MAIS announces new athletic districts

The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools announced their new athletic classifications for the upcoming year last week, affecting multiple schools around Madison County. 

The MAIS will shift from six classifications to four classifications, with 4A being the highest classification. Playing in 4A among area teams will be MRA, St. Joseph, Jackson Prep and Jackson Academy. Those four teams will be spread through three of the four districts in 4A

Jackson Academy and St. Joseph will be in 4A District 1, along with Pillow Academy, Bayou Academy, and Magnolia Heights. 

MRA will be in 4A District 3, along with Park Place Christian, Simpson Academy, Brookhaven Academy, and Parklane Academy.

Jackson Prep will be in 4A District 4, along with Copiah Academy, Natchez Cathedral, Silliman Institute, and Oak Forest Academy. 

MAIS 4A will have three different state championships, with the top four in the power points standings qualifying for the Division I playoffs, the next six in the standings qualifying for the Division II playoffs, and the next six in the standings qualifying for the Division III playoffs. 

Tri-County Academy will be in Class 3A and will be grouped into District 2, along with Leake Academy, Central Hinds Academy, and Riverfield Academy. 

Class 3A will have two separate state championships, with the top four teams in the power point standings playing in the Division I playoffs and the next eight highest ranked teams playing in the Division II playoffs. 

Canton Academy will be in Class 2A and will be grouped into District 4, along with Discovery Christian and Centreville Academy.

Class 2A will follow the same format as Class 3A and have two separate state championships, with the top four teams in the power point standings playing in the Division I playoffs and the next eight highest ranked teams playing in the Division II playoffs. 

The MAIS board voted unanimously to tentatively adopt this realignment for the 2025-2027 athletic years.