Mecklenburg County High School will drop from a Class 4 to a Class 3 school for athletics beginning next year in the newly released VHSL realignment plan that still needs final approval. Under the new proposal, Mecklenburg and GW-Danville would both drop to Class 3 but still compete in the Piedmont District. Halifax County would remain as the lone Class 4 team in the district with Bassett, Magna Vista, GW and Mecklenburg as Class 3 schools. Brunswick is scheduled to remain as a Class 1 school and compete in the Tri-Rivers District along with Class 1 schools ARGS, Franklin, Surry and Sussex-Central and Class 2 schools Greensville, Windsor and Southampton. Mecklenburg County High School head football coach Kevin White said the move to Class 3 provides a wonderful opportunity for the Phoenix athletic programs.