With the change of going to back to classifications and districts that are strictly formed based on enrollment numbers, it has set up new districts, new opponents, and ultimately new opportunities for teams to see some teams they have not seen before.
Looking at we will take a dive into determining the best districts are in the state going into the 2024 season based upon the final classification and district assignments that were released on Tuesday by the FHSAA.
In this article we will look at Class 7A and we ranked the districts from 1 through 16 using winning percentages of the last two years (2023 and 2024) to come up with our ranking.
1. District 7A-3
Teams: Hagerty (Oviedo), Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs), Lake Mary, Seminole (Sanford)
2 Year Combined Win %: .620
Teams: Looking at this district, three of the four teams were playoff teams from 2023 and all four teams have been in the playoffs over the past two seasons combined. If Lake Brantley improves in 2024, this could be the strongest district in Class 7A.
2. District 7A-16
Teams: Columbus (Miami), Coral Gables, Miami High, Miami Palmetto, South Dade (Homestead)
2 Year Combined Win %: .614
Skinny: With Columbus winning back-to-back state championships the last two years along with a strong Miami Palmetto program help with the win percentage being high. Also, a rebounding South Dade program that was in the playoffs this past season, makes this a strong district.
3. District 7A-5
Teams: Apopka, Ocoee, West Orange (Winter Garden), West Port (Ocala)
2 Year Combined Win %: .576
Skinny: Apopka stands out as the best team in the district and their state championship appearance in 2022 helps along with their deep playoff runs combined over the last two seasons. Ocoee’s deep playoff run 2022 helps raise the percentage. This could be a good district to watch, but it won’t be the strongest.
4. District 7A-4
Teams: Boone (Orlando), Freedom (Orlando), Timber Creek (Orlando), Winter Park
2 Year Combined Win %: .548
Skinny: Winter Park is the strongest team holding this district win percentage of the last two years from being lower. While, yes Boone has been a playoff team the last two years, the pedestrian record hurts more than it helps for the ranking.
5. District 7A-2
Teams: DeLand, Flagler Palm Coast, Spruce Creek (Port Orange), University (Orange City)
2 Year Combined Win %: .539
Skinny: There is a lot to like about this district as three of the teams were playoff teams from this past season in DeLand, Spruce Creek and University. Flagler Palm Coast was a playoff team in 2022 and thus makes it one of the stronger districts in Class 7A.
6. District 7A-7
Teams: Alonso (Tampa), Newsome (Lithia), Plant City, Strawberry Crest (Dover), Sumner (Riverview)
2 Year Combined Win %: .533
Skinny: With Sumner being the strongest of the five teams here with playoff runs the last two seasons, this is a big reason why the winning percentage is above .500. Plant City and Newsome have also had playoff appearances but have not come with a nice looking record. Alonso’s 7-win season in 2023 inflates things a little bit.
7. District 7A-12
Teams: Jupiter, Palm Beach Central (Wellington), Palm Beach Lakes (West Palm Beach), Wellington
2 Year Combined Win %: .533
Skinny: Jupiter’s recent improvements along with the strong performance of Palm Beach Central puts this district right in the middle of the pack. If Palm Beach Lakes and Wellington could show improvement in 2024, their year-end ranking could be higher going into 2025.
8. District 7A-8
Teams: Lehigh (Lehigh Acres), Riverview (Sarasota), Sarasota, Venice
2 Year Combined Win %: .527
Skinny: Venice is by far the strongest team of the district with back-to-back state runner-up finishes in the district. Riverview helps bring the winning percentage up some with their deep playoff runs over the last two years. The struggles between Lehigh and Sarasota are what make this district look weaker than what it might be.
9. District 7A-6
Teams: George Jenkins (Lakeland), Haines City, Ridge Community (Davenport), Winter Haven
2 Year Combined Win %: .525
Skinny: An all-Polk County district, the strongest team that brings the win percentage of the last two-years above .500 is Winter Haven. Haines City does have a playoff appearance under its belt in that stretch with the improvements seen there.
10. District 7A-11
Teams: Centennial (Port St. Lucie), Fort Pierce Central, Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie), Vero Beach
2 Year Combined Win %: .494
Skinny: The traditional Treasure Coast-area district holds together and while in years past would be one of the strongest districts regardless of the classification, the struggles of Centennial and Fort Pierce Central over the last two years drag the ranking down significantly.
11. District 7A-15
Teams: Cypress Bay (Weston), Goleman (Miami), Taravella (Coral Springs), Western (Davie)
2 Year Combined Win %: .477
Skinny: Western has been the strongest team in the group while Taravella has been the weakest and that is what puts the combined winning percentage below .500 going into the 2024 season.
12. District 7A-10
Teams: Harmony, Lake Nona (Orlando), Tohopekaliga (Kissimmee)
2 Year Combined Win %: .435
Skinny: A three-team district with all three teams here not even reaching the playoffs in 2023. However, Harmony did have a playoff berth in 2022, but overall, the teams in the district have struggled. Someone will be playoff bound from this one in 2024.
13. District 7A-9
Teams: Celebration, Dr. Phillips (Orlando), East Ridge (Clermont), Olympia (Orlando)
2 Year Combined Win %: .429
Skinny: There is not a lot to talk about with this district given the struggles that Celebration has had along with East Ridge despite their improvement to five wins in 2023. The combined overall record of the last two years makes this district a weak one for now.
14. District 7A-14
Teams: Boca Raton, Coral Glades (Coral Springs), Stoneman Douglas (Parkland), Spanish River (Boca Raton)
2 Year Combined Win %: .414
Skinny: A combination district of very southern Palm Beach County and very northern Broward County, the strongest team in the district is Boca Raton that has been a playoff team the last two years. Spanish River’s improvement last year was great in helping boost the percentage above .400.
15. District 7A-13
Teams: Forest Hill (West Palm Beach), John I. Leonard (Greenacres), Lake Worth, Park Vista (Lake Worth), Santaluces (Lantana)
2 Year Combined Win %: .398
Skinny: Not all five-team districts are created equal, and that sure is not the case here with this five-team district in Palm Beach County, featuring some of the weakest programs in Palm Beach County and all of Class 7A. Santaluces last two years in the playoffs help prop the win percentage up just a little bit.
16. District 7A-1
Teams: Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville), Creekside (St. Johns), Sandalwood (Jacksonville)
2 Year Combined Win %: .381
Skinny: Of all the teams here in this district, Creekside has been the only one that has been in the playoffs the last two seasons. While Atlantic Coast showed improvement this past year, Sandalwood is heading for a rebuild, thus making this one of the weakest districts in the state.
