When the 2025-26 athletic season begins in August, Polk County will compete in the 3A classification.
That’s part of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s move to eight classifications, a move proposed by and approved by member schools in late 2023. Schools approved capping classes at 64 schools, and that plus decisions made by the NCHSAA Board of Directors created the eight classes that will compete beginning this year.
The 3A class includes 58 schools, and 48 of those will make the playoffs in most sports.
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Here are the 3A schools and the conferences in which they’ll compete in 2025-26:
Ayden-Grifton, Eastern Plains 2A/3A
Bartlett Yancey, Mid-State 3A/4A/5A
Beddingfield, Eastern Plains 2A/3A
Bessemer City, Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
Charles D. Owen, Western Highlands 2A/3A
Chase, Western Piedmont 3A/4A
Draughn, Western Piedmont 3A/4A
East Davidson, Central Carolina 3A
East Rutherford, Western Piedmont 3A/4A
East Surry, Northwest 3A/4A
Eastern Randolph, Four Rivers 3A/4A
Farmville Central, Eastern Plains 2A/3A
Goldsboro, Swine Valley 2A/3A
Greene Central, Eastern Plains 2A/3A
Heide Trask, East Central 3A/4A
Hendersonville, Western Highlands 2A/3A
Hertford County, Northeastern Coastal 3A/4A/5A
James Kenan, Swine Valley 2A/3A
Kinston, Eastern Plains 2A/3A
Lincolnton, Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
Louisburg Magnet, Quad County 2A/3A/4A
Madison, Western Highlands 2A/3A
Martin County, Northeastern Coastal 3A/4A/5A
McMichael, Mid-State 3A/4A/5A
Midway, Swine Valley 2A/3A
Mount Airy, Northwest 3A/4A
Mountain Heritage, Western Highlands 2A/3A
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics – Durham, Diamond Nine 1A/2A/3A
North Moore, Four Rivers 3A/4A
North Stanly, Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
North Wilkes, Mountain Valley 2A/3A/4A
Northeastern, Northeastern Coastal 3A/4A/5A
Northwood, Four Rivers 3A/4A
Pasquotank County, Northeastern Coastal 3A/4A/5A
Patton, Western Piedmont 3A/4A
Pender, East Central 3A/4A
Piedmont Community Charter, Catawba River 1A/2A/3A
Pine Lake Preparatory, Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A
Polk County, Western Highlands 2A/3A
Princeton, Swine Valley 2A/3A
Providence Grove, Central Carolina 3A
Shelby, Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
South Columbus, Southeastern 3A/4A/5A
South Lenoir, East Central 3A/4A
Spring Creek, Swine Valley 2A/3A
Surry Central, Northwest 3A/4A
Thomasville, Central Carolina 3A
Trinity, Central Carolina 3A
Union Academy, Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Wake Preparatory Academy, Quad County 2A/3A/4A
Wallace-Rose Hill, Swine Valley 2A/3A
West Bladen, Southeastern 3A/4A/5A
West Caldwell, Western Piedmont 3A/4A
West Davidson, Central Carolina 3A
West Lincoln, Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
West Wilkes, Mountain Valley 2A/3A/4A
Wheatmore, Central Carolina 3A
Whiteville, Southeastern 3A/4A/5A
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