The University Interscholastic League (UIL) announced its latest cycle of high school athletics reclassification and realignment on February 2nd, impacting football, volleyball, and basketball programs across the state. Football realignment is announced every two years, while the UIL assesses all other sports for realignment annually.

“This realignment brings new opportunities and new challenges for our athletic programs,” said New Braunfels ISD Athletic Director Richard Mendoza. “Our coaches and student-athletes are looking forward to competing at a high level while continuing to represent New Braunfels ISD.”

As part of the new alignment, New Braunfels High School will move from Class 5A Division I to Class 5A Division II in football. Long Creek High School will also be placed in the same football district as New Braunfels High School, marking the Dragons’ first season competing in a UIL district since the school opened two years ago.

The football realignment places the Unicorns and Dragons in Class 5A District 13. New Braunfels High School will face an entirely new slate of district opponents, while Long Creek High School’s inclusion in a district for the first time makes the Dragons eligible for postseason play. The 2026 season will also be historic for both schools as they prepare to face each other for the first time.

For volleyball and basketball, New Braunfels High School will remain aligned with familiar opponents Veterans Memorial and Smithson Valley, who currently compete in the same district. Long Creek High School, which currently competes in Class 4A, will move into Class 5A and will not share any district opponents from its current alignment.

Prior to the release of full district alignments, the UIL announced conference cutoff numbers that determine classification placement. For Class 5A, enrollment ranged from 1,305 to 2,214 students. Football divisions were split with Class 5A Division I ranging from 1,870 to 2,214 and Class 5A Division II ranging from 1,305 to 1,869.

The UIL has indicated that alignments for all remaining sports and academic contests will be released no later than April 1, 2026.

Football

Class 5A District 13

  • Long Creek High School
  • New Braunfels High School
  • Boerne High School
  • Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch High School
  • Liberty Hill High School
  • Alamo Heights High School
  • Veterans Memorial High School

Volleyball/Basketball

Class 5A District 25

  • Long Creek High School
  • New Braunfels High School
  • Smithson Valley High School
  • Kyle Lehman High School
  • Lockhart High School
  • Veterans Memorial High School
  • MacArthur High School
  • Seguin High School

The UIL has posted the 2026–2028 reclassification and realignment policies and procedures on its website. For more information, visit www.uiltexas.org/alignments

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