: Gary Bowman, Indianapolis Herron, Indianapolis Metro Academy, Whiting, Henryville, Indianapolis Attucks, North Central (Sullivan), NE Dubois, Springs Valley
Largest school: Rochester (565). Smallest: Springs Valley (319).

New 1A schools
New schools: Indiana Math & Science Academy, Gary 21st Century, Gary Lighthouse Charter (2012-13), Lafayette Faith Christian (2012-13), Lakeland Christian (2012-13)
Down from 2A: West Washington, Hauser, Culver
Largest school: Rossville (318). Smallest: Terre Haute Holy Cross (45).

Football (all classes with 63 schools)
New 5A schools
Up from 4A: Anderson, Franklin, FW South, FW Wayne
Largest school: Ben Davis (4892). Smallest: FW Wayne (1582)

New 4A schools
Down from 5A: East Chicago, Mishawaka, Columbus East, Richmond
Up from 3A: Leo, Hammond Clark, NorthWood, Frankfort, Norwell, New Prairie
Largest school: East Chicago (1575). Smallest: New Prairie (852)

New 3A schools
Down from 4A: Indianapolis Northwest, Gary Wallace, Indianapolis Arlington
Up from 2A: Mitchell, Tri-West, Greencastle, Garrett, Brownstown, Whitko
Largest school: Indianapolis Northwest (837). Smallest: Western Boone (592)

New 2A schools
Down from 4A: Indianapolis Broad Ripple
Down from 3A: Andrean, Benton Central, Rochester
Up from 1A: Guerin Catholic, Fountain Central, Churubusco, Lake Station
Largest school: Woodlan (591). Smallest: Park Tudor (419).

New 1A schools
Down from 2A: Central Noble, Hammond Noll, Cloverdale
Largest school: Central Noble (416). Smallest: Indiana Deaf (112).