At 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, the University
Interscholastic League (UIL) will publicly
release its realignment of high schools
for the next two years, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.
UIL groups Texas high schools by size into
competitive athletic districts by conferences
(5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, A).
Spring Branch ISD high schools have several
possible realignment scenarios, including
no change at all. Our schools could remain
Conference 5A schools and stay in the same
district (with Aldine ISD schools), or all
could remain 5A schools and be grouped with
other schools (not in Aldine district). It
is also possible that one or more of our
schools could move to a Conference 4A competitive
district.
According to UIL’s policy, the top
225 to 245 high schools by enrollment will
be placed in Conference 5A. For several
years, our schools have been just above
the minimum 5A cutoff target number. Enrollment
is determined by a “snapshot” count
made in October. Students who are enrolled
in an alternative campus are counted to
the school where they reside, based on traditional
high school boundaries.
Growth in San Antonio, Austin and Houston
has caused many school districts to open
large, new high schools. As new high
schools open, the enrollment cutoff number
for being placed in the Conference 5A has
increased for each realignment during the
past decade. The enrollment in the SBISD
high schools has remained constant during
that same time period.
It is possible that one or more of our
schools could be re-assigned to the 4A
Conference depending on UIL’s proposed
minimum 5A enrollment. Several highly
regarded 4A Conference programs operate
in Houston-area schools. Highland Park,
Lake Travis and Alamo Heights are other
schools and school districts with well
known 4A programs and teams.
Every effort will be made to maintain
SBISD’s longstanding rivalries,
and scheduling will continue to allow
for our high schools to have contests
with one another, even if schools
are placed in different conferences. SBISD
is committed to its campus athletics programs.
Our district schools will continue to
be strong in all sports.
UIL Realignment Document
posted 01-31-08
