Lamar’s Miller Hodge (8) makes a tackle during a game earlier this season. Under the new MAIS alignment, Lamar will be a 5A school in football and a 4A school in all other sports.

Realignment for the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools will bring major changes to sports classifications beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.

Instead of Classes A-AAAA, with AAAA divided into two divisions, the new MAIS classifications will feature Classes 1-6A in football and Classes 1-5A in non-football sports, realignment documentation provided to The Meridian Star confirmed.

FOOTBALL

•MAIS Class 6A will include Jackson Academy, Jackson Prep, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Parklane Academy, Oak Forest Academy and Presbyterian Christian School.

•MAIS Class 5A is divided into three districts. District 2-5A includes Lamar as well as Leake Academy, Hartfield Academy, East Rankin Academy, Simpson Academy and Park Place Christian Academy. District 1-5A includes Washington School, Bayou Academy, Pillow Academy, Magnolia Heights School, Heritage Academy and Starkville Academy. District 3-5A includes Adams County Christian School, Central Hinds Academy, Copiah Academy, Silliman Institute and St. Aloysius. 

•MAIS Class 4A includes four districts, none of which include any local schools. MAIS Class 3A is divided into three districts. Newton County Academy is in District 2-3A along with Benton Academy, Sylva Bay Academy, Amite School Center and Centreville Academy.

•MAIS Class 2A has three districts. Kemper Academy is in District 2-2A along with Manchester Academy, Delta Streets Academy, Humphreys Academy, Hebron Christian Academy, Sharkey Issaquena Academy and Columbus Christian Academy. MAIS Class 1A is divided into three districts and doesn’t include any local teams.

•Classes 1 and 2A will compete in eight-man football. 

NON-FOOTBALL

•The highest classification in sports outside of football is MAIS Class 5A and includes just one district made up of Jackson Academy, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, Jackson Prep, Copiah Academy, Parkland Academy and Presbyterian Christian School.

•Lamar is in District 2-4A in non-football sports along with East Rankin Academy, Leake Academy, Winston Academy, Starkville Academy and Heritage Academy. District 1-4A includes Magnolia Heights School, Bayou Academy, Washington School and Pillow Academy. District 3-4A includes St. Aloysius, Central Hinds Academy, Park Place Christian Academy, Simpson Academy, Hartfield Academy and Hillcrest Christian. District 4-4A includes Adams County Christian School, Cathedral, Silliman Institute, Oak Forest Academy and Brookhaven Academy.

•MAIS Classes 1A and 3A both include four districts, none of which include local schools.

•Newton County Academy and Kemper Academy are both in District 3-2A, along with Columbus Christian Academy and Hebron Christian Academy. In total, Class 2A is made up of five districts.