Chalmette will join the Catholic League

By Ron Brocato
Clarion Herald

Chalmette just can’t stay away from the Catholic League.

The only high school in St. Bernard Parish, which has enjoyed five consecutive District 8-5A football championships over the past six years as the only member not located in Jefferson Parish, has been reassigned to District 9-5A, historically recognized as the Catholic League of New Orleans.

Chalmette was placed in the district along with Ben Franklin to replace Edna Karr, which will move to District 8-5A with Warren Easton as Chalmette’s replacement as part of the two-year tradition of reclassification of schools by the LHSAA.

The association reclassifies every two years to balance the seven classes based on the rise and fall of enrollments.

Unless principals appeal the reclassification model by Thursday may appear at a meeting on Nov. 13 before the association’s Classification Committee to do so. Otherwise, the new redistricting model will be in place for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.

Chalmette first joined the Catholic League in 1970 when the formerly Louisiana Interscholastic Athletic and Literary Organization (LIALO) became defunct and its member absorbed into the LHSAA.

Although a public school, Catholic schools welcomed the new member because of the parish’s large Catholic population and its additional athletic facilities.

The school remained a member throughout the next two decades in spite of enjoying limited athletic success against its Catholic counterparts. 

Chalmette dropped out then rejoined for two-year intervals from 2007-09 and 2011-13.

As a member of District 8-5A, the Owls dominated the district on the football field by posting a 35-2 record during that span.

Ben Franklin’s position in the 5A district is a mystery. The school, which opened in 1958, has played predominantly as an independent against local schools in lower classifications. 

Franklin has been a power in volleyball over the decades, but will not compete in its new basic District 8 that would include Archbishop Chapelle, Dominican, Mount Carmel, Bonnabel, Chalmette, East Jefferson, John Ehret, Riverdale and West Jefferson.

In its two years in 9-5A, Karr has recorded a combined 11-1 record with two district championships. Karr and Warren Easton will be the only Orleans Parish schools in the new district.

St. Charles Catholic, which opted to play above its Class 3A enrollment status, would join District 9-4A and fellow Catholic schools Archbishop Shaw and its sister school, Academy of Our Lady

Also in the district, when finalized, will be Belle Chasse, Kenner Discovery, McMain and the Willow School (formerly Lusher Charter).

De La Salle will remain in Class 3A in a district that includes Booker T. Washington, Haynes Charter, Kennedy, Livingston Collegiate, Morris Jeff and Sophie Wright. Academy of the Sacred Heart, Cabrini and Ursuline will join the district in women’s sports, if finalized.

Archbishop Hannan was placed in a natural 4A district with other schools in St. Tammany Parish and other northern parishes: Franklinton, Lakeshore, Loranger, Pearl River and Salmen. St. Scholastica Academy will join them in girls' sports.

Pope John Paul II will be placed in District 9, one of two Class 2A districts in the area. The district includes French Settlement, Northlake Christian, Independence, St. Helena and St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Mary’s Academy and St. Katharine Drexel Prep are scheduled to compete in District 10-2A , joined by Newman, M.L. King,  Cohen, Country Day, International High School of New Orleans, Sarah Reed and South Plaquemines.

Archbishop Shaw junior wide receiver Gavin Richard makes a circus catch of a pass in a game against Archbishop Rummel on Sept. 15. Shaw, a former Catholic League school that won a district championship this season, will join District 9-5A when the LHSAA reclassifies for the next two seasons. The Eagles will maintain their rivalry with Class 5A Rummel, which they defeated 43-28 at home.