Change has been the theme for the South Carolina High School League in this round of realignment. The SCHSL has imposed a multiplier rule that they feel will even the playing field. The rule drives up the enrollment number for private and charter schools. Causing many of them to have to move up to a larger classification.
Another major change is that there will now be two 5A divisions. Not sure why, they just didn't add a 6A class to avoid confusion, but I digress. In the new realignment schools like Greenville High, Riverside and Easley will be moving up from 4 to 5A.
Football power Gray Collegiate of Columbia will be moving from 2A to 4A under the new multiplier, which many people think they were the reason for the rule. Many of Gray's 2A region opponents had decided not to play them and forfeited, citing that the playing field was uneven.
This year's 3A State Football Champs, Daniel will be moving up to class 4A after winning three State Titles in the last 4 years. Their rival, Seneca will also be moving up to Class 4A. With Daniel and Seneca leaving that will change the landscape of Region 1 3A.
Fledgling school Fountain Inn will be moving up from 3 to 4A as well.
The Greenville area Christian school rivals will all be moving to 3A. Christ Church the back to back 1A State Champs will move up along with rivals Southside Christian and St, Joseph's. It feels likely that the three will be in the same region in 3A, as they have been in the same 1A region in recent years.
Defending 2A State Champs Abbeville was placed in 1A. They appealed and asked to stay in 2A, that was denied and now Abbeville will move to 1A. So much for the SCHSL's "even playing field" concept, as the Panthers have been a power in 2A with only Gray Collegiate being able to consistently compete with them at that level.
So appeals for class sizes have already been heard and ruled upon by the South Carolina High School League. Now the next step will be the region alignment announcements. Which could be really interesting. The finalized classification list can be found at https://schsl.org/archives/12780