CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN ACADEMY STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To preserve the educational purpose of high school athletics, Christ Presbyterian Academy( CPA) is electing to opt out of Division II AAA and transition to a non-region football schedule for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years.
Based on the TSSAA Board of Control’ s approved classification procedures— reaffirmed in a September 2 memorandum— our school anticipates placement in Division II AAA to satisfy the mandated 12-team minimum. We will formally communicate our non-region election to state athletic leadership prior to the September 29 deadline.
This decision reflects CPA’ s commitment to transformational, relationship-based high school football and the desire to fully realize the TSSAA’ s three primary objectives, as outlined in its Bylaws:“( 1) maintaining athletics in its proper perspective as subordinate to the primary academic mission of the schools;( 2) preventing the exploitation of students for athletic purposes; and( 3) fostering fair competition, or a‘ level playing field,’ among the TSSAA member schools.”
By playing a non-region schedule, CPA will build an independent 10-game regular season. While this removes CPA from Division II AAA playoff eligibility for the next two years, we intend to work with other like-minded schools to create a meaningful post-season experience to reward our student-athletes.
Our rationale is driven by three foundational priorities:
Mission Accountability( TSSAA Primary Objective # 1 and # 2): Our highest priority is the educational mission of our school. Rather than following the gravitational pull of the current state of high school football, we are committed to an education-based, relationship-driven football program that, above all, facilitates the authentic maturation of boys into men. We are doubling down on our mission – as a biblically faithful and highly effective PS-12 Academy – even if it means sacrificing traditional championship opportunities in Chattanooga.
Competitive Integrity( TSSAA Primary Objective # 3): A significant structural disparity exists within Division II AAA. Boarding schools possess the unique ability to house and enroll students nationally and internationally. Because boarding schools and day schools operate under fundamentally different enrollment models, the Division II AAA structure perpetuates a competitive imbalance for day schools, regardless of any individual school’ s intentions.
Student Safety: Football is an inherently physical sport, and we recognize that risk is part of the sport at every level. However, profound disparities in size, strength, and speed across entire