By Thomas Grant Jr.
Several Lake Murray-area schools will compete in different — but familiar — classifications over the next two years following the release of the South Carolina High School League’s final placement numbers for the 2026–28 cycle.
Gilbert, Newberry and Batesburg-Leesville are each moving down a classification. After spending the past two seasons in Class 4A, Gilbert will return to Class 3A. Newberry drops from Class 3A to Class 2A, while Batesburg-Leesville becomes the lone Class A school in the Lake Murray area.
Schools have until Jan. 7 to submit appeals to the SCHSL Executive Committee. The committee will hear appeals Jan. 13–14. If necessary, cases will then advance to an appellate panel Jan. 15–16.
2026–28 S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE FINAL REALIGNMENT
(Enrollment figures in parentheses)
CLASS 5A
Dorman (2,929); Summerville (2,729); Carolina Forest (2,635); James F. Byrnes (2,547); Spring Valley (2,336); Boiling Springs (2,197); West Ashley (2,177); Wando (2,147); Mauldin (2,143); Lexington (2,132); Stratford (2,087); Ashley Ridge (2,056); James Island Charter (2,013); Wade Hampton (1,962); Cane Bay (1,961); River Bluff (1,958); West Florence (1,877); Fort Dorchester (1,871); Berkeley (1,830); Blythewood (1,829); Spartanburg (1,812); J.L. Mann (1,793); Sumter (1,764); Rock Hill (1,753); Socastee (1,752); Hillcrest (1,747); R.B. Stall (1,740); Eastside (1,717); Dutch Fork (1,708); South Florence (1,708); Fort Mill (1,681); Woodmont (1,675); Gray Collegiate Academy (1,640); Ridge View (1,630); Chapin (1,628); White Knoll (1,610); Northwestern (1,571); Goose Creek (1,566); Indian Land (1,540); Lucy Beckham (1,458)
CLASS 4A
T.L. Hanna (1,561); Conway (1,557); Nation Ford (1,534); Wilson (1,517); Gaffney (1,505); St. James (1,464); Fountain Inn (1,449); Greenwood (1,442); Lugoff-Elgin (1,419); May River (1,407); Riverside (1,396); Westwood (1,392); North Myrtle Beach (1,386); Catawba Ridge (1,377); North Augusta (1,374); Irmo (1,356); Easley (1,354); Greenville (1,345); Westside (1,338); South Aiken (1,297); Midland Valley (1,267); South Pointe (1,261); Fox Creek (1,256); Richland Northeast (1,254); Dreher (1,235); Bluffton (1,216); Myrtle Beach (1,198); Travelers Rest (1,192); York Comprehensive (1,192); Aiken (1,188); Legion Collegiate Academy (1,171); Greer (1,145); Lake Wylie (1,132); Greenville Tech Charter (1,113); A.C. Flora (1,100); Laurens District 55 (1,091); Clover (1,075); Lancaster (1,062); Brookland-Cayce (1,058); Beaufort (1,044); Hilton Head Island (983); Colleton County (981)
CLASS 3A
Airport (1,042); Wren (1,030); D.W. Daniel (1,024); Greer Middle College (1,022); Pickens (986); Lower Richland (982); Blue Ridge (974); Berea (966); Walhalla (960); Gilbert (955); Hartsville (945); Southside (933); Emerald (928); Brashier Middle College (926); Crestwood (901); Camden (890); Hanahan (887); Aynor (881); Powdersville (877); Darlington (876); Legacy Early College (873); Bridges Prep (853); Atlantic Collegiate (846); North Charleston (842); Palmetto (839); GREEN Upstate (834); Seneca (831); Chapman (827); Oceanside Collegiate (805); Georgetown (797); Broome (794); Union County (791); Belton-Honea Path (781); Lakewood (779); Christ Church Episcopal (777); Bishop England (763); Marlboro County (761); Pendleton (757); Swansea (745); Loris (738)
CLASS 2A
Charleston Charter Math & Science (759); Battery Creek (736); Woodruff (723); Orangeburg-Wilkinson (721); Carolina Academy (711); St. Joseph’s (709); Mountain View Prep (703); High Point Academy (701); Waccamaw (698); Clinton (686); Landrum (672); American Leadership Academy (671); Chesnee (666); Keenan (666); Horse Creek Academy (665); West-Oak (662); Southside Christian (660); Philip Simmons (654); Crescent (642); York Prep (609); Newberry (607); Pelion (604); Strom Thurmond (604); Woodland (600); Silver Bluff (597); Dillon (596); Andrew Jackson (588); Liberty (588); Academic Magnet (575); Columbia (572); Lake City (570); Manning (568); Timberland (564); Lake Marion (559); Saluda (548); Mid-Carolina (546); East Clarendon (532); Palmetto Scholars Academy (525); Central (513); Chester (511); Blacksburg
CLASS A
Ninety Six (489); Hampton County (487); Fairfield Central (485); Kingstree (479); Barnwell (472); Buford (456); North Central (454); Batesburg-Leesville (453); Burke (453); Mullins (449); Edisto (439); Cheraw (437); Eau Claire (436); Marion (433); Riverwalk Academy (428); Chesterfield (410); Latta (401); Andrews (393); Bamberg-Ehrhardt (365); Virtus Academy (361); Abbeville (348); Whale Branch Early College (343); Carvers Bay Early College (342); Dixie (331); Hannah-Pamplico (330); Lee Central (328); Ridgeland Secondary Academy (328); Johnsonville (325); Lewisville (323); Green Sea Floyds (305); Hardeeville (305); St. John’s (303); C.A. Johnson (297); Calhoun County (296); Royal Live Oaks Academy (282); McBee (262); Baptist Hill (261); Clear Dot Charter (249); Ridge Spring-Monetta (247); Thornwell Charter (232); Coastal (231); Wagener-Salley (220); Lake View (212); Lamar (211); Lowcountry Leadership Charter (209); Polaris Tech Charter (193); Ware Shoals (193); Whitmire Community (193); Military Magnet (185); Scott’s Branch (179); Allendale-Fairfax (177); Williston-Elko (176); Bethune-Bowman (163); Great Falls (158); Branchville (154); Cross (145); Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (138); Denmark-Olar (136); Hemingway (123); McCormick (119); Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (115); Blackville-Hilda (104); North (99); Midlands STEM Charter (96); Calhoun Falls Charter (94); S.C. School for the Deaf and the Blind
