UIL Snapshot Day is upon us… who is on the edge?

Op-ed by Eric Horton

As Friday, October 31, 2025, approaches, rumors are beginning to circulate about the upcoming biennial UIL realignments, which will occur in early 2026. You might wonder what is significant about Friday, October 31st other than Halloween. This day is known as “snapshot” day, the date when each Texas public school submits its enrollment or average daily attendance (ADA) and other educational information into the Public Education Information Management System known as PEIMS. School districts have until November 7th to provide their enrollment figures from Snapshot Day to the UIL.

Every odd year, such as 2023 and 2025, the UIL uses enrollment data from PEIMS to determine classifications, which UIL refers to as conferences. These classifications are 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A, along with football divisions 1 and 2 for 1A through 5A. Class 6A splits into two divisions during the football postseason.

For basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball, the enrollment numbers for 2A through 6A will dictate which division a school belongs to once the postseason begins. This classification process also applies to soccer, but only for schools in 4A through 6A. This began last season.

After the initial snapshot date, the UIL will release cutoff numbers, typically after Thanksgiving, usually in the first week of December. These cutoff numbers will indicate each school’s classification and division in football (1A-5A). However, even with the cutoff numbers available, schools will not know their competitive district until usually the first week in February or on February 1st. It’s the best hidden secret in Texas.

The current cutoff numbers from the 2024-2026 Biennial Realignment

The current divisional cutoff numbers from the 2024-2026 Biennial Realignment

As the snapshot date approaches, rumors are starting to circulate. Here’s what I’ve heard and what I believe will happen. In the previous realignment, the bottom cutoff for Class 3A increased by four, while the top cutoff remained unchanged at 544. Considering that the schools along the I-35 and I-45 corridors (often referred to as the Texas Triangle, see image on the left) continue to expand—this area is home to 87 of the top 100 fastest-growing cities in Texas—the bottom cutoff for Class 3A is likely to remain the same at 254. However, the top cutoff number could increase, most likely by about 10 to 15.

Let’s start with Brownfield. I am confident that Brownfield will remain in 3A and stay in Division I for football. According to the latest enrollment numbers from the previous school board meeting, there are 444 high school students. This number comfortably qualifies for 3A status, although it is about 52 fewer students than what was reported in 2023.

This situation may become a bit complicated. My sources indicate that Kermit, which is in the same football district as Brownfield, is most likely going down to 3A Division II. Additionally, there is another team in the Panhandle area, Perryton, which is currently a 4A Division II school but is likely to drop down to 3A and will be Division I as well. Also, what will affect Brownfield and Region I in football is that Odessa Compass Academy looks to move up to DI, and Millsap could do the same. Comanche could move down to DII, and Peaster and Ponder could make the jump to 4A.

The previous realignment the current Region I-3A DI districts include: District 1-3A DI consists of Bushland, Dalhart, River Road, and Shallowater; District 2-3A DI consists of Brownfield, Denver City, Lamesa, and Kermit; District 3-3A DI consists of Breckenridge, Clyde, Comanche, San Angelo TLC, Sweetwater, and Jim Ned; and District 4-3A DI, consists of Bowie, Boyd, Iowa Park, Paradise, Peaster, Ponder, and Vernon.

I am confident that all four schools in District 1 will remain in 3A Division I. In District 2, all schools except Kermit will stay in Division I. In District 3, Comanche may move down to Division II, but the rest will stay in Division I. In District 4, Peaster and Ponder have a real chance of moving up to 4A. Additionally, Odessa Compass and Milsap could potentially move up to 3A Division I. What does this mean for Brownfield?

The list of 3A DI schools in Region I could include Brownfield, Bushland, Dalhart, River Road, Shallowater, Denver City, Lamesa, Breckenridge, Clyde, San Angelo TLC, Sweetwater, Jim Ned, Bowie, Boyd, Iowa Park, Paradise, Vernon, Perryton, Odessa Compass, and Milsap. That’s 20 schools.

There is a possibility of forming a five-team district that includes Bushland, Dalhart, River Road, Shallowater, and Perryton. Meanwhile, Brownfield might again be placed in a four-team district with Denver City, Lamesa, and Odessa Compass. However, the UIL could opt to include Shallowater in the district with Brownfield, Denver City, Lamesa, and Odessa Compass, which would make more sense in terms of travel distances. This change would result in another five-team district consisting of Breckenridge, Clyde, Jim Ned, San Angelo TLC, and Sweetwater. Additionally, Region I-3A DI would end up with Bowie, Boyd, Iowa Park, Milsap, Paradise, and Vernon, forming a six-team district.

Let’s look at the small schools in Terry County. On Friday, October 31, Meadow ISD is expected to report an enrollment of 53 high school students, while Wellman-Union is projected to have 46 students. As a result, both schools will likely move down to Division II in football since the previous cutoff in 1A for Division I is 61.5 and 61.4 for Division II. In the 2022 and 2020 realignments, Division I was 59 and above and Division II was 58 and below. In the 2018 realignments, 55.5 and above was Division I and 55.4 and below was Division II.

Additionally, sources indicate that Klondike and possibly Sands may be moving up to DI in football. So, what does this mean for Meadow and Wellman-Union? They are likely to remain in the same district, potentially adding Loop, Southland, Welch Dawson, and Wilson to their competition. From a geographical standpoint, this arrangement makes sense.

However, if Sands stays in DII, Meadow and Wellman-Union would likely separate. In that scenario, the Broncos would join Amherst, Anton, Cotton Center, Lazbuddie, and Whitharral in the northern group, while the Wildcats would compete with Loop, Sands, Southland, Welch Dawson, and Wilson.

Other possible moves in all classes in Region I:

• 6A Frenship dropping to 5A DI for football, 5A all sports
• 5A DI Aledo moving up to 6A
• 5A DI Lubbock High dropping to 5A DII
• 5A DI El Paso Parkland – elected to move up to DI, might move to DII
• 5A DII Amarillo Palo Duro moving up to DI
• 5A DII Melissa moving up to DI
• 5A DII Plainview moving down to 4A, DI in football
• 5A DII El Paso Andress, Burges, & Hanks moving down to 4A, DI in football
• 4A DI Canyon West Plains moving up to 5A, DII in football
• 4A DI Big Spring moving down to DII
• 4A DII LBK-Cooper Liberty moving up to DI
• 3A DII Canadian dropping to 2A, DI Football
• 3A DII Tulia dropping to 2A, DI Football
• 2A DI Hamilton moving up to 3A DII (Should be in Region I basketball)
• 2A DI Christoval, Stamford, & Sunray dropping to DII
• 1A DII Klondike & Sands moving up to DI in football

In Region I, Class 4A is expected to have the most significant impact. The new Frenship Memorial High School could play a pivotal role in this class, but it’s uncertain how they will perform. Additionally, there is Tornillo, a 3A school that opted not to play football for the past two seasons. If they plan to resume play, it’s still unclear whether their enrollment numbers will increase enough to elevate them to a 3A Division I school. Honestly, nobody knows what the UIL will decide. These are just some scenarios that could unfold. TownTalk will do its best to gather enrollment information on snapshot day, Friday, October 31st.