The change of going 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.

We will dive into determining the best districts in the state going into the 2024 season based on the final classification and district assignments that were released last week by the FHSAA.

In this article, we will look at Class 3A 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.

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1. District 3A-5

Teams: Dunnellon, Eastside (Gainesville), North Marion (Citra), South Sumter (Bushnell)

2 Year Combined Win %: .645

Skinny: South Sumter being added to this district bolstered the district’s winning percentage over the last two years combined with the success that Dunnellon and Eastside has had. If North Marion rebounds and improves, this district could