New football districts would change landscape for some South Florida powerhouses
Miami-Dade and Broward County’s final five high school football teams are preparing to play in this week’s state championships at Pitbull Stadium.
But on Monday, they and their fellow schools around the state got a first look at what their potential paths to future championships could look like.
The Florida High School Athletic Association released its preliminary plan for what the state’s football districts would look like for the 2026 through 2028 seasons.
Teams can appeal the new districts until Dec. 15 at 1, and the districts won’t be finalized until Dec. 17.
Some of South Florida’s top teams would be changing districts or even classifications entirely.
One of the biggest changes overall is the state would drop from eight to seven classes, and only six (6A-1A) when it comes to Dade and Broward teams. Classes 6A-3A would have 16 districts while Classes 2A would have 12 districts, and Class 1A would have 11.
Four-time reigning state champion Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna potentially moving up from Class 1A to 2A. The Lions have noticeably dominated the competition - especially in the postseason - in recent years.
Chaminade, which consistently plays some of the top teams in the state and the country overall during the regular season, would theoretically contend with tougher competition both in its region and statewide if it’s to extend its streak of 10 consecutive seasons advancing to the state finals. Class 2A would retain this week’s state finalists Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and Jacksonville Bolles, who were both among the top-ranked teams in the state overall. Miami Edison is projected to also move up to 2A, along with Chaminade’s opponent this weekend, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, and regional finalist Boca Raton St. Andrews.
Other changes include Miami Northwestern, which is set to play for the Class 3A title on Friday, moving up to Class 4A. This switch would separate the Bulls from longtime rival Miami Central, which is set to remain in 3A. Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons would also move up from Class 2A to 3A.
The new Class 4A would also include Plantation American Heritage, which is aiming to repeat as 4A champion this Saturday. Miami Norland would remain in 4A, but have Hollywood McArthur join it in a loaded district that also includes Heritage and Miramar.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, which is chasing its seventh state title in a row this Thursday night, would be in 5A, and be joined in its region by much-improved Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy. Miami Southridge would also be in its region, along with West Boca Raton.
Class 6A would still include Miami Columbus, Miami Palmetto, Davie Western and Miami Lakes Goleman. But first-time state finalist Pembroke Pines West Broward would join the region with there no longer being a Class 7A.
Here’s a look at all the districts that would include Dade and Broward teams, plus a list of schools, which would play as independents:
District 16-6A: Columbus, Coral Gables, Homestead, Palmetto, South Dade, Southwest; 15-6A: Cypress Bay, Doral, Goleman, Miami High, West Broward, Western; 14-6A: Boca Raton, Coral Glades, Nova, Lake Worth Park Vista, South Plantation, Boca Raton Spanish River.
16-5A: Everglades, Mater Academy, Miami Beach, Southridge; 15-5A: Archbishop McCarthy, Cooper City, Flanagan, Somerset Academy; 14-5A: Boyd Anderson, Fort Lauderdale, South Broward, St. Thomas Aquinas; 13-5A: Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Monarch, Piper, West Boca Raton.
16-4A: American, Belen Jesuit, Hialeah, Northwestern, North Miami, South Miami; 15-4A: American Heritage, Hollywood Hills, McArthur, Norland, Miramar, Pembroke Pines Charter; 14-4A: Delray Atlantic, Blanche Ely, West Palm Beach Forest Hill, Northeast, Plantation, Stuart South Fork.
16-3A: Key West, Central, Jackson, Miami Springs, North Miami Beach, Reagan, St. Brendan; 15-3A: Calvary Christian, Cardinal Gibbons, Dillard, North Broward Prep, Pompano Beach, Stranahan.
12-2A: Archbishop Carroll, Killian, Palmer Trinity, Somerset Silver Palms, Westminster Christian; 11-2A: Gulliver, La Salle, Pinecrest Glades, Ransom Everglades; 10-2A: Carol City, Edison, Monsignor Pace, Booker T. Washington; 9-2A: Chaminade, Hallandale, NSU University School, Boca St. Andrews, Boca St. John Paul II.
11-1A: BridgePrep Village Green, Riviera Prep, Somerset South Homestead, True North, Westwood Christian; 10-1A: Cushman, Posnack, Somerset Key, Somerset Prep.
Independents: Avant Garde Academy, Braddock, Coral Park, Coral Reef, Tavernier Coral Shores, Coral Springs, Coral Springs Charter, Douglas, Krop, Ferguson, Hialeah Gardens, Hialeah-Miami Lakes, Miami Country Day, Pine Crest, Sunset, Taravella, Varela, Westland Hialeah, Westminster Academy.
The full district-by-district breakdown statewide is available at www.fhsaa.com.
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM.
