SCHSL Realignment 2026-28
Region 5-AAAA
Aiken, Fox Creek, Irmo, Midland Valley, North Augusta, South Aiken
Region 4-AA
American Leadership Academy, Horse Creek Academy**, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Pelion, Saluda, Silver Bluff, Strom Thurmond
Region 2-A
Batesburg-Leesville, C.A. Johnson, Clear Dot Charter, Eau Claire, Ridge Spring-Monetta, Whitmire
Region 4-A
Barnwell, Blackville-Hilda, Calhoun County, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, North**, Wagener-Salley, Williston-Elko
** – no football
The South Carolina High School League on Thursday released its region assignments for the 2026-28 school years, and some big changes are in store for schools in the Aiken Standard coverage area.
Aiken County’s Class AAAA quartet of Aiken, Midland Valley, North Augusta and South Aiken will remain together in the new Lower State Region 5-AAAA, but with two new region rivals: Fox Creek, which is moving up from Class AAA, and Irmo, which is moving down from Class AAAAA.
Fox Creek was originally placed in Class AAAA for the current realignment cycle but successfully appealed down to Class AAA. There was no such luck this time around for the Predators, whose appeals failed before both the executive committee and appellate panel.
“We felt compelled to request the move based on the number of participants in contact sports like football. We want to ensure the safety of our athletes supersedes the desire to win contests,” said Fox Creek executive director Josh Trahan in a statement following the appeals process.
“Now that the process is behind us, we are excited about the opportunity to compete in 4A. We are one of a few schools that can claim competition in 1A, 2A, 3A, and now 4A. I believe that the move to 4A will allow us to remain competitive, and hopefully it will improve any travel constraints for our parents. We are hopeful to play in the region already featuring Aiken, South Aiken, Midland Valley, and North Augusta. This would cap travel times for most games at 40 minutes. I also believe that there is the potential for some great rivalries to emerge.”
The new Lower State Region 4-AA contains three area schools, with Horse Creek Academy, Silver Bluff and Strom Thurmond joining Lexington’s American Leadership Academy, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Pelion and Saluda. HCA, which is a non-football-playing member, is moving up from Class A, while Silver Bluff and Orangeburg-Wilkinson are coming down from Class AAA. Strom Thurmond, ALA, Pelion and Saluda are all current members of Region 2-AA and will remain region rivals.
Class A received the biggest shake-up of all, as it is now the largest classification in the state with 70 members. Five area schools are in Class A, though not all in the same region as Ridge Spring-Monetta will be in the new Upper State Region 2-A with Batesburg-Leesville, C.A. Johnson, Columbia’s Clear Dot Charter, Eau Claire and Whitmire. Upper State Region 4-A looks similar to the current Region 3-A, aside from RSM’s absence, and now will be comprised of Barnwell, Blackville-Hilda, Calhoun County, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, North (no football), Wagener-Salley and Williston-Elko.
During this cycle, Class A will be split into Division 1 and Division 2 – like Class AAAAA is currently – for the playoffs in sports that have enough competing teams.
This will be the last realignment cycle with Barnwell, Blackville-Hilda and Williston-Elko competing as individual schools. They are set to consolidate and become Barnwell County High School starting in 2028.
Schools will have the opportunity to appeal their region placement before the SCHSL executive committee. Failed appeals can then be submitted before the appellate panel.
