Central is likely headed up a class after its consolidation with Southside.
The IHSAA released its enrollment numbers for the 2015-16/2016-17 classification cycle Thursday. The organization said it will issue its official classifications in the next two weeks, but the numbers released Thursday suggest some likely changes for East Central Indiana schools for the next two years.
Central’s enrollment is listed at 1,698, the 52nd-largest school in the state. That number suggests Central is likely headed to Class 4A for most sports and Class 5A for football. Central has been competing in Class 3A for most sports and Class 4A for football in recent years. Central moved to down Class 3A in most sports for the 2011-12 school year after previously competing in Class 4A. Central was a Class 4A football school both before and after that previous change.
Another school likely to see movement is Monroe Central. It is ranked as the 291st-largest school in the state in the enrollment figures, with 338 students. Using the prior classification cycle as a precedent, those numbers suggest the Golden Bears are likely to compete in Class 2A in most sports but remain in Class A for football. Monroe Central was ranked the 309th-largest school in the prior classification cycle, in Class A in all sports, with 311 students.
Delta’s football program could see a return to Class 4A. The Eagles are listed with 853 students, ranked as the 120th-largest school in the state. Those numbers point to Delta remaining in Class 3A in most sports, but bump up to Class 4A in football. Delta was in Class 4A in football until being bumped down to Class 3A in the most recent cycle. Delta was listed as the 133rd-largest school in the state, at 803 students, in the 2013-14/2014-15 classification cycle.
The IHSAA classification release will provide confirmation as to whether Central, Monroe Central and Delta will see those changes. Other changes could also be possible. The information released Thursday reflects numbers the schools submitted to the Indiana Department of Education last fall.