“We’re going to 2B. It’s right over there!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
It’s official-official.
Coupeville High School will leave the 1A classification behind and drop to 2B beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association finalized classification numbers Sunday, locking in state schools for the 2020-2024 cycle.
After years of being one of the smallest 1A schools, Coupeville will now be the fifth-biggest out of 61 schools in the 2B classification.
With an adjusted enrollment of 206 students in grades 9-11, CHS trails just Okanogan (212.03), Kittitas-Thorp (212.12), Kalama (217), and Goldendale (224.73).
In years past, the WIAA attempted to keep the number of schools in each classification, which run from 4A down to 1B, fairly even in size.
That meant Coupeville, despite having 2B numbers, was bumped up to pad out the bottom of 1A.
Things changed this time around, however, as the WIAA has gone to hard numbers. This time around, if you fall between 105 and 224 students, you’re 2B and no one can move you.
After numbers were finalized Sunday, the classifications for 2020-2024 will be:
4A — 1300+ students — 51 schools
3A — 900-1299 students — 79 schools
2A — 450-899 students — 62 schools
1A — 225-449 students — 60 schools
2B — 105-224 students — 61 schools
1B — 1-104 students — 85 schools
One other change is the number of state tournament entries per classification.
For 4A, 2A, 1A, and 2B, it will remain 16 teams.
Under new guidelines, 3A will have 20 state entries, while 1B will have 24, in an effort to give the same percentage of schools a chance to qualify in each classification.
With the drop to 2B, Coupeville leaves the 1A North Sound Conference after this school year and returns to its former stomping grounds, the Northwest 2B/1B League.
Their new/old rivals will be La Conner, Darrington, Concrete, Orcas Island, Friday Harbor, and Mount Vernon Christian.
Coupeville, La Conner, and Friday Harbor will be 2B, while the other four league schools will be 1B schools.
Whidbey Island’s other two schools, South Whidbey and Oak Harbor, remain in the same classifications as before – 1A and 3A, respectively.
To see the 2020-2024 classifications, pop over to:
Coupeville Sports 
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