BREAKING: Autauga Academy, other private schools jumping from AHSAA to AISA
Autauga Academy headmaster and head coach Jeremy Carter said finances, travel were the main reasons for going back to AISA. (File Photo)
By TIM GAYLE
Autauga Academy, which bolted the Alabama Independent School Association two years ago to join the Alabama High School Athletic Association, has reversed its decision and will rejoin the AISA ranks in 2026-27.
“With the way Alabama High School Athletic Association is with jurisdiction and sharing players in the area, it was better for us to go back (to AISA) because we’re competing (for enrollment) in the same area as other local schools,” Autauga headmaster Jeremy Carter said. “It’s just harder for us to get kids in. If we’re all Alabama High School (members), we’re competing against the Prattville Highs and the PCAs (Prattville Christian Academy) in the same city limits.
“When you’re dealing with two larger schools, it’s harder for a smaller school to compete and get those kids. Plus, we’re on the edge of Prattville and we’re not on the interstate so our traffic pool is definitely different, too. By going back in (to AISA), we’re able to get some kids that may not be able to play at those other schools to compete at our school.”
Over the years, 21 schools have left the AISA to join the AHSAA, but until now only one -- Lyman Ward Military Academy, which is now Southern Prep -- has rejoined the AISA ranks.
Carter said the decision, which was made in early June, wasn’t official until July 1 and refused to make any announcement until he notified all the AHSAA members that had been on his 2026 football schedule of the school’s decision.
“Alabama High School, according to their handbook, when you become a new member, everything starts July 1,” Carter said. “So we kind of used that as our guide to let everyone know by July 1.”
Autauga Academy joined what was then known as the Alabama Private School Association in 1970 as one of the organization’s early members. Following the 2023-24 school year, administrators elected to join the Alabama High School Athletic Association and compete in Class 1A, the organization’s smallest classification.
In early 2026, AHSAA officials announced a decision to separate the private schools from the public schools in postseason play, a move that has not been accepted well by the private schools, resulting in talks among private school administrators about forming a new athletic association.
“We enjoyed the Alabama High School Athletic Association when we were in the same region with Billingsley and Verbena and Maplesville,” Carter said. “Those guys are right in our backyard. Now, we’re being forced to drive two and a half hours, which was the reason we got out of the AISA in the first place. When I have to get kids back to school and we’re playing a basketball game two and a half hours away, that’s just not feasible.”
In June, AHSAA officials announced the appointment of Lee-School Academy football coach Buster Daniels as the new director of private schools. Carter said he talked to Daniel about his school’s concerns.
“He understood because he’s been in both (organizations) as well,” Carter said. “When I gave him my (participation) numbers that were working out over the summer, he understood that my numbers were (on a level with) AISA numbers. They’re not public school numbers right now for a competitive team.”
Carter said he has not spoken with school athletic boosters or parents about the decision, but said the decision to return to the Alabama Independent School Association was not a difficult one for the school’s board of trustees to make.
“It wasn’t a hard decision, because our board members have kids here, too,” he said. “They understand the travel (dilemma) so it was an easy transition, knowing that by going back to AISA, we are able to get some of these kids that can’t play at a Prattville, that can’t play at a PCA. They can’t move inside the city limits and be eligible. Now, with AISA, they don’t have to move.
“It was harder going into AHSAA (two years ago) because they didn’t know (what to expect).”
Autauga isn’t the only private school contemplating a move away from the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The decision to move the private schools into their own division for postseason play likely will cause other private schools to consider a similar move.
“It’s going to hurt all schools,” Carter said. “It’s also going to hurt some public schools because they’re going to have to travel instead of playing the private school next door. So I feel like it’s going to hurt everybody.
“It wasn’t the thing we were looking to do, but it’s the best thing for my school. It has nothing to do with AISA or AHSAA, I have to worry about Autauga Academy and how to survive and prosper here.”
Autauga Academy was fortunate to have a schedule available for the upcoming 2026 football season. Lakeside School announced recently that it did not have the participation numbers to play football this fall and would compete instead at the 8-man level. Autauga will assume Lakeside’s schedule for the 2026 football season.
“If that wouldn’t have happened, we would have had to stay in the AHSAA,” Carter said. “There’s no way we could come over and try to feasibly get a schedule worked out with the AISA.”