Talking 2025 Enrollment.....

[cornerrat]

All.... This is interesting. Belleville Althoff showing a decent enrollment jump. 332.00 with the 1.65 Catholic Tax (M) the Crusaders come in at 547.80. It is very early to determine many schools class especially those on the bubble. What one sees at the beginning of the year when all schools are eligible for the postseason changes dramatically as schools are eliminated. Usually by week 8 or 9 a better picture is available.

It appears Althoff will be one of those bubble schools in between classes. For 2024 the largest class 3A qualifying team had an enrollment of 542.50 and the smallest in class 4A was 553.00. Note though this was with the two year enrollment average. So when the 256 qualifiers are announced at the end of the season there could be many surprises. Stay tuned.... Ratsy

 

[cornerrat]

All.... Here is another one of note. Highland from 2001 till 2024 class 5A (postseason) other then 2017 in 4A. The Bulldogs two year average was 897.50. New enrollment 832.00 . They could go 4A. Ratsy

 

[olderbytheminute]

All.... This is interesting. Belleville Althoff showing a decent enrollment jump. 332.00 with the 1.65 Catholic Tax (M) the Crusaders come in at 547.80. It is very early to determine many schools class especially those on the bubble. What one sees at the beginning of the year when all schools are eligible for the postseason changes dramatically as schools are eliminated. Usually by week 8 or 9 a better picture is available.

It appears Althoff will be one of those bubble schools in between classes. For 2024 the largest class 3A qualifying team had an enrollment of 542.50 and the smallest in class 4A was 553.00. Note though this was with the two year enrollment average. So when the 256 qualifiers are announced at the end of the season there could be many surprises. Stay tuned.... Ratsy

I m no expert on the new ihsa rules for piling on to the private schools but it appears that way more private schools that make the playoffs in 2025 will have been multiplied in some fashion compared to 2024. If so, then the football enrollment maximums at the 5a 6a 7a levels should be significantly higher than in recent years.
For example, Antioch high opted to play 6a in 2025 and in recent years very few private schools landed in the 6a bracket. I suspect many of the former 5a powerhouses are likely headed for 6a and up in 2025 because of the waiver change. If so, a private school such as Althing at the low end of enrolment might not be bumped up a class or 2a. But I m just spitballing this right now without facts.

 

[cornerrat]

I m no expert on the new ihsa rules for piling on to the private schools but it appears that way more private schools that make the playoffs in 2025 will have been multiplied in some fashion compared to 2024. If so, then the football enrollment maximums at the 5a 6a 7a levels should be significantly higher than in recent years.
For example, Antioch high opted to play 6a in 2025 and in recent years very few private schools landed in the 6a bracket. I suspect many of the former 5a powerhouses are likely headed for 6a and up in 2025 because of the waiver change. If so, a private school such as Althing at the low end of enrolment might not be bumped up a class or 2a. But I m just spitballing this right now without facts.

All.... Class designation for the playoffs.... that is guessing where everyone will be is always difficult. More so this year for several reasons.

1. Waiver is essentially dead. I didn't run the count but around +16 teams will enter the multiplier with other schools already in.
2. The new one year rule for class designation changes everyones enrollment (around 500 schools or so) increasing the variables on where a particular school will end up.
3. Toss in the 5 or 10 teams not thought to even make the playoff which happens every year.

When looking at class placement I usually go back a decade on past numbers paying close attention to those class cut lines. Far from perfect but it is the only data available. It is an eight piece puzzle where a couple of schools that don't perform the way they should as an example teams x in 7A can effect others in class 2A or 3A causing a class move. Until near the end of the season with all of these moving parts Ias I mentioned above it's just a guess. Steve Soucie does a playoff projection pretty early. Most is based on past historical data and gets refined as the season plays out when the wins and losses start coming in weekly.

As for Belleville Althoff with the multiplier they are going up for sure. The class 2A high water mark was in 2010 qualifier enrollment 327-453. The last three seasons 316-423, 303-410, 296.5-403.5. Even with all of the 2025 changes the Crusaders coming in at 547.80 will be at the very least class 3A when it's all said and done. My two cents worth. Ratsy