The University Interscholastic League announced its biennial realignment Monday morning, grouping teams into their respective districts for the next two seasons.
Below is a look at districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with school enrollments and analysis of how the teams could fare in the 2026-28 football seasons. The alignments for other sports can be found at uiltexas.org.
Class 6A3-6ASchoolEnrollmentAledo2,404Arlington2,825Arlington Bowie2,300Arlington Houston3,451Arlington Lamar2,465Arlington Martin3,434Granbury2,264Weatherford2,477
Analysis: Aledo, winner of a UIL-record 12 football state titles, got an interesting district assignment. Many had predicted that Aledo would share a district with 2024 6A Division I state champion North Crowley, but instead Aledo joins the five Arlington ISD schools, Granbury and Weatherford. Aledo has won 135 district games in a row, and that streak could continue to grow in the next two years. The top Arlington ISD school this year was Bowie, finishing 8-3 and winning the District 8-6A title.
4-6ASchoolEnrollmentTrophy Club Byron Nelson3,001Fort Worth Boswell2,450Justin Northwest2,807Keller2,915Keller Central2,397Keller Timber Creek2,887Northwest Eaton3,238Southlake Carroll2,762
Analysis: Coming off a 14-1 season and 6A Division II state semifinal appearance, eight-time state champion Southlake Carroll should dominate this district. The only other team that won more than five games this season was Trophy Club Byron Nelson, which went 10-3.
High School Sports
5-6ASchoolEnrollmentDenton Braswell2,783Denton Guyer2,588Frisco Wakeland2,245Lewisville3,771Flower Mound3,393Hebron3,619Flower Mound Marcus3,004Little Elm2,441
Analysis: Frisco Wakeland moves up from 5A Division I to 6A and avoids sharing a district with five-time state champion Allen, the largest school in the state. But there will be plenty of challenges in this district, with Denton Guyer coming off an 11-3 season and regional final appearance, Lewisville finishing 8-3 last season and Flower Mound Marcus bringing back four-star recruit Colton Nussmeier, rated the nation’s ninth-best quarterback in the Class of 2027.
6-6ASchoolEnrollmentAllen6,798Jesuit2,320McKinney3,002McKinney Boyd2,675Princeton2,966Prosper2,609Prosper Rock Hill2,533Prosper Walnut Grove2,476
Analysis: The UIL kept Allen and Prosper together after they battled down to the wire for the District 6-6A title this season. Allen finished 14-1 and reached the 6A Division I state semifinals, and Prosper was 11-2 and won at least 11 games for the third time in the last four years. They will be joined by 6A newcomer Prosper Walnut Grove, which was 12-1 as a 5A Division II school.
7-6ACoppell4,488Plano4,071Plano East4,857Plano West4,914Richardson2,659Richardson Berkner2,303Richardson Lake Highlands2,932Richardson Pearce2,340
Analysis: This new-look district will feature four of the 13 largest schools in Texas, with Plano West (enrollment of 4,914), Plano East (4,857), Coppell (4,488) and Plano (4,071). The district will also include four Richardson ISD schools, all of which have enrollments below 3,000, including Pearce (2,340) and Berkner (2,303).
8-6ASchoolEnrollmentEuless Trinity3,651Grand Prairie3,040Haltom City2,524Hurst L.D. Bell3,203Irving2,264Irving MacArthur2,332Irving Nimitz2,321South Grand Prairie3,358
Analysis: After an 8-3 season, three-time state champion Euless Trinity escapes a district that included powerhouse Southlake Carroll and joins a district that has just one other team that had a winning record in 2025: South Grand Prairie, at 8-2.
9-6ASchoolEnrollmentGarland2,144Garland Lakeview Centennial2,080Rowlett2,024Sachse2,866North Garland2,903South Garland1,915Wylie3,288Wylie East2,832
Analysis: This district remains exactly the same from what it has been the last two years, except that Garland Naaman Forest dropped down to 5A Division I. Wylie East went undefeated in the district this year and was 9-1 overall.
