Tascosa is headed to Class 5A after the UIL released its reclassification numbers on Tuesday for the upcoming 2020-2022 realignment. [John Moore/ Press Pass Sports]
The University Interscholastic League released its conference cutoff numbers for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 reclassification and realignment on Tuesday morning.
The long burning question of will Tascosa High School, Amarillo ISD’s biggest school of its four, drop into Class 5A was quickly answered yes when the numbers hit on social media.
Tascosa turned in 2,186 students on snap shot day in late October. The new realignment number for Conference 6A and above starts at 2,220, putting Tascosa 34 students below the new reclassification number.
So what does this mean for Amarillo ISD going forward.
First it means for the first time in AISD history there will not be a school in the state’s highest classification.
All four AISD schools — Tascosa, Amarillo High Caprock and Palo Duro — will now be together in Class 5A.
It makes sense for football that those four AISD schools be put in a district with the three Lubbock ISD schools, Monterey, Coronado and Lubbock High, to become a seven team district. Abilene Cooper is a wildcard that could form an eight-team league, though the rumors around the state is, the Cougars have requested to go toward the Metroplex.
Then there is a nightmare scenario among some statewide experts that have the three El Paso 5A Division I schools remaining — El Dorado, Bel Air and Del Valle — joining AISD and LISD to form a 10-team football district.
If anyone thinks that is a crazy scenario, never say never when it comes go the UIL.
One thing is for certain from a fans perspective. The best city rivarly between AHS and Tascosa will go back to its original home on the final Friday of October.
Spirit week is a staple among the rivals when both are district opponents.
There is a much different feeling than when that game is played in early September.
Staying put
Andrews and Lubbock Estacado may not be in the Texas Panhandle but they do impact Amarillo-area district’s, and outside of Tascosa, they did make the most noise Tuesday.
When Andrews and Lubbock Estacado released its snap shot numbers, both looked to be locks toward moving up. The Mustangs turned in 1,207 students which was 58 students higher than the previous Class 4A Division I high end cutoff. However, with the new Class 5A Division I low end cutoff at 1,207, Andrews is staying in Class 4A.
Same goes for Estacado. When the Matadors turned in 844, most assumed Estacado was on the way to Class 4A Division I. But, with the 4A cutoff being from 1,209 to 865, the Matadors are staying right where they have been.
Notes
Tascosa wasn’t the only Texas Panhandle school to make a move Tuesday.
Dalhart turned in 486 students, which drops the Golden Wolves from Class 4A Division II to Class 3A Division I.
Highland Park is moving up from Class 2A Division I to Class 3A Division II with an enrollment of 245.
Farwell and Sunray will trade places. The Steers head to Class 2A Division I with an enrollment is of 173, while Sunray drops into Division II, turning in 149.
Wildorado is the newest area Six-man school, as they will begin in Division II with an enrollment of 58.5 with the cutoff set at 59.5
Miami and Hart will drop down to Division II, and Kress will move up to Division I. Springlake-Earth has chosen to play Six-man football and Claude will be added to a district for the first time. We should see quite a bit of change among the area districts.
UIL 2020-21 & 2021-22 Conference cutoff numbers
Conference 6A 2,220-above 249 schools
Conference 5A 1,210-2,219 254 schools
Conference 4A 515-1,209 202 schools
Conference 3A 230-514 236 schools
Conference 2A 105-229 200 schools
Conference 1A 105-below 220 schools
Class 5A to 1A Division I & II numbers
Class 5A
Division I 1,900-2019 126 schools
Division II 1,210-899 125 schools
Class 4A
Division I 865-1,209 92 schools
Division II 515-864 92 schools
Class 3A
Division I 350-514 106 schools
Division II 230-349 106 schools
Class 2A
Division I 165.5-229 96 schools
Division II 165.4-105 94 schools
Class 1A
Division I 104.9-59.5. 77 schools
Division II 59.4-below 76 schools
October’s snapshot numbers
Class 6A
Odessa Permian 3,738
Odessa High 3,296
Midland High 3,234
Midland Lee 3,199
Frenship 2,773
Class 5A Division I
Tascosa 2,186
Amarillo High 2,140
Caprock 2,160
Monterey 2,149
Coronado 2,129
Abi. Cooper 2,017.5
Lub. High 1,926.5
Palo Duro 1,923
Class 5A Division II
Lub.Cooper 1,851
Randall 1,718
W.F. Rider 1,519
Plainview 1,485.5
W.F. High 1,321
Abi. Wylie 1,270
Class 4A Division I
Canyon 1,149
Dumas 1,144
Hereford 1,133.5
Pampa 1,045
Class 4A Division II
Estacado 844
Borger 753
Levelland 727
Perryton 630
Class 3A Division I
Dalhart 486
Bushland 479
Shallowater 464
River Road 403
Slaton 393
Littlefield 363
Muleshoe 352
Class 3A Division II
Dimmitt 346
Childress 331
Tulia 325
Friona 310
Canadian 264
Spearman 249
H. Park 245
Class 2A Division I
W. Texas High 221
Panhandle 212
S. Fritch 207
Boys Ranch 190
Farwell 173
Class 2A Division II
Gruver 162
Stratford 157
Sunray 149
Memphis 145
Wellington 144
Vega 134
Wheeler 129
Shamrock 123
Clarendon 123
Bovina 115
Booker 103
Class 1A Division I
October’s snap shot numbers
White Deer 99
Claude 92
Happy 74
Valley 66
McLean 63
Miami 52
Class 1A Division II
October’s snap shot numbers
Wildorado 58.5
Groom 50
Follett 41
Hedley 32