Editorial: What Does 4.4.4 Mean For Northwest Louisiana Small Schools

Last week at the LHSAA Executive meeting another chapter in the Select vs Non-Select saga was written.  By a 16-5 vote, the definition of “Select” schools was redefined.  “Select” includes any school deemed a lab school, magnet school, school with magnet components, charter schools, parishes that allow open enrollment at all its public schools, and tuition-based schools.  

This definition will not redefine the current districts but will affect the playoff bracket they will play.   

According to GeauxPreps.com in their article, the number of select schools will jump to 198 while 207 will be non-select.  

So what does this affect the current situation in the Class 2A-A-B-C schools in the Northwest LA area? 

Caddo Parish Could Be Chaos

Schools such as Calvary and Loyola will not change, but other schools like North Caddo which are currently a non-select school that has a magnet program that draws kids from other attendance zones Every school except Northwood will be classified as a Select school.  Green Oaks and Magnolia Charter will move to the Select Bracket.  

Jackson Parish Open Enrollment Could Send Schools To Select Status

Open Enrollment status for Jonesboro-Hodge, Quitman, and Weston could force them to compete in the Select Division.  The definition goes into effect on July 1 and open enrollment districts have until June 22 to change their policy.  

Jonesboro-Hodge head football coach Terrance Blankenship had the following about the topic.  “Our parish has had an open enrollment policy, but I think the LHSAA is giving school districts time to change their policies,” Blakenship said.  “I think our district will change the policy and we will be in non-select this year. But I don’t have all of the details.”

Most Schools Are Not Affected

Most of the schools that are already select will remain select based such as Calvary, Loyola, and Glenbrook.  Schools that may have to change are:  North Caddo, Lincoln Prep, Magnolia Charter, Quitman, Weston, Jonesboro-Hodge, Green Oaks

Lincoln Prep Will Move To Select

Lincoln Prep will be moving to a new district next year in the Monroe area that will include three schools (Ouachita Christian, River Oaks, and St. Frederick) that they will have to face in the district and playoffs.   “Seems like a political move to me but as a coach, you can’t worry about that.”   Girls basketball coach Fred Hearn said.  “All I can do is worry about what I can control and that is to create a climate and culture that is conducive to the student-athletes that I am in charge of at our school. Everything else will take care of itself.”

Many of the thoughts when this topic comes up is football.  District 1-A short Magnolia Charter will be unaffected by this decision.   District 1-2A will be upheaved because you have the Caddo situation with Calvary, North Caddo, Green Oaks, and Loyola coming into the new district and all may have to play in Select.  Lakeside would be the only non-select.   

Unless situations change the following will be the breakdown for Class 2A, A, B, C

Based on the numbers above, could this affect the number of playoff spots?  Class C currently gets 16 slots in basketball.  Will  Class B be dropped from 24 to 16?  Could the number of playoffs in 2A be trimmed from 32 to 24?  These are all questions to be answered down the line.  

Schools will have 15 days to appeal their classification.  The number of divisions and their breakdown will occur in July 2022 once all appeals have been reviewed.