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| Abbreviation | WIAA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1905, 121 years ago |
| Type | Volunteer;NPO |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | Athletic/Educational |
| Headquarters | 435 Main Avenue South Renton,WA 98057 |
| Coordinates | 47°28′37″N122°12′18″W / 47.477°N 122.205°W /47.477; -122.205 |
Region served | Washington |
Official language | English |
Executive Director | Mick Hoffman |
| Affiliations | National Federation of State High School Associations |
| Staff | 14 |
| Website | wiaa.com |
| Remarks | (425) 687-8585 |
TheWashington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is the governing body of athletics and activities forsecondary education schools in theU.S. state ofWashington. As of October 2024, the private,501(c)(3)nonprofit organization consists of nearly 800 memberhigh schools andmiddle/junior high schools, both public and private.[1]
Founded in 1905 to "create equitable playing conditions"[1] between member teams, the WIAA plans and supervises interscholastic sports and activities approved and delegated by the various school district boards of directors. The organization emphasizes the importance of interscholastic sports and activities in the "total educational process"[1] while recognizing that education is the primary responsibility of its member schools.
The WIAA creates and governs rules to establish uniformity of standards in sports and activities; to protect the safety and health of students; to shield students from exploitation by special interest groups; to provide fair and equal opportunities to all students participating; and to encourage good sportsmanship. A stated goal of the organization is to promote diversity of its membership at all levels.[1]
The organization also provides member schools an open channel of communication with other members to organize any events and activities, as well as to resolve any issues. In addition, the WIAA recognizes achievement and excellence of member teams and individuals participating in sports and activities.
Primary funding for the WIAA is through ticket sales for state tournaments and other events.[1] Additional funds are secured through corporate sponsorships, memberships fees, and small percentages of the sales of merchandise related to the organization and its member schools. As a private organization, the WIAA does not receive any funding via tax dollars and is not financially supported by the State of Washington.
The WIAA oversees athletics and fine arts in Washington state. As of October 2024, the organization hosts 120 state championship events[1] for the following sports and activities:
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The organization places member schools into one of six classification tiers based on enrollment ranges: 1B, 2B, 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A. Classification tiers are based on student body enrollment in grades 9–11 and used by the WIAA to maintain fair and equal competition between its memberhigh schools. The enrollment ranges are evaluated by the WIAA Executive Board every four years and finalized for a four-year period. Enrollments of single-gender schools are doubled for classification purposes.[2]
| Classification | Enrollment (gr. 9–11) | Member schools | Opted -up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4A | 1201+ | 51 | 6 |
| 3A | 900-1200 | 73 | 13 |
| 2A | 450–899 | 63 | 2 |
| 1A | 225–449 | 55 | 8 |
| 2B | 105-224 | 54 | 1 |
| 1B | 1-104 | 105 | – |
| Total | 410 |
| Years | Enrollment class | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | 2B | 1B | |
| 2008–10[4] | 1281+ | 919–1280 | 468–918 | 188–467 | 88–187 | 0–87 |
| 2010–12[5] | 1304+ | 1086–1303 | 513–1085 | 208–512 | 93–207 | 0–92 |
| 2012–14[6] | ||||||
| 2014–16[7] | 1252.4+ | 990.9–1252.3 | 472-990.8 | 225-471.9 | 90-224.9 | 26-89.9 |
| 2016–20[8] | 1343.29+ | 971.72–1343.28 | 461–971.71 | 214.50–461.24 | 31–214.49 | 26–82.99 |
| 2020–24[9] | 1300+ | 900–1299 | 450–899 | 225–449 | 105–224 | 1-104 |
| Years | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | 2B | 1B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–present | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | 2B | 1B |
| 1998–2006 | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | B | |
| 1969–1997 | AAA | AA | A | B | ||
| 1958–1968 | AA | A | B | |||
| 1945–1957 | A | B | ||||
| 1944–1945 | single classification | |||||
| 1942–1943 | A | B | ||||
| 1934–1941 | single classification | |||||
| 1931–1933 | A | B | ||||
| 1923–1930 | single classification | |||||
Member schools may choose to move up to a higher classification tier to compete against schools with larger enrollments. If a school chooses to opt up, it must notify the WIAA office on or before the second Friday in January of the first year of the four-year classification cycle.[11]
The WIAA is divided into nine districts that represent approximate geographical areas.[12] Each district is presided over by a District Director. Member schools are aligned into geographical conferences or leagues for competition. District membership is determined by these conferences and leagues with the exception of two. The Columbia Basin Big Nine Conference and Central Washington Athletic Conference have member schools in two districts.[12] Conference and League alignment is determined annually. The following are league alignments as of 2016-2017 school year and are subject to revision to adjust for the 2016-2020 reclassification.
