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 BOYS & GIRLS ICE HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL PROPOSED ALIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN REVISED AS OF 12/20/24
The TMC at the 12/19 meeting voted to eliminate the rebalancing requirement of power ranked sports.
- 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 will be released December 1, 2024.
- The deadline to appeal divisional alignment for Winter sports is January 10, 2025.
- Throughout January, appeals will be heard by a subcommittee of Sport committee chairs (or designees) and members of the Tournament Management Committee.
- Once all appeals are heard, final Winter alignments for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 cycle will be published.
Informational Documents
- Alignment Appeal Form is located in the members only area of the website. Deadline to Submit is January 10, 2025
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 Process / Timeline:
- The deadline to appeal divisional alignment for Fall sports is October 1.
- Throughout October, appeals will be heard by a subcommittee of Sport committee chairs (or designees) and members of the Tournament Management Committee.
- Once all appeals are heard, final Fall alignments for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 cycle will be published on November 1.
- There will be NO re-balancing of divisions after new appeals are awarded.