FHS will be facing new opponents throughout all sports beginning this academic year. Ever since 2017, FHS has remained in the Class 4 Region 4C division for sports. However, this year, the body that runs Virginia public high school sports, the Virginia High School League (VHSL), realigned Fauquier into Class 3 Region 3B until at least 2027.
The VHSL separates all public high schools into 6 classes based on average daily membership (ADM) for each school, with Class 6 including the schools with the largest ADM. ADM is the sum of all students grades 9-11. Within each class, schools are divided among 4 regions, A, B, C and D. Each class holds their own state championship and each region holds their own regional championship.
FHS was moved to Class 3 as, per the VHSL, FHS had an ADM of 864 and an ADM of at least 900 is required for Class 4. The realignment of FHS means that the school will compete against different schools en route toward a regional and state championship. Kettle Run High School, with an ADM of 851, joins Fauquier to move into Class 3 Region 3B. However, Liberty High School will remain at Class 4, with an ADM of 987, but will switch into Region 4D. Fauquier, Kettle Run and Liberty will remain a part of the same Northwestern District and will compete against each other and the same district schools as they did before the VHSL realignment for a district championship.
Although not in the same class or region as Liberty, Fauquier will continue to compete against Liberty during the regular season for all sports. However, the Bird Bowl football game between the schools will no longer be held as the final regular season game. Fauquier will also continue to compete against Kettle Run during the regular season for all sports.