| District | Leagues | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | 2B | 1B | ||
| 1 | Northwest | Wesco 4A | Wesco 2A/3A | Northwest 1B | |||||
| Northwest 1A/2A/3A | Northwest 1B/2B | ||||||||
| 2 | Sea-King | Kingco 4A | Kingco 3A | Kingco 2A | Emerald Sound 1A | Sea-Tac 1B/2B | |||
| Metro 3A | Independent | ||||||||
| 3 | West Central | South Puget Sound 4A | South Sound 3A | South Puget Sound 2A | Nisqually 1A | North Olympic 1B | |||
| North Puget Sound 3A/4A | |||||||||
| Pierce County 3A | |||||||||
| Olympic 2A/3A | Independent | ||||||||
| 4 | Southwest | Greater St. Helens 4A | Greater St. Helens 3A | Greater St. Helens 2A | Trico 1A | Pacific 2B | Coastal 1B | ||
| Evergreen 2A | Evergreen 1A | Central 2B | Columbia Valley 1B | ||||||
| 5 | Yakima Valley | Columbia Basin Big 9 4A | Central Washington 2A | South Central 1A | Eastern Washington 2B | Central Washington 1B | |||
| 6 | North Central | Caribou Trail 1A | Central Washington 2B | ||||||
| 7 | Northeast | Northeast 1A | Northeast 2B | Northeast 1B | |||||
| 8 | Greater Spokane | Greater Spokane League 2A/3A/4A | |||||||
| Mid-Columbia 3A/4A | |||||||||
| 9 | Southeast | Southeast 1B East | |||||||
The Northwest Interscholastic Activities Association[13] governs WIAA District 1,[12] which encompasses the five counties in the northwest section of Washington State: Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, and Island. As of February 2011, Northwest District 1 includes seven leagues with member schools from all classifications and a single independent member school.[14] The Western High School Athletic Conference regulates two 4A classification leagues and one 3A classification league. Its membership consists of high schools in the public school districts of Arlington, Edmonds, Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Monroe, Mukilteo, Oak Harbor, Shoreline, Snohomish, and Stanwood.[15]The North Sound Conference regulates member schools residing in the 1A classification. Its membership consists of high schools in Snohomish, Island and north King counties, in and nearEverett.[16] The Northwest Conference regulates member schools in 3A, 2A and 1A classifications. Its membership consists of high schools in western Whatcom, Skagit and counties, in and nearBellingham andMount Vernon.[17]The Northwest 2B/1B League regulates member schools in 2B and 1B classifications. Its membership consists of high schools in San Juan, Skagit, Island and Snohomish counties.The Northwest B League regulates member schools in 1B classification. Its membership consists of small public and private high schools in San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.[18]
WesCo 4A
WesCo 2A/3A
Northwest Conference (1A/2A/3A)
Northwest 1B/2B League (1B/2B)
Northwest 1B League
The SeaKing District encompasses mostly schools inKing County. The schools are in all classification sizes and separated into five leagues by size and location. A majority of the state's 3A schools are located in this district and the West Central District 3. TheCenter School, International Community School,International School, and Secondary BOC[20] are independents in this District.
KingCo 4A
KingCo 3A
KingCo 2A
Metro League
Emerald Sound League (1A)
SeaTac (1B/2B)
Independent
The WCD encompasses schools in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Pierce, Mason, Thurston, and King counties of the northern Peninsula and southern Puget Sound areas of Washington. The district has the most 4A and 3A schools combined in the state, with 26 and 16 respectively. It includes schools from all classification sizes, although most of the 2B schools in the region are members SeaTac league of SeaKing District Two.
North Puget Sound 3A/4AOlympic
Cascade
South Puget Sound 4A
Puget Sound League 3A
South Puget Sound 2A
Olympic 1A/2A
Nisqually 1A
North Olympic 1B
The Southwest District, as its name suggests, includes schools south of theOlympic Mountains and west of theCascade Range. The Washington School for the Blind (1B), Three Rivers Christian (1B), King's Way Christian (1B), Maple Lane High School (1A), andVancouver School of Arts and Academics (1A) are independents.[21]
Greater St. Helens 3A/4A
Greater St. Helens 2A
Evergreen 2A
Evergreen 1A
Trico 1A
Pacific 2B
Central 2B
Columbia Valley 1B
Coastal 1B
The Yakima Valley District includes schools in south central Washington. The schools are divided into five leagues.
CWAC 2A
SCAC 1A
EWAC 2B 2B
Greater Columbia Gorge 1B
Columbia Basin Big-9 4A
Caribou Trail 1A
Central Washington 2B
Central Washington 1B
Northeast 1A
Northeast 2B
Northeast 1B
The Greater Spokane League was formed in 1925 as the Spokane City League and became the GSL in 1976.[23] District 8 was created to separate the larger schools (then AAA) from the smaller schools in District 7. Schools that dropped to 2A therefore leave the GSL and District 8, to the Great Northern League (GNL, formerly Frontier League) in District 7. Consequently, schools have gone through great lengths to remain in the league and maintain historic rivalries. Gonzaga Prep opts-up to 4A, despite having 2A enrollment numbers.[24][25] For the 2020–21 school year, Cheney moved up to 3A; with only four teams left in the GNL, that league was folded and absorbed into a new GSL 2A division.[26]
Mid-Columbia 3A/4A
Greater Spokane 2A/3A/4A
Southeast 1B/2B