The number of schools in the N.C. High School Athletic Association continues to climb.

On Tuesday, the NCHSAA Board of Directors unanimously approved the addition of three new schools for the 2025-2026 school year. The decision was made as part of the consent agenda.

The NCHSAA membership is now expected to include 447 schools this fall as the association expands to eight classifications.

Macon Early College, Onslow Early College, and The Math & Science Academy of Charlotte will all join the NCHSAA this fall. All three schools will be independent this coming school year, which means they will not be eligible to participate in playoffs in team sports. Athletes from these schools may be eligible to participate in individual championships though.

Earlier this year, the Macon County Board of Education approved funding for Macon Early College, allowing the school to field its own sports teams. Students who attended Macon Early College previously had to play sports at Franklin High School.

According to a report by the Smoky Mountain News earlier this month, 22 Macon Early College students currently participate in sports at Franklin, but that number is expected to grow with the school offering independent sports teams. The board of education voted to require students play sports at the school in which they’re enrolled to prevent the average daily membership of Macon Early College from impacting the classification of Franklin in the new eight-classification realignment model.

Onslow Early College will also join the NCHSAA this fall. The school is a public school in Onslow County and is adding athletics this coming school year.

The Math and Science Academy of Charlotte is a charter school that will join the NCHSAA this fall. Other Math and Science Academys are already members of the NCHSAA, including Triangle Math and Science Academy and Triad Math and Science Academy.

The NCHSAA Board of Directors meeting began on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday.