Northside, Sipsey Valley Expecting Move To AHSAA Class 5A

SAMANTHA, AL — The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) next week is set to announce its high school reclassifications for 2024-2025, with the proposed changes seeing Northside High School and Sipsey Valley High School moving from AHSAA Class 4A to Class 5A.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

According to a copy of the proposed changes obtained by Patch, Northside and Sipsey Valley football would compete in AHSAA Class 5A, Region 3, joining Demopolis, Jemison, Marbury and Selma.

Located in rapidly growing northern Tuscaloosa County, Northside High School has competed in Class 4A since 2014, after alternating for years prior between 3A and 4A.

Down the road in Buhl, Sipsey Valley was briefly a 5A school from 2020 through 2021, before dropping down to 4A for the last two years.

The most recent reclassification for 2022-2024 shows Class 5A schools reporting average daily enrollments ranging from just short of 600 students to 400 students.

Strictly by enrollment, Northside High School was the seventh-largest 4A school the last time the AHSAA announced reclassifications, with 382 students, while Sipsey Valley came in at 13th with 368 students.

Perhaps the biggest news on the changing high school football landscape in Tuscaloosa County, though, came on Wednesday when Patch confirmed that Hillcrest High School is expecting to be announced as the county's second-ever AHSAA 7A school.

This move would place the Patriots in the most competitive region in Alabama high school football, along with resuming the longstanding gridiron rivalry with Tuscaloosa County High School after a two-year hiatus.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com