MHSAA Sets Multiplier on Private Schools for Upcoming Reclassification

What does this rule mean?

This results in an inflation of enrollment figures on private schools only during reclassification procedures that occur every two years. This ultimately means that private schools will have enrollment numbers boosted by 1.5 times which will ultimately place them in a higher classification for athletic purposes.

For example, if a school has an enrollment of 300 the new rule would make that number 450.

There are 10 private schools that compete in the MHSAA, and they include French Camp, Tupelo Christian Prep, St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Piney Woods, Sacred Heart, Presbyterian Christian School, St. Patrick, Resurrection, Our Lady Academy, and Saint Stanislaus.

According to U.S. News and World Report, there were 235 public high schools in the State of Mississippi as of the 2023-24 academic year. The 10 private schools in the MHSAA make up 4% of the competitive database for the MHSAA. So, why institute something that affects just 4% of your makeup?

MHSAA Executive Director Ricky Neaves stated in a video release on the subject that other states in the southeastern region have had a multiplier in effect for a number of years and it was time to implement one in Mississippi. In addition, he stated that private schools have the ability to control their enrollment and thereby control what students they admit in their schools. He further stated that the rule was put in place to provide for fair and equal competition.

The new competition multiplier rule will not affect the 2026-27 school year; however, it will be in place for the reclassification process that will go into effect for the 2027-28 academic year.

Neaves did state that the rule will not affect Saint Stanislaus or Our Lady Academy as both of the schools currently operate with a 2.0 multiplier and have done so since 1982 when the MHSAA went to enrollment as the denominator for classification purposes. OLA and SSC are the only single-sex schools in the state of Mississippi.

The new rule has set off a maelstrom of chaos on message boards throughout the state. There are questions of legality of the multiplier rule, definable stances in support of both sides of the issue, and rashes of aversion of both public and private schools.

First and foremost, the discussion of private schools competing in the MHSAA need not be confused with other states and how they handle things in their own associations. There are two associations in Mississippi – the MHSAA and the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). The private schools in the MHSAA, excluding Presbyterian Christian School (PCS), have all been longtime members of the MHSAA with Saint Stanislaus being a charter member of the organization in 1922.

The MAIS was created during a turbulent time in the nation’s history in 1968 as a result of the struggles the nation was enduring with integration and religion in schools. A look at a handful of schools in the MAIS show their founding year including Jackson Prep (1970), Jackson Academy (1959), Madison Ridgeland Academy (1969), Pillow Academy (1966), Brookhaven Academy (1970), Canton Academy (1965), Indianola Academy (1966), Kemper Academy (1970), Tri-County Academy (1970), and Winston Academy (1969). PCS entered the MHSAA from the MAIS effective with the 2025-26 school year and they have enjoyed immediate success across the board.

There are 138 schools that are members of the MAIS from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion about how this rule originated, how will it make things different competition-wise, and on and on. This writer has his own opinions about why and how all this crept up into existence, some of which is historical and others simply theoretical. This new rule is the culmination of years of discussion that the MHSAA and its executive board have wrangled with for some time. But my question remains, is it necessary to implement a rule to affect simply 4% of a competitive database?

Private schools that compete in the MHSAA have long been given a radius to gather students from which is currently 20 miles. From a geographic standpoint, I would say it is an average radius for a school district in Mississippi considering different metropolitan/urban areas and expansive, unincorporated, and rural school districts spread throughout the state.

One could argue, geographically, that that radius does not equally affect three schools located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast – Our Lady Academy, Resurrection, and Saint Stanislaus. That radius for those three schools is cut off by two looming geographic landscapes called state lines and the Mississippi Sound. Furthermore, the radius is greatly affected in Hancock County even more with Stennis Space Center and its buffer zone where no development is allowed due to safety concerns from the rocket testing facility.

Now, let’s look at a true safety concern called roster size between the public schools and the inflated enrollment numbers for the private schools. For the private schools having to play “up” in classification under this new rule, the roster size or as most coaches like to say “the population of a school that a sport can choose from” is greatly affected when competing against simply a larger school which is what will happen for the affected private schools under this new rule. The smaller roster will not have the depth to compete against the larger school’s roster and in the physical sports safety will become a real concern.

Finally, let’s look at what this rule is truly focused on and that is enrollment or more directly what is considered the make-up of the enrollment. It has been stated that private schools can control their enrollment by limiting or being selective about who is admitted.

There is validity to that argument no questions asked; however, has one really sat down and looked at the math behind that statement. The math reads like this – a parent has to pay twice to send the student to a private school. How do they pay twice you may ask?

Well, there is this little certainty in life called taxes which everyone pays no matter what and mills from those taxes goes to support public schools. Then, at a private school there is something called tuition to attend. Yes, many people will respond with the quick answer of scholarships or some benefactor paying for a student.

I, for one, can tell you that private schools do not operate like that. I am a product of a private school and watched my parents pay twice to send me to a private school while they both took on the civic duty to make public schools a better learning environment as a school board attorney and a president of the board of trustees.

Everyone that attends a private school is invested in paying their way in some form or fashion.

So, back to the original question regarding the make-up of enrollment. Private schools have to have students to be able to operate. Those students must pay tuition to attend. There is no public funding coming to private schools from a tax base. So, there is no reason to put a limit on how many or what type of student attends a private school.

The one question that private schools ponder on trying to answer is “How does the school improve enrollment?”

I would very much like to hear from you regarding this new rule, how it may affect classification, what it will do for competition, and simply the history of how everything fits together. So, if you see me out and about in the area feel free to stop me and ask me my thoughts.

All I can tell you right now is that it will make things interesting from a variety of perspectives – history, competition, family allegiances, etc. We will know more in the fall when the new classification numbers are set.