Overview
- The biennial update sets district assignments for football, basketball and volleyball for 2026–28, using new cutoffs that place Class 6A at 2,215 students and above and Class 5A at 1,305–2,214, with football divisions split in 5A and below.
- More than 20 schools moved up from 5A to 6A and nearly 20 dropped to 5A, including Aledo rising to 6A and DeSoto, Cedar Hill and Mesquite moving to 5A among other notable shifts.
- Opt-up decisions followed the release, with Spring ISD keeping Westfield in 6A alongside Spring and Dekaney, and multiple Houston ISD programs choosing 5A Division I for football to stay grouped.
- Region and district placements reshape playoff paths and travel, highlighted by Vandegrift’s placement in Region III away from Lake Travis and Westlake early, and Round Rock ISD sharing a tough 6A district with those two powers.
- The list is marked tentative for these three sports, districts can appeal their placements, and alignments for sports such as baseball, softball and soccer are expected later in the spring.