Caravel Academy football players lift the state championship trophy after defeating Howard. Now, a DIAA/ DIFCA realignment is lifting them up a class. Photo by Nick Halliday
By Nick Halliday
The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) board of directors has approved a significant football realignment for the 2025-26 season, just one day after the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association (DIFCA) proposed changes that impact all three classifications in the state.
The most significant changes are back-to-back state champion Caravel Academy moving up to 3A, Saint Mark’s dropping a class to 2A, and 2024 1A champion Indian River moving up to 2A.
A DIAA press release says DIFCA âinput, along with a thorough analysis of factors such as enrollment and roster data, historical performance, and program growth, played a key role in shaping the plan.â
DIFCAâs membership comprises football coaches and athletic directors throughout the state. DIAA stated, âThe associationâs commitment is to [promote] competitive balance and fairness.â
As for the changes, Caravel will move up to 3A after back-to-back state championships. going 26-0 during those two seasons and 38-1 over three seasons in 2A since the original classification realignment. Here is the full list of schools affected by the change:Â
Moving to Class 3A: Caravel AcademyÂ
Moving to Class 2A: Saint Markâs (reverting from Class 3A), Indian River, Tatnall, and Polytech
Moving down to Class 1A: Concord, Newark, and DelcastleÂ
Newark Charter, which recently completed its inaugural junior varsity season, will begin competing in Class 1A.Â
Football realignment formula
The realignment formula, updated from previous cycles, played a key role in these decisions. The updated formula is as follows:Â
20% EnrollmentÂ
30% Four-Year Winning PercentageÂ
30% Two-Year Winning PercentageÂ
20% Four-Year Winning Percentage Against Current Classification TeamsÂ
This formula, combined with qualitative factors such as program growth, roster size, margin of victory or defeat, and participation trends, provided a comprehensive basis for the reclassification process.Â
DIAA Executive Director Dave Baylor emphasized the importance of collaboration and fairness in the realignment process.
“As we evaluate football realignment, our goal is to create a structure that provides equitable opportunities and fosters healthy competition. Moving forward, we remain committed to refining this process in partnership with our member schools and stakeholders to ensure it meets the evolving needs of Delawareâs high school athletics community.”Â
Who’s where after football realignment?
Here are the new classifications for the 2025-26 season.Â
Class 3A:
District 1: Appoquinimink, Caravel, Hodgson, Middletown, Salesianum, William Penn
District 2: Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Dover, Smyrna, St. Georges, Sussex CentralÂ
Class 2A:
District 1: Archmere, Friends, Howard, Mount Pleasant, Tatnall, Tower Hill
District 2: DMA, Milford, Odessa, Polytech, Red Lion, Saint Markâs
District 3: Delmar, Indian River, Lake Forest, Laurel, Sussex Tech, WoodbridgeÂ
Class 1A:
District 1: A.I. duPont, Brandywine, Concord, Dickinson, McKean, St. Elizabeth
District 2: Christiana, Charter of Wilmington, Conrad, Delcastle, Glasgow, Newark
District 3: Early College, First State Military, Newark Charter, Seaford, St. AndrewâsÂ
302 Sports helps promote local sports athletes, teams, & Coaches. We want to show the rest of the world the talent in Delaware Sports. We produce highlight & College recruitment videos for Delaware athletes. All Delaware All Sports.
