New regions set for 2020-22 school years

There will be new school regions across north Georgia when the 2020-21 school year begins.

The appeal process for schools wishing to change regions or classifications within the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) was completed Tuesday, Nov. 19, and many area schools will soon see new foes in new places during the 2020 through 2022 school years.

After the GHSA released initial prospective region alignments earlier this month, several schools filed appeals to move to different regions or play in a different classification, including Fannin Co.

Fannin Co.’s appeal was granted, and they will play in Region 7-AA with Chattooga, Coosa, Dade Co., Gordon Central, Model, and Pepperell.

Fannin Co. had originally been placed in 8-AA but appealed due to travel times and distance.

Gilmer will move down a classification next year from Region 6-AAAA to play in Region 7-AAA. Along with Gilmer, Region 7-AAA will have newcomers in West Hall and White Co., while keeping Cherokee Bluff, Dawson Co., Lumpkin Co., and North Hall.

White Co. moves down from from Class AAAA to AAA.

Pickens will remain in Class AAAA but will move from Region 6 to Region 7. The Dragons will face Cedartown, Central Carroll, Heritage, Catoosa, Northwest Whitfield, Ridgeland, and Southeast Whitfield.

Murray Co. and North Murray remain in 6-AAA, which will include of Adairsville, Coahulla Creek, LaFayette, Lakeview-Ft. Oglethrope, Ringgold, Rockmart, and Sonoraville.

Rabun Co. and Union Co. remain in 8-AA, which includes of Banks Co., Elbert Co., and Riverside Military.

Towns Co. remains in 8-A Public, which includes of Commerce, Greene County, Lincoln County, Social Circle, and Washington-Wilkes.

Final region alignments still have to be verified by the GHSA’s Executive Committee for Reclassification, which is expected to meet in early December.

For a list of current GHSA regions, click here.

For the full list of anticipated regions for 2020-2022, click here.