Belle Vernon, Kiski Area, Knoch and Shady Side Academy are among at least 20 WPIAL football teams set to switch classifications next season.

The PIAA released updated enrollment figures for all schools this week, a key step in the realignment process that takes place every two years. The new classifications affect the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.

Belle Vernon was credited with 276 boys — down from 318 — a decrease that drops the Leopards back to Class 3A, where they won WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2022 and ’23. They played the past two seasons in 4A.

The PIAA determines enrollment by counting students in grades 9-11.

Kiski Area’s enrollment dropped from 453 boys two years ago to 389 this year, moving the Cavaliers from Class 5A to 4A. Knoch’s changed from 299 to 259, moving the Knights from 4A to 3A.

Also positioned to drop one classification are Shaler and South Fayette to 4A; West Mifflin and Ambridge to 3A; Quaker Valley to 2A and Washington to A.

Shady Side Academy’s enrollment for PIAA purposes increased by seven boys, but that put the Bulldogs just above the cutline between Class 2A and 3A. The school has 209 boys.

Ten others football teams are also going up.

Thomas Jefferson, Trinity and West Allegheny are climbing to Class 5A, Central Valley to 4A, Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, South Park and Waynesburg to 3A and Neshannock to 2A.

Teams have until Dec. 1 to choose whether to voluntarily “play up” to a high classification.

Thomas Jefferson is an 11-time WPIAL champion including five in Class 4A since 2016. The addition of the Jaguars, Trinity and West Allegheny to 5A make an already challenging classification even tougher.

The PIAA last week announced enrollment parameters for each classification, which list the top and bottom numbers for each. For football, Class 6A has schools with 579 or more boys, Class 5A is 413 to 578, Class 4A is 282 to 412, Class 3A is 200 to 281, Class 2A is 142 to 199 and Class A has 141 or fewer.

Each sport has its own parameters.

In boys basketball, Baldwin (6A), Peters Township (6A), Mt. Pleasant (4A), Ellwood City (4A), Propel Braddock Hills (3A) and Neshannock (3A) are among the teams moving up for the 2026-27 season based on enrollment.

In girls basketball, WPIAL Class 2A champion Aliquippa and runner-up Neshannock are moving up to 3A, whereas Class A finalists Union and Clairton are joining 2A.

The Baldwin, Bethel Park, Fox Chapel and Peters Township girls are all joining 6A.

The girls teams at Greensburg Salem (4A) Derry (3A), Highlands (3A) and Southmoreland (3A) are among more than a dozen in position to drop to a lower class. The Leechburg boys can join Class A.

It’s unknown whether any of the teams dropping to a lower classification will instead voluntarily play up.

The PIAA competitive-balance rule also will move some teams into a higher classification.