Based on the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s initial classifications for the 2027-2029 cycle, it appears that Scott High will be moving from Class 3A to Class 2A in basketball, baseball and softball, and that Oneida will be moving from Class 2A to Class 1A in football.
Those are the major moves as they concern local schools in TSSAA’s initial classifications, which were released Tuesday and are based on enrollment numbers submitted by each school.
Scott High’s new enrollment number is 630, down approximately 10% from the current enrollment numbers that have been used by TSSAA for the past two years. Oneida’s new enrollment number is 322, down about 13% from the current number.
Based on the state body’s initial projections, Oneida will be solidly in Class 1A in football and will remain in Class 1A in basketball, baseball and softball, while Scott High will remain in Class 3A in football and will move down to Class 2A in basketball, baseball and softball — though just barely.
According to the state’s numbers, Scott High would be tied with Stratford High School in Nashville as the largest Class 2A basketball school in the state. Ridgeway High School, with just four more students, is the smallest Class 3A school.
The classifications are subject to change, as teams have until Oct. 2 to appeal TSSAA’s decision or request to play up a classification.
However, while TSSAA routinely allows schools to play up a class, they do not ordinarily allow a team to play down a class based on enrollment numbers. If a school smaller than Scott chooses to play up, it would enhance the Highlanders’ chances of remaining in Class 2A.
In football, Scott is certain to stay in Class 3A. There are 32 schools smaller than Scott in Class 3A, and 16 schools larger. Alcoa, with an enrollment of 685, is the smallest Class 4A school in the state.
As for Oneida, the Indians have solidified their Class 1A classification in basketball. Under the current classification, Oneida is one of the largest Class 1A basketball schools in the state. Now, however, there are 21 schools larger than Oneida in Class 1A. In football, Oneida is projected to go from being one of the smallest Class 2A schools in the state to one of the largest Class 1A schools. According to TSSAA’s numbers, Oneida would rank No. 44 out of 51 Class 1A football schools, in terms of enrollment. Eagleville, at 354, is the smallest Class 2A football school in the state.
TSSAA has four classes in basketball, baseball and softball, and six in football. Each class is evenly divided.
Next up for TSSAA schools will be to learn their district and region pairings, which could change, at least slightly, even in football for Scott High and in basketball, baseball and softball for Oneida.
The Highlanders will certainly have a new district in basketball, as current district foes Anderson County, Clinton, Gibbs, and Union County all remain in Class 3A.
That district has proven favorable for Scott High. The women’s basketball team won their first district championship since the 1990s during the 2024-2025 season, and the men’s basketball team played in the district championship game earlier this year for the first time since the 1990s.
However, Lady Highlander coach Rusty Yaden has expressed an interest in moving down to Class 2A, citing region pairings that are potentially more favorable.
Some of the teams that Scott could potentially be paired with in its new district for basketball, baseball and softball include Cumberland Gap, Eagleton Academy, Austin-East, and Kingston. Other teams relatively close by that will be in Class 2A include Gatlinburg-Pittman, Pigeon Forge, and Claiborne.
When Oneida was in Class 2A for basketball prior to the 2024-2025 season, the Indians shared a district with Eagleton Academy, Austin-East, Gatlinburg-Pittman and Pigeon Forge, along with Alcoa, which will be a Class 3A school.
In football, Scott’s region could potentially remain largely unchanged, as its current region opponents — Austin-East, Kingston, McMinn Central, and Sweetwater — all remain in Class 3A. The only exception is Meigs County, which is expected to move down to Class 2A.
For Oneida, the new football region could include teams like Coalfield, Sunbright, Oakdale, Greenback, Harriman, Oliver Springs, Midway, Rockwood, and Wartburg, though all of those teams will not be in the same region.
Oneida’s district for basketball, baseball and softball could remain unchanged. The Indians’ current district foes — Coalfield, Jellico, Wartburg, Oliver Springs, Sunbright and Wartburg — will all remain in Class 1A.
