Alignment Process and Guidelines
The proposed alignments were generated via the process approved by the Tournament Management Committee at its June 2024 meeting:
- A baseline is established using enrollment figures from the DESE database as of October 2023.
- Enrollments for each member school are adjusted using the Competitive Equity Modifier, which includes two factors:
- Stability Rate %: Measures how many students remain in a district or school throughout the school year.
- High Needs Modifier: A sliding scale based on the state percentage for high schools.
- Any previously approved appeals are automatically placed in the division for which the appeal was granted (indicated by “AA” code).
- A factor is applied to move private schools up one division (indicated by “Y” code)
After all appeals and factors are applied, divisions are re-balanced.Rebalancing for power ranked sports has been eliminated by TMC at their 12/19/24 meeting.
Proposed Tournament Alignments
The Spring 2025-26 and 2026-27 Proposed Alignments will be made available by April 1, 2025.
Informational Documents
- Alignment Appeal Form is located in the members only area of the website.
To request a change in placement, either upward or downward, the alignment appeal form must be submitted - October 1, 2023 Enrollment Numbers and CEM Enrollment Calculations
- Competitive Equity Modifier Explanation
Finalized Tournament Alignments
Fall 2025-2026 / 2026-2027
Fall Alignment Information:
Due to the TMC vote on December 19 to eliminate the rebalancing of divisions after private school and prior approved appeals are factored in, the alignments for Field Hockey, Football, Soccer, and Volleyball were revised and the Final Fall Alignments are now posted.
Winter 2025-2026 / 2026-2027
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
- Gymnastics
- Boys Ice Hockey
- Girls Ice Hockey
- Indoor Track
- Boys Swimming & Diving
- Girls Swimming & Diving
- Wrestling
For Informational Purposes only (to come):
- Boys Alpine Ski
- Girls Alpine Ski
- Boys Nordic Ski
- Girls Nordic Ski
Winter Alignment Process / Timeline:
- Winter sport proposed alignments were released December 1, 2024.
- The deadline to appeal divisional alignment for Winter sports was January 10, 2025.
- Throughout January, appeals were heard by a subcommittee of Sport committee chairs (or designees) and members of the Tournament Management Committee.
- Once all appeals were heard, final Winter alignments for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 cycle were updated and published.