The landscape of high school sports in Lexington County is shifting once again. 

With the release of the latest South Carolina High School League realignment plan, conferences will change, teams will move classifications and things will look very different.

Five Lexington County teams were affected by the realignment. Four moved down while Gray Collegiate was the lone riser. Alignment is based on a school's total enrollment, with a 3x multiplier applied to out-of-zone students.

The War Eagles, who were in Class 2A just two seasons ago, will move up to 5A. With the multiplier in effect, Gray’s enrollment total is the 33rd largest in the state. 

Overall, there are 40 5A schools. The classification will be combined back into one after being split into two divisions during the last alignment period. 

Chapin, Dutch Fork, Lexington, River Bluff and White Knoll all stayed in 5A. Their conference mate and fellow Lexington County school, Irmo, moved back down to 4A after two years in the highest classification. 

Brookland-Cayce is the only 4A school to stay in 4A under the new plan. With Gray moving up and Airport and Gilbert moving down, the Bearcats and Yellow Jackets will be the only local 4A teams. 

Swansea stayed in 3A and is no longer alone on an island with Gilbert and Airport joining them. Airport barely missed the cut for 4A, having the highest enrollment total of all the new 3A schools. 

Pelion and American Leadership Academy stayed in 2A. 

Batesburg-Leesville has the smallest enrollment total when counting the multiplier and moved down to become the county’s lone Class A school. 

Schools will have a chance to appeal their placement to the SCHSL’s Executive Committee on Jan. 13-14. Once appeals are heard and the plans are finalized, new regions will be released.

Below is a list of schools and their enrollment total with the 3x multiplier for out-of-area students.

Lexington County classifications 

5A

Lexington - 2,132

River Bluff - 1,958

Dutch Fork - 1,708

Gray Collegiate - 1,640

Chapin - 1,628

White Knoll - 1,610

4A

Irmo - 1,356

Brookland-Cayce - 1,058

3A

Airport - 1,042

Gilbert - 955

Swansea - 745

2A

American Leadership Academy - 671

Pelion - 604

A

Batesburg-Leesville - 453