Caravel, Saint Mark’s switch classes in 2025-26 football realignment

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 “input, 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.”

DIFCA’s membership comprises football coaches and athletic directors throughout the state. DIAA stated, “The association’s commitment is to [promote] competitive balance and fairness.”

Middletown, Caravel, Indian River win state championships

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: 

• Moving to Class 3A: Caravel Academy 
• Moving to Class 2A: Saint Mark’s (reverting from Class 3A), Indian River, Tatnall, and Polytech
• Moving down to Class 1A: Concord, Newark, and Delcastle 

Newark Charter, which recently completed its inaugural junior varsity season, will begin competing in Class 1A. 

Football realignment formula

The realignment formula, updated from previous cycles, played a key role in these decisions. The updated formula is as follows: 

• 20% Enrollment 
• 30% Four-Year Winning Percentage 
• 30% Two-Year Winning Percentage 
• 20% Four-Year Winning Percentage Against Current Classification Teams 

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. 

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 Delaware’s high school athletics community.” 

Who’s where after football realignment?

Here are the new classifications for the 2025-26 season. 

Class 3A:

• District 1: Appoquinimink, Caravel, Hodgson, Middletown, Salesianum, William Penn
• District 2: Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Dover, Smyrna, St. Georges, Sussex Central 

Class 2A:

• District 1: Archmere, Friends, Howard, Mount Pleasant, Tatnall, Tower Hill
• District 2: DMA, Milford, Odessa, Polytech, Red Lion, Saint Mark’s
• District 3: Delmar, Indian River, Lake Forest, Laurel, Sussex Tech, Woodbridge 

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. Andrew’s 

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