South Carolina High School League

The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) is the organization that rules and regulates school athletics in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Based out of Columbia, the SCHSL serves over 330,000 students at 220 high schools and 200 junior high schools.^[1]

In 1913, the Inter-High School Athletic and Oratorical Association was founded by delegates from various high schools and the University of South Carolina. By 1920, the organization had expanded its membership and activities to the point where reorganization was necessary. In 1921, a new constitution was adopted and the name was officially changed to the South Carolina High School League. The SCHSL experienced a boom in membership from 1921–1930, going from 30 schools to 121 schools. The constitution was rewritten in 1933 and again 1948 to accommodate further growth. The SCHSL joined the National Federation of State High School Associations in 1948. Ever since 1954, the SCHSL has had 100% of the public schools in the state as members. In 1970 the South Carolina Secondary School Activities Association merged with the league.^[1]

SCHSL sanctions competition in the following sports: baseball, basketball, competitive cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.

The SCHSL operates five classes of competition, dependent on the size of a school's student enrollment:

• AAAAA (5A)
• AAAA (4A)
• AAA (3A)
• AA (2A)
• A (1A)

Class 5A was formed in the 2016–2017 school year and is the largest classification in the SCHSL. Realignment for SCHSL member schools occurs every two years.

Listed below are the member schools of the SCHSL, grouped by their classification and region for the 2024–2026 period:^[2]

• Official site