10-6ASchoolEnrollmentForney2,933Longview2,400Mesquite Horn2,695North Forney2,897Rockwall2,921Rockwall Heath3,079Royse City2,914Tyler Legacy2,800
Analysis: There were no surprises here, as the district remained the same except for adding Mesquite Horn. It should be competitive again after North Forney and Forney shared the district title this season and Rockwall-Heath and Longview were one game back. Those four schools combined for a record of 35-14.
11-6ASchoolEnrollmentCrowley2,372Duncanville4,214Mansfield2637.5Mansfield Lake Ridge2677.5North Crowley3,049Red Oak2,291Skyline3,573Waxahachie3,075
Analysis: This remains the “District of Doom” as 2025 6A Division I state runner-up Duncanville is joined by 2024 6A Division I state champion North Crowley. Oh, and the district also includes 11-2 Waxahachie, fresh off a regional final appearance, and a 9-3 Mansfield Lake Ridge team.
Class 5A Division I3-5AISchoolEnrollmentAzle2,178Denton2,094Denton Ryan2,142Fort Worth Chisholm Trail2,199Keller Fossil Ridge2,143Saginaw1,885Sherman2,134
Analysis: With the departure of Granbury and 12-time UIL state champion Aledo to Class 6A, along with the Birdville ISD schools to District 6-5AI and Fort Worth Brewer to District 4-5AI, this is a new-look District 3-5AI that added Fort Worth Chisholm Trail, Saginaw and Sherman after realignment. Denton Ryan, which recently hired coach Shane Tolleson from Waxahachie, should be favored to win the district. Ryan finished second in district play behind Aledo the last two seasons.
4-5AISchoolEnrollmentFort Worth Arlington Heights1,905Fort Worth North Side1,587Fort Worth Paschal2,110Fort Worth Polytechnic1,345Fort Worth South Hills1,802Fort Worth Trimble Tech1,922Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt1,590White Settlement Brewer2,084
Analysis: Brewer joined the district after spending the last two seasons in District 3-5AI. Chisholm Trail and Saginaw left the district for District 3-5AI after realignment. Arlington Heights and Wyatt each finished 7–1 in district play last season.
5-5AISchoolEnrollmentFrisco Centennial1,937Frisco Heritage2,010Frisco Lebanon Trail2,095Frisco Liberty1,875Frisco Lone Star1,927Frisco Reedy2,151McKinney North1,953Melissa2,203
Analysis: Melissa, a 5A Division II state semifinalist in 2025, was one of the winners of realignment day after being placed in District 5-5AI with several Frisco ISD schools and McKinney North. Frisco Lone Star, a 5A Division I state finalist, should be the biggest challenge on its schedule. But unlike in District 4-5AII, Melissa’s previous district that also included Anna, Frisco Emerson, Lovejoy and Prosper Walnut Grove, the program should be a sure playoff team in 5-5AI over the next two years.
6-5AISchoolEnrollmentCarrollton Creekview1,690Carrollton Newman Smith1,935Carrollton R.L. Turner2,045Highland Park1,990Garland Naaman Forest1,822Birdville2,038Richland2,047
Analysis: The Birdville ISD schools, Birdville and Richland, escaped the challenge of playing Aledo and Denton Ryan after the last two seasons in District 3-5AI. But the programs now have to face six-time UIL state champion Highland Park, a 5A Division I regional finalist in 2025. The Carrollton-Farmer’s Branch ISD schools — Creekview, Newman Smith and R.L. Turner — might have the biggest adjustment, though, after previously sharing a district with North Mesquite, West Mesquite and several Dallas ISD schools. Naaman Forest is a newcomer to the district after moving down from Class 6A in realignment.
7-5AISchoolEnrollmentBryan Adams2,160Crandall2,188Mesquite2,066North Mesquite1,953Sunset2,078Tyler2,083West Mesquite2,031W.T. White1,969
Analysis: Many of these teams — Bryan Adams, Sunset, W.T. White, North Mesquite and West Mesquite — were district mates in the last realignment cycle and moved over from District 6-5AI. Tyler competed in District 7-5AI over the last two seasons. Mesquite moved into the district from District 11-6A and Crandall moved into the district from District 6-5AII.
