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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Sussex County saw higher home sale prices than the previous month’s median of $455,000, according to newly released data from Realtor.com.

Kent County saw lower home sale prices than the previous month’s median of $429,450, while New Castle County remained at the same home sale prices as the previous month’s median of $350,000.

The median home sold for $459,900 in Sussex, an analysis of data from Realtor.com shows. That means September, the most recent month for which figures are available, was up 1.1% from August. Compared to September 2023, the median home sales price was down 3.2% compared to $475,000.

In Kent County the median home sold for $349,900, an analysis of data from Realtor.com shows. That means September, the most recent month for which figures are available, was down 18.5% from August. Compared to September 2023, the median home sales price was up 16.6% compared to $300,000.

The median home sold for $350,000 in New Castle County, an analysis of data from Realtor.com shows. That means September, the most recent month for which figures are available, was flat to August. Compared to September 2023, the median home sales price was up 13.6% compared to $308,000.

Realtor.com sources sales data from real estate deeds, resulting in a few months’ delay in the data. The statistics don’t include homes currently listed for sale and aren’t directly comparable to listing data.

Information on your local housing market, along with other helpful community data, is available at data.delawareonline.com.

Here is a breakdown of median sale prices:

• Looking only at single-family homes, the $452,500 median selling price in Sussex County was down 0.8% in September from $456,250 the month prior. Since September 2023, the sales price of single-family homes was up 1.1% from a median of $447,500.Thirty-seven single-family homes sold for $1 million or more during the month, compared to 27 recorded transactions of at least $1 million in September 2023.
• Looking only at single-family homes, the $350,000 median selling price in Kent County was down 18.6% in September from $430,000 the month prior. Since September 2023, the sales price of single-family homes was up 13.3% from a median of $309,000.Four single-family homes sold for $1 million or more during the month, compared to five recorded transactions of at least $1 million in September 2023.
• Looking only at single-family homes, the $415,000 median selling price in New Castle County was up 2.5% in September from $405,000 the month prior. Since September 2023, the sales price of single-family homes was up 20.3% from a median of $345,000.Eighteen single-family homes sold for $1 million or more during the month, compared to four recorded transactions of at least $1 million in September 2023.

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About recorded home sales in Sussex County in Delaware

In September, the number of recorded sales in Sussex County rose by 31.1% since September 2023 — from 322 to 422. All residential home sales totaled $252.7 million.

Across Delaware, homes sold at a median of $390,000 during September, down 2.5% from $400,000 in August. There were 1,140 recorded sales across the state during September, up 13.6% from 1,004 in September 2023. 

About recorded home sales in Kent County in Delaware

In September, the number of recorded sales in Kent County rose by 1% since September 2023 — from 205 to 207. All residential home sales totaled $81.5 million.

Across Delaware, homes sold at a median of $390,000 during September, down 2.5% from $400,000 in August. There were 1,140 recorded sales across the state during September, up 13.6% from 1,004 recorded sales in September 2023. 

About recorded home sales in New Castle County in Delaware

In September, the number of recorded sales in New Castle County rose by 7.1% since September 2023 — from 477 to 511. All residential home sales totaled $216 million.

Across Delaware, homes sold at a median of $390,000 during September, down 2.5% from $400,000 in August. There were 1,140 recorded sales across the state during September, up 13.6% from 1,004 recorded sales in September 2023. 

Here’s a breakdown for the full state:

• The total value of recorded residential home sales in Delaware decreased by 3.6% from $570.8 million in August to $550.2 million this September. 
• Out of all residential home sales in Delaware, 6.05% of homes sold for at least $1 million in September, up from 4.38% in September 2023.
• Sales prices of single-family homes across Delaware decreased by 4.3% from a median of $428,500 in August to $410,000 in September. Since September 2023, the sales price of single-family homes across the state was up 15.5% from $355,000. 
• Across the state, the sales price of condominiums and townhomes dropped 3.4% from a median of $335,000 in August to $323,750 during September. The median sales price of condominiums and townhomes is up 6.2% from the median of $305,000 in September 2023. 

Realtor.com sources sales data from real estate deeds, resulting in a few months’ delay in the data. The statistics don’t include homes currently listed for sale and aren’t directly comparable to listings data.

Information on your local housing market, along with other useful community data, is available at data.delawareonline.com.

The median home sales price used in this report represents the midway point of all the houses or units listed over the given period of time. The median offers a more accurate view of what’s happening in a market than the average sales price, which would mean taking the sum of all sales prices then dividing by the number of homes sold. The average can be skewed by one, particularly low or high sale.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Realtor.com. Please leave any feedback or corrections for this story here. This story was written by Ozge Terzioglu.

The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 13 drawing

36-43-52-58-65, Mega Ball: 16, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 3 numbers from Dec. 13 drawing

Day: 0-4-0

Night: 3-5-0

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from Dec. 13 drawing

Day: 0-6-4-2

Night: 9-1-8-7

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from Dec. 13 drawing

05-13-14-17-18-32

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 13 drawing

03-15-32-34-37, Lucky Ball: 18

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from Dec. 13 drawing

Day: 9-5-4-9-9

Night: 7-5-2-1-4

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

• Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
• Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
• Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
• Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
• For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
• Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
• Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
• Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.