Madison County remains a 4A school, but competition will be dramatically ...

Madison County’s sports classification will stay the same next year. But its competition will be quite different.

The Georgia High School Association released its new six-classification arrangement Monday, with Madison County remaining in the 4A class. Meanwhile, fellow members of the current Region 8-AAAA will jump to the 5A class, or even the 6A class in Habersham Central’s case.

Madison County, which is currently one of the smallest 4A schools in the state, will be the 12th largest 4A school in the new classification with an enrollment of 1,085, which could prove a competitive boost on the fields and courts.

“It will put us playing teams we match up with,” said Red Raider athletic director and head football coach Randell Owens. “It will be better geographically. It will be better for the gates. It will be better for the transportation budget and competitively all the way around.”

Owens said schools will have an opportunity to appeal their classification status. Once those appeals are heard, the state will establish regions. And once those regions are set, officials from each school within the new regions will meet to discuss schedules and playoff formats, probably some time in January.