8-5AISchoolEnrollmentBurleson Centennial2,099.5Cedar Hill2,141Cleburne1,957DeSoto1,932Lancaster2,137Mansfield Legacy2,198Mansfield Summit1,882Midlothian2,053
Analysis: DeSoto, the 6A Division II state champion in 2025, is the most notable newcomer to 8-5AI. The program spent several seasons in District 11-6A, the “District of Doom,” and will start its journey in Class 5A this cycle. DeSoto will face familiar foes in Cedar Hill and Lancaster, which also moved down to Class 5A Division I and into the district from District 11-6A. Midlothian might be in its toughest district in the last several years.
Class 5A Division II3-5AIISchoolEnrollmentArgyle1,736Colleyville Heritage1,777Grapevine1,630Lovejoy1,493Nevada Community1,488Saginaw Eagle Mountain1,315The Colony1,724
Analysis: This district looks very similar to last realignment with Argyle, Colleyville Heritage, Grapevine and The Colony all sticking around but the likes of Lovejoy and Saginaw Eagle Mountain add new contenders in place of the Mansfield programs. Two of the previous two years’ playoff representatives are gone leaving the door open for new contenders to emerge.
4-5AIISchoolEnrollmentAnna1,789Celina1,520Denison1,414Frisco1,782Frisco Emerson1,853Frisco Independence1,718Frisco Memorial1,519Frisco Panther Creek1,352Prosper Richland1,797
Analysis: Celina, Frisco and Prosper Richland enter a district that lost Lovejoy to District 3 and Melissa and Prosper Walnut Grove, which moved up to 5A Division I and 6A. Both Celina and Frisco should become instant contenders after Celina won the 4A Division I state championship in 2024 and Frisco became a playoff team from a tough District 5-5A Division I field in 2025.
5-5AIISchoolEnrollmentAdamson1,341Hillcrest1,429Mesquite Poteet1,484Molina1,751Thomas Jefferson1,501Samuell1,527Seagoville1,661South Oak Cliff1,601Woodrow Wilson1,805
Analysis: Unsurprisingly, Dallas ISD stuck together but this time added Molina, which drops down from Class 5A Division I and Mesquite Poteet. The district still runs through South Oak Cliff, but the likes of Poteet should fare better the next two seasons after going 4-10 during the last realignment cycle. Look for them to make a legitimate playoff push in 2026 and 2027.
6-5AIISchoolEnrollmentGreenville1,610Hallsville1,483Marshall1,407Mount Pleasant1,502Nacogdoches1,769Terrell1,493Texarkana Texas1,778Whitehouse1,422
Analysis: How about Greenville and Terrell being sent all the way out east? No other area programs stayed in District 6-5A Division II with six schools from the previous version of District 7 joining this new District 6. Texas High and Marshall went 10-2 and 8-3 in 2025 and will be instant challengers to Terrell, which won the district title last season going 12-1.
7-5AIISchoolEnrollmentArlington Seguin1,732Burleson1,824Corsicana1,780.5Ennis1,827Everman1,394.5Joshua1,797Mansfield Timberview1,691Midlothian Heritage1,774
Analysis: After having an East Texas slant during last realignment, District 7-6A Division II has a D-FW foundation this go-around. This has one of the more sprawling districts in the area stretching as far west as Joshua and as far south as Corsicana, over an hour from programs like Arlington Seguin and Mansfield Timberview. On paper, Arlington Seguin, Midlothian Heritage and Mansfield Timberview should be the top contenders.
Class 4A Division I4-4AISchoolEnrollmentAlvarado1,125Aubrey1,259Carrollton Ranchview987Decatur1,147Godley939Lake Dallas1,230FW Castleberry1,115Springtown1,170.5
Analysis: Aubrey might fare better in a district without Celina and Frisco Panther Creek, which are moving to 5A for the next alignment. But it’s probably not going to be a walk in the park facing Springtown (12-1, 6-0 District 5-4AI), Decatur (8-4, 5-1) or Alvarado (12-1, 5-0 District 6-4AI).
