After spending two years in the 4A athletic classification, it appears that Bainbridge High School will be headed back to the 5A class beginning with the 2016 school year. Georgia will also expand from six classifications to seven classifications starting next year.

The Georgia High School Association reclassification committee met Wednesday to place schools, based on student population, into the new classes.

Bainbridge, with 1,487 students, will fall into the 5A class, which ranges from the largest school, Harris County High School, with 1,673 students to Buford High School, with 1,299 students.

Buford was forced to move up a class because of a new rule enacted by the GHSA for this round of reclassifications. If any school has more that three percent of its student body from outside its county district, the school was placed in the next highest classification.

Several area schools, including Thomas County Central High School, Seminole County High School, and Early County High School, exceeded the three percent threshold. But, those schools all won appeals to the committee and will not be forced to move up a class.

The committee will meet on Dec. 1 to put schools in regions within each classification.

It appears the most likely outcome for Bainbridge will be in a seven-team region with Thomas County Central Highs School, Harris County High School, Warner Robins High School, Veterans High School, Jones County High School, and Northside Columbus High School.

However, the regions will not be drawn until December 1 and will not be ratified by the GHSA Executive Committee until January 13.

See the class breakdowns for 2015 here.