BugWub24

One group I'm really interested in seeing progress in is Sachse, being that their current director won 4A Honor Band during the last cycle. 6A is a different animal though, especially since they will have to compete against other Region 2 groups - I'd be shocked if they make the state round, but if they did pretty well in the area round, that would be a success in my eyes.

With a net gain of +1 for this area, we would only need one more band to get a 1 at region to advance six bands to state, assuming everyone else gets 1s. Here's what that could look like, based off of last years results (with a touch of my own opinion): 1. Burleson Centennial 2. Richland 3. Midlothian 4. Grapevine 5. Colleyville Heritage 6. Azle* 7. Birdville 8. Chisholm Trail 9. Fossil Ridge 10. Saginaw 11. Joshua** 12. Arlington Heights** * = would make state if there are 12 finalists ** = would make finals if there are 12 finalists It's Grapevine's time to finally make it. They were performing and scoring better than Colleyville Heritage the entire season, only to be overtaken at the 11th hour. That was heartbreaking, but it should given them some extra motivation for next season. Could also throw Mansfield Legacy somewhere in the 9-12 range.

UPDATE: This was news for football, regarding Garland ISD. Since Naaman Forest reported 5A-D2 numbers, they can't be in 6A, which apparently prevented a 5A-D1 district of Garland, Naaman, South Garland, Rowlett, and Lakeview. Doesn't really change anything for music, but pretty significant in terms of what the 6A cutoff could've been - it could've allowed multiple 5A Area E bands to move up to 6A.

If Region 8 South moves back to Area D, give me: 1. Friendswood 2. Brenham 3. La Porte 4. Dulles 5. Porter 6. Port Neches-Groves 7. New Caney 8. Randle 9. Angleton 10. Kempner 11. Galena Park 12. West Fork I'd watch out for Dulles and New Caney - very good bands that were overshadowed in their stacked 6A areas.

Moving the Victorias to H makes all the sense in the world in order to keep the number of state slots at 4. Here's what that could look like: 1. Glenn 2. Liberty Hill 3. C.C. Winn 4. Samuel V. Champion 5. Medina Valley 6. Legacy Ranch 7. McCollum 8. Gregory-Portland 9. Jefferson 10. Flour Bluff / SA Veterans Memorial

Depends on what happens with area realignment. Right now, I could see A&M Consolidated and College Station coming back to Area D to help with the overcrowding of Area E. If that happens, give me: 1. McCallum 2. A&M Consolidated 3. Hendrickson 4. Anderson 5. College Station 6. Pflugerville 7. Smithson Valley 8. Weiss 9. Alamo Heights 10. Lockhart If not, then: Pflugerville and SV make state, and MacArthur and Seguin crack the top 10.

Apparently there is some UIL Realignment news to break within the next few days. Could just be for football, but who knows, it may affect music as well... 👀

I'd imagine most of the talk surrounding DFW realignment will surround Area C more than anything due to huge enrollment decline. The way I'm looking at that area is towards the 2028-30 cycle. Not including any sort of opt-ups, this is potentially what could happen in two years: Moving up to 6A: Crandall Moving down to 5A: Irving, MacArthur, Nimitz, Waxahachie Potential Drop-downs: Royse City, Berkner, J.J. Pearce C could potentially have an even larger exodus in 2028, requiring new area alignments. As much as it would make sense to put J back in C and Region 20 back in B, it's doesn't really seem like the right move. Forney wouldn't even make it to state in Area J (I think both of the Wylies are better), not to mention the rest of Region 3 would just be in purgatory. Rockwall could still make finals, but none of the other Area C Finalists would've made finals in J this year. In my honest opinion, I think you wait another cycle to redo the areas. With the strength of J, I would think you would have to completely rethink how the DFW areas are built.

They fixed it for Lakeview, South Garland, and Naaman. They could have either missed it or they are indeed opting up. Since all of Garland ISD is opting up for athletics, each school under the cutoff should have the option to opt up for music activities as well if they so choose. Lakeview has set themselves up really nicely in 5A; as long as they are under the cutoff, I don't see them opting up at all. It's really nice to see South Garland start to improve. Naaman as well; I was shocked they got a 2, I thought they had a decent shot at area finals. Although I think both Garland and Rowlett would do much better in 5A, I could definitely see them opting to stay in 6A, especially Garland, being that they are the primary high school of the district. Garland has a lot of potential; they have been much better musically than in past years, but marching is definitely a weakness for them. They hired an assistant who has some DCI experience, so a little more attention to that side of things and we should start to see them rise the ranks.

More confirmed: Plano East Plano West Rockwall-Heath North Forney Reedy

The dropdown menus haven't been changed yet, but all of the data is accurate. If you click the Frisco ISD page open, Wakeland is listed as a 6A. Something interesting to note on this same topic: all of the Garland ISD schools are marked as 6A. Are we introducing opt-ups for band??? lol

This is how I see 5A potentially balancing things back up. Six bands are dropping down to 5A Area E and it would now be way overcrowded. I could see College Station ISD and Rudder going back to Area D with the rest of Region 8 - this would maintain 5 state slots in Area D. In return, Victoria ISD goes to Area H. And I think it makes sense to keep Laredo ISD in Area G, as that is the designated South Texas/RGV area for 5A/6A. Smithson Valley almost wins in this situation. All of their main competition for 5th Place moved up, but A&M Cons. and College Station moving in would keep things interesting.

Wakeland has beaten Prosper pretty considerably at BOA Prosper the past four competitions, three of those four by at least 2 points. I would bet they not only make state over Prosper (even in J), they could potentially compete for a top 10 finish at state.

A little side note for 2027, pending Northwest Davis' and Denton HS #5's numbers, we could potentially have 26 bands in the area, which could draw 5 bands to state. Although it's probably inevitable that Aubrey is ready to move up in 2028 anyways.

Come January, the Honor Band process begins! We have 1A/2A, 4A, 6A, and 2C on the docket this spring! Drop your early predictions!