The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has released its finalized football classifications for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, setting the stage for a reshuffling of teams across the state.
Among the most notable shifts, Kentucky Country Day, the reigning 1A champions from 2025, will step up to 2A, a move that has drawn sharp words from head coach Matt Jones, who argues the process overlooked the unique pressures on small private institutions.
The association applied a 1.35 multiplier to private schools that field football programs, a formula that Jones contends is arbitrary and lacks empirical grounding, especially when compared to the open‑enrollment public districts that operate without such weightings.
How the Realignment Affects Other Programs
The ripple effects extend to several other private schools. Lexington Christian, the 2025 2A champions, are slated to rise to 3A, while Christian Academy‑Louisville, the defending 3A titleholders, will jump to 4A in 2027. Covington Catholic will be reassigned to 5A, and Bethlehem will climb from 1A to 2A.
Public programs are not immune. Franklin County, the 2025 4A runners‑up, will move up to 5A next year, whereas Elizabethtown will slide back to 3A after a two‑year stint in 4A.
Amid the turbulence, Hunter Cantwell, coach at CAL, has emphasized that the school’s mission remains the priority, even as the new alignment reshapes competitive prospects.