SCHSL Realignment 2026-28
(U – Upper State, L – Lower State)
** – no football
Class AAAAA
U-Region 1: Byrnes, Eastside, Hillcrest, J.L. Mann, Mauldin, Woodmont
U-Region 2: Boiling Springs, Dorman, Fort Mill, Northwestern, Rock Hill, Spartanburg
U-Region 3: Chapin, Dutch Fork, Lexington, River Bluff, White Knoll
L-Region 4: Blythewood, Gray Collegiate Academy, Ridge View, Spring Valley, Sumter
L-Region 5: Ashley Ridge, Fort Dorchester, James Island, Stall, Stratford, Summerville, West Ashley
L-Region 6: Berkeley, Cane Bay, Carolina Forest, Goose Creek, Socastee, Wando
Class AAAA
U-Region 1: Easley, Fountain Inn, Greenwood, Laurens, T.L. Hanna, Westside
U-Region 2: Gaffney, Greenville, Greer, Riverside, Travelers Rest, Wade Hampton
U-Region 3: Catawba Ridge, Clover, Lake Wylie, Legion Collegiate Academy**, Nation Ford, South Pointe, York
U-Region 4: A.C. Flora, Dreher, Indian Land, Lancaster, Lugoff-Elgin, Richland Northeast, Westwood
L-Region 5: Aiken, Fox Creek, Irmo, Midland Valley, North Augusta, South Aiken
L-Region 6: Beaufort, Bluffton, Colleton County, Hilton Head Island, Lucy Beckham, May River
L-Region 7: Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, South Florence, St. James, West Florence, Wilson
Class AAA
U-Region 1: Berea, Daniel, Pickens, Seneca, Southside, Walhalla
U-Region 2: Belton-Honea Path, Emerald, Legacy Early College**, Palmetto, Powdersville, Wren
U-Region 3: Blue Ridge, Broome, Chapman, Christ Church Episcopal, Union County
L-Region 4: Airport, Brookland-Cayce, Camden, Gilbert, Lower Richland, Swansea
L-Region 5: Bishop England, Georgetown, Hanahan, North Charleston, Oceanside Collegiate Academy
L-Region 6: Atlantic Collegiate Academy, Aynor, Crestwood, Darlington, Hartsville, Lakewood, Loris
Class AA
U-Region 1: Brashier Middle College**, Carolina, Crescent, GREEN Upstate**, Greenville Tech**, Liberty, Pendleton, St. Joseph’s Catholic, West-Oak
U-Region 2: Chesnee, Clinton, Greer Middle College**, High Point Academy**, Landrum, Mountain View Prep, Southside Christian School, Woodruff
U-Region 3: Andrew Jackson, Chester, Columbia, Keenan, Mid-Carolina, Newberry, York Preparatory**
L-Region 4: American Leadership Academy, Horse Creek Academy**, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Pelion, Saluda, Silver Bluff, Strom Thurmond
L-Region 5: Academic Magnet, Battery Creek, Bridges Prep**, Lake Marion, Philip Simmons, Timberland, Woodland
L-Region 6: Dillon, East Clarendon, Lake City, Manning, Marlboro County, Waccamaw
Class A
U-Region 1: Abbeville, Calhoun Falls, Dixie, McCormick, Ninety Six, South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind**, Thornwell, Ware Shoals
U-Region 2: Batesburg-Leesville, C.A. Johnson, Clear Dot Charter, Eau Claire, Ridge Spring-Monetta, Whitmire
U-Region 3: Blacksburg, Buford, Fairfield Central, Great Falls, Lewisville, Midlands STEM**, Riverwalk Academy**
U-Region 4: Barnwell, Blackville-Hilda, Calhoun County, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, North**, Wagener-Salley, Williston-Elko
U-Region 5: Central, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Governor’s School**, Lamar, Lee Central, McBee, North Central
L-Region 6: Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Bethune-Bowman, Branchville, Denmark-Olar, Edisto, Scott’s Branch
L-Region 7: Allendale-Fairfax, Hampton County, Hardeeville, Polaris Tech***, Ridgeland, Royal Live Oaks Academy**, Whale Branch
L-Region 8: Baptist Hill, Burke, Charleston Charter**, Cross, Lowcountry Leadership**, Military Magnet Academy, Palmetto Scholars Academy**, St. John’s
L-Region 9: Andrews, Cane Bay, Hannah Pamplico, Hemingway, Johnsonville, Kingstree
L-Region 10: Coastal***, Green Sea Floyds, Lake View, Latta, Marion, Mullins, Virtus Academy**
Caption:
Blackville-Hilda’s Bryce Collins wraps up Barnwell’s Nehemiah Brown.
Kyle Dawson/Staff
January 24, 2026 | Aiken Standard (SC)
Author/Byline: Kyle Dawson kdawson@aikenstandard.com | Page: 009 | Section: A