NJSIAA Enforces Competitive Balance Rule: 6 Non-Traditional Public Football Schools Moved Up in Classification
In recent years, non-traditional public schools have become a hot topic in New Jersey athletics due to their potential to create an unequal playing field. The NJSIAA sought to counteract the ever changing landscape by enacting the Competitive Balance Policy in football, boys basketball, and girls basketball while eyeing the possibility of instituting the policy in other sports in the near future. The association has classified non-traditional public schools into three distinct categories:
1. Non-Defined Geographic Area
Charter Schools, Choice Schools, and Schools that Permit Tuition-Paying Students
2. County-Based Geographic Area
County Vocational-Technical Schools, County Magnet/Academy Schools, Schools with Satellite Campuses for County-Based Academies
3. School Districts with Open Enrollment Policies
School districts with multiple high schools that allow the student to choose what school to attend
Schools that fit into these categories have the potential to be bumped up in group classification based on a formula of success points outlined by the NJSIAA on page 7-9 here.
Earlier this afternoon, the NJSIAA Executive Committee announced that 14 football schools accrued enough success points to move up if found to be non-traditional. The NJSIAA determined that six of the 14 schools were found to be non-traditional and will each be moved up a full group classification for the 2026 season, as first reported by Varsity Aces.
Glassboro (Will move from Group 1 to 2 after being classified a Choice School)
Camden (Will move up from Group 2 to 3 after being classified an Open-Enrollment school)
Shabazz (Will move up from Group 2 to 3 after being classified an Open-Enrollment school)
Cedar Creek (Will move up from Group 3 to 4 after being classified an Open-Enrollment school)
Ramapo (Will move up from Group 4 to 5 after being classified an Open-Enrollment school)
Phillipsburg (Will move up from Group 4 to 5 after being classified a Choice School).
Notably, there were no Shore Conference schools that met the success factor that were found to be non-traditional.
Glassboro has dominated the Group 1 scene for the last two seasons winning 27 straight games and two state championships. In 10 state playoff games over the last two seasons, Glassboro has outscored their opponents 447-74. The roster from this past season included at least eight transfers from schools including Camden, Gateway, the Pennington School, Roman Catholic (PA), Sterling, and Winslow. Students are able to apply to join Glassboro’s Interdistrict Public School Choice Program from out-of-district.
Camden went 12-2 this past season on their way to a Group 2 state title run in which they outscored their five opponents 206-39. The Panthers defeated two Shore Conference teams along the way in Manasquan and Wall by scores of 46-6 and 43-7. Camden’s roster had at least fourteen transfers from schools including Camden Catholic, Camden Eastside, Camden Mastery, Deptford, Glassboro, Paul VI, Pennsauken, Pennsauken Tech, Pleasantville, Willingboro, Winslow, and Woodbury. Camden residents can apply to which high school they want to attend between Camden, Camden Eastside, Camden Mastery, KIPP Cooper Norcross, Brimm Medical Arts, Big Picture Learning Academy, Creative Arts, and Pride Academy. Students enrolled at schools that do not have football can select which school they wish to play at. Camden Eastside finished 3-7 this past season while Camden Mastery finished 1-7.
Shabazz has been a state finalist for the past two seasons, falling to Rumson-Fair Haven and Camden in the last two state championships. The Newark school outscored their opponents 241-89 in their eight state playoff victories the last two years. Shabazz’s roster had at least ten transfers from schools including Bergen Catholic, DePaul, Immaculate Conception, Passaic Tech, St. Joseph’s Montvale, St. Thomas Aquinas, and West Side. Newark residents can apply to 18 different high schools in the city and choose which school to play football at if their school does not have it.
Cedar Creek went 12-2 this past season culminating in the Group 3 state title. The Pirates outscored their opponents 166-91 in their five-game title run. Included in that run was a 48-38 win over Holmdel in the state semifinal. Cedar Creek is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School district which allows students to determine which of the three high schools they attend between Cedar Creek, Absegami, and Oakcrest. Absegami finished with a 3-7 record while Oakcrest finished with a 2-7 record this past season.
Ramapo finished 11-2 this past season, falling to Winslow in the Group 4 state title. The Raiders outscored their opponents 152-67 in their four victories. Students in the Ramapo-Indian Hills district can choose which of the two schools to attend. Indian Hills finished 5-5 this past season.
Phillipsburg went 10-3 in the last year, losing to Ramapo in the Group 4 semifinals. The Stateliners advanced to the state championship in 2024, losing to Winslow. Students are able apply to join Phillipsburg’s Interdistrict Public School Choice Program from out-of-district.
It remains to be seen if the NJSIAA’s Competitive Balance Policy will have any effect at all regarding equalizing the playing field between traditional public schools with boundaries and non-traditional public schools without boundaries. Should the non-traditional public schools continue to dominate after being moved up, it might be time to look towards moving those schools into the non-public sections or creating a new section for those schools.
Competitive balance realignments for boys and girls basketball are expected to be announced at a later date.
