Rise of Reclassing Advantages and Disadvantages

Reclassifying refers to a student’s change in their current chronological grade sequence. Typically, a student will reclassify to benefit from an additional year of athletic or academic growth. An extra school year is an opportunity for athletes to develop physically, academically, and emotionally. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Council (CIAC) prohibits Connecticut public school students from reclassing for athletic purposes, rendering Connecticut private schools a hotspot for reclassified athletes. 

The most common reason for reclassing an extra year of physical development. This allows athletes to grow and have a size advantage when it comes to athletics; which often leads to stronger performance. They can improve on specific skills that might be weaker, and strengthen them to keep up with the rest of their new age group. Eva Stirk ’27 echoed this statement, saying, “My biggest advantage since I have reclassified is becoming physically and mentally stronger in preparation for my high school season in the winter and my AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] season in the spring and summer.” 

Connecticut private schools do instate some limitations and restrictions regarding reclassing. For example, football prohibits reclassified athletes from participating in years they would not otherwise be able to play. This rule applies to Maurice Ellis ’27, who attended Bunnell High School a year prior to his arrival to Hopkins as a freshman, “One challenge that I face is not being able to play football my senior year at Hopkins due to eligibility and age rules.” Most sports do not enact this rule, but football, being an aggressive contact sport, forbids reclassified athletes to play additional years, cutting some students' high school sports experiences short before they are a senior. 

With high school being four years, a fifth year can provide an academic advantage; especially in easing one’s transition to a private school. Ellis noted, “My biggest advantage [of reclassing] has been being able to attend all four high school years at Hopkins because I wanted to truly experience what it is like to be a Hopkins student for all years of high school.” Kate Wagner ’28, who completed her freshman year at Lauralton Hall before entering Hopkins as a freshman, claimed that having an additional year under her belt strengthened her academic performance. Ellis agreed stating, “​​It’s good to have an extra year, that way I had more preparation to become a better student athlete.” However, repeating a year can have its academic complications. Stirk described her experience, “As I was finishing my junior year last year, I started to relax and think more about my senior year and college. After reclassifying I have to switch my mindset back to SAT prep and the other hardships of junior year that I experienced last year.” 

Some students argue that reclassing puts opposing athletes at a disadvantage. Most notably, the difference in sheer size and skill between a 13 year old freshman and a 19 year old reclassified senior; especially during individual and small group match ups. A’nai Alvarez, who started for Hopkins Varsity Softball as a seventh grader, said “Sometimes playing against teams full of reclasses was really scary. They were so much more mature. They had way more experience than I had and they were way stronger.” Reclassifying is common behavior in Connecticut boarding schools, which can leave Hopkins students struggling to compete against elder counterparts.