5-4AISchoolEnrollmentFW Benbrook874FW Carter-Riverside1,055FW Dunbar824FW Eastern Hills1,247FW Southwest1,121FW Western Hills843FW Diamond Hill-Jarvis829Kennedale916
Analysis: Kennedale is back in a district of mostly Fort Worth ISD schools after two straight seasons of finishing second to Alvarado in District 6-4AI. Its biggest competition could be Benbrook, which had its own “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” situation in District 4-4AII, where it finished 4-1 and second to Glen Rose the last two seasons.
6-4AISchoolEnrollmentCarter938Conrad1,234Wilmer-Hutchins732Kimball1,174Lincoln604Pinkston1,185Roosevelt777Spruce1,234North Dallas1,182
Analysis: This is the same Dallas ISD district from the current alignment plus Spruce, which is moving down from 5AII. Small-but-mighty Lincoln, which opts up from Division II, won the district last season by a points tiebreaker after it finished 6-1 with Kimball and Carter.
7-4AISchoolEnrollmentCaddo Mills909Ferris919Kaufman1,207Mabank1,162Paris960.5Sulphur Springs1,254.5Life Waxahachie1,149
Analysis: This might be the most new-look district in the next alignment. Caddo Mills and Ferris are moving up from Division II, and Kaufman is moving down after a 1-6 season in 5AII. But Kaufman went 5-2 in 2024, so it could be competitive in a district with only two schools that played together the current alignment. Sulphur Springs finished 5-1 and beat Paris (3-3) in District 7-4AI last season, but it was close: 38-35.
Class 4A Division II6-4AIISchoolEnrollmentGainesville885Krum795Lake Worth893Ponder560Sanger880Van Alstyne804
Analysis: Ponder is moving up from 3AI to join a district losing Caddo Mills to Division I and Bonham to District 7-4AII. Krum (10-1, 6-0 District 5-4AII) and Sanger (8-4, 5-1) are probably the teams to beat.
7-4AIISchoolEnrollmentBonham557Farmersville791Paris North Lamar703Quinlan Ford832Sunnyvale745Wills Point786
Analysis: Sunnyvale, Quinlan Ford and Wills Point will again welcome three new members to their district, and it’s probably Sunnyvale’s to lose. Sunnyvale has won the last two district titles, and Quinlan Ford has made the playoffs as the third team in after Canton. Paris North Lamar will have quite the hike to play most of these schools, with Bonham the closest opponent, 40 miles west, and Sunnyvale the farthest, 100 miles southwest.
Class 3A Division I5-3AISchoolEnrollmentA+ Academy535Life Oak Cliff485Gunter389Pilot Point531Pottsboro421Whitesboro492
Analysis: The good news: Perennial playoff contenders Pottsboro, Whitesboro and Pilot Point won’t have to contend with Palmer, which moved to 6-3AI, or Dallas ISD’s Madison, which dropped to Division II. The bad? They’re now with Gunter, winner of five of the last 10 state titles in Class 3A Division II.
Class 3A Division II6-3AIISchoolEnrollmentDallas Gateway Charter186Madison288Inspired Vision Academy Dallas342Maypearl358Mesquite PTAA234Scurry-Rosser346Trinity Leadership Cedar Hill204
Analysis: Madison is one of three newcomers, with Mesquite PTAA and Maypearl, to a group that formed District 8-3AII in the last alignment. Trinity Leadership and Scurry-Rosser are the only remaining playoff teams from the 2025 season.
7-3AIISchoolEnrollmentBells315Blue Ridge306Callisburg331Howe346Leonard283Sadler S&S Cons.323Valley View253.5
Analysis: It’s a happy day for the District 7-3AII schools, which no longer have to contend with Gunter after its move to Division I. The district trades the 3AII state championship runner-up from last season for Valley View, which went winless in 6-3AII.
On X: @SportsDayHS
Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.