OUR MISSION
The VHSL is an alliance of Virginia’s public and approved non-boarding, non-public high schools that promotes education, leadership, sportsmanship, character and citizenship for students by establishing and maintaining high standards for school activities and competitions.
OUR VISION
The VHSL, composed of member schools in the state of Virginia, believes:
- That it is the function of the VHSL to attempt to provide programs which best fit the needs of eligible students.
- That competition is desirable in a democratic society and is best conducted under the spirit and letter of the rules provided to govern each activity.
- That the opportunity to participate should be available in individual and team events allowing for the unique differences in talents and abilities of students served.
- That good sportsmanship, fair play, honesty, and respect for others shall be evident in all participants at all levels of competition.
- That governance of all activities shall be through the democratic process with equal voice and vote for all member schools and equal right of appeal through due process.
- That activities shall be supervised, directed and officiated by individuals trained in their respective fields of service.
- That communities served shall be informed as to the function, operations, and management of this organization.
- That the scope of sponsored activities educate our youth to the need for trained minds and healthy bodies.
Furthermore, the VHSL believes in:
- providing educational opportunities for students beyond the classroom.
- ensuring fairness and equity through safe competitions.
- paving the way for personal growth.
- offering opportunities for students to develop teamwork and leadership skills.
- promoting sportsmanship, ethics and integrity.
- building better citizens through student activities.
- providing the means whereby all coaches in VHSL schools are trained in fundamental coaching competencies.
VHSL HANDBOOK
The VHSL Handbook and Policy Manual are intended primarily for the use of member high school principals, coaches and sponsors in the administration of the school activities programs, but it should also prove valuable as a reference for all those concerned directly or indirectly with interscholastic activities relationships in Virginia.
The Handbook contains official information concerning League officers and administration, organization and membership, rules and regulations, and activities programs. It is distributed to all public and private secondary schools in the state, to all division superintendents, and to many allied organizations and interested individuals and posted on the League’s website. Supplements to the Handbook are published regularly throughout the school year.
The Policy Manual provides specific provisions related to various aspects of the Handbook and League programs. All policies contained in the Policy Manual have been adopted by the Executive Committee of the VHSL with due regard for the VHSL By-Laws and all policies prescribed in the VHSL Handbook.
Download – VHSL HANDBOOK
MEMBER SCHOOL DIRECTORY
The Virginia High School League is comprised of the 315 public schools and approved non-boarding, non-public high schools in the Commonwealth. The VHSL Directory is organized into two main sections, organizational information (Groups, Regions, Districts, etc.) and specific school information (address, phone, email, etc.) for each member school.
Download – VHSL Directory
Download – VHSL Organizational Information
The Virginia High School League is a private, non-profit organization whose members are an alliance of Virginia’s public and approved non-boarding, non-public high schools. Schools, classified by enrollment, are organized into Districts and Regions for the purpose of conducting League programs on a geographical basis.
The League is organized by the principals of member schools. The organization consists of the membership, an Executive Committee, a Class 1, a Class 2, a Class 3, a Class 4, a Class 5, and a Class 6 Board, a Group Committee for each group, a Regional Council for each region and a District Council and a District Committee for each district.
The Executive Committee, Group Boards, Regional Councils, and District Councils are the key legislative and executive organs of the League. A central League office, which serves as the organization’s administrative headquarters is located at 1642 State Farm Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA, with the Executive Director in charge.
The Executive Committee shall be composed of 37 voting members including 18 principals; one representative from the State Department of Education; eight division superintendents of schools; one representative from the Virginia School Boards Association; one Virginia citizen appointed by the Executive Committee from the PTA Board of Managers; six supervisors of athletics/activities at a member school, one from each classification level (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6); and two members of the Virginia General Assembly. The Executive Director of the League shall serve as a non‐voting member of the Executive Committee.
A general management board, or Group Board is organized for each classification(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Each Group Board consists of the principals of all member schools in the group and the Executive Director, who shall serve ex officio. Each board elects a chairman, a vice-chairman, a secretary, and member-at-large. Group boards formulate and adopt such specific rules and regulations, in conformity with League rules and regulations, as are deemed necessary or desirable in the conduct of their group program.
A Regional Council is organized within each region to provide for the conduct of the League program within that region. Each Regional Council is comprised of the principals of member schools within the region, or their alternates. The Regional Council determines and regulates the regional sponsored events for each school year.
A District Council is organized within each district to provide for the conduct of the League program within that district. Each District Council is comprised of the principals of the member schools within the district, or their alternates. The District Council determines district program for each school year.
A District Committee is constituted within each district to exercise the executive and judicial functions of the District Council. Each District Committee consists of the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of the District Council. The District Committee is responsible for the planning and supervising of the League program within the district, including meets and tournaments. The District Committee is charged with the enforcement, within the district, of League, group board and district policies, rules and regulations. It shall adjudicate, insofar as possible, all disagreements and protests arising from the conduct of the district program.
CLASSIFICATION
VHSL member schools are classified based on enrollment into six classifications, 1 through 6, with schools having an enrollment of 475 or less in the smallest (1) classification. The remainder of the League’s member schools are divided equally into fifths, with the largest schools in Class 6. Each Classification is made up of four Regions (A, B, C, D). For regular season play, schools are placed into geographically-based Districts, eliminating the need for extensive travel during the regular season. Schools begin the post-season with Regional tournaments and then State tournament play.
A VHSL Alignment Committee, made up of one representative appointed by each region and a superintendent chairman appointed by the League chairman, shall develop a plan assigning all schools for a four-year period to a district, region, and classification. For classification purposes, the membership of a school shall be the March 31 average daily membership (ADM) figures submitted by school divisions to the State Department of Education for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, the Alignment Committee shall use March 31 ADM figures from an odd-numbered school year and shall present its plan to the Executive Committee for approval at the first meeting of the next even-numbered school year to go into effect in the next odd-numbered school year.
ALIGNMENT
PARTICIPATION
Few experiences enrich the lives of boys and girls as much as participation in interscholastic athletics and academic activities. For over 100 years, the Virginia High School League has provided opportunities for Virginia’s youth to engage in a variety of activities and competitions that promote education, personal growth, sportsmanship, leadership and citizenship.
The VHSL maintains eligibility and standards for play in 27 sports, 14 for girls and 13 for boys, and in 12 academic activities and sponsors 162 team championships in sports and 27 team championships in activities. Nearly 174,000 students participate in VHSL athletic activities and more than 22,000 in academic activities. Through their participation, these future leaders learn skills and life lessons that will become the foundation for who they are as adults.
Young people need these programs to be winners in life!
The Virginia High School League (VHSL), in partnership with its corporate sponsors, is proud to offer scholarships for college bound seniors. Through these scholarships, the VHSL is committed to supporting and investing in Virginia’s youth. We encourage parents and students to take advantage of these scholarship opportunities.
VHSL Foundation Achievement Award
Nineteen $2,000 scholarships are awarded each year honoring nineteen high school seniors representing all parts of the state with the VHSL Foundation Achievement Award, the highest honor given by the VHSL to students who have excelled in the classroom and in athletic and academic activities.
Savedge Scholarship Award
Each year, the VHSL awards $1,000 to one college-bound senior who has participated and excelled in school publications (magazine, newsmagazine, newspaper, and yearbook), and for at least two years has demonstrated outstanding personal qualities such as leadership, writing, proficiency, design aptitude, creativity, teamwork, and character.
Vito Perriello Citizenship Award
Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded during the school year, honoring one male and one female student participant who demonstrates outstanding traits of citizenship throughout his/her high school career. Only students graduating from a VHSL member school will be eligible for these awards. Each VHSL member school may nominate one male and one female student (a separate application is required for each individual). Students must have previously participated in one or more VHSL activities which can include serving as an athletic training student aide (ATSA) with a Virginia licensed athletic trainer within that school to be eligible for the award. All applications must be submitted to the VHSL office by the member school principal. Applications must be postmarked by March 15. No late applications will be accepted. A statewide committee representing educators and Sports Medicine Advisory Committee representatives will review all nominations and select the winners.
The Virginia High School Hall of Fame recognizes those who have contributed in outstanding ways to activities programs serving Virginia’s youth. Sponsored by the Virginia High School League (VHSL), the hall is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of outstanding achievements by students and adults in sports and activities within Virginia’s public high schools.
Athletes are eligible for consideration 10 years after completion of their high school careers and are judged primarily for their achievements in interscholastic sports. Coaches are eligible after 15 years of experience or upon retirement and are judged on the merits of their achievements at the high school level. Contributors are professionals who have rendered significant services in some other capacity such as administration, academic activities, officiating, media or sports medicine.
Nominations are due October 1 of each year for consideration for the following year. All nominees are screened by a committee from the VHSL. Final selections are made by a second committee.
The Hall of Fame is housed in the VHSL headquarters in Charlottesville. For information or nomination forms, contact Mike McCall at the VHSL office (434) 977-8475, or [email protected] .
VHSL Quick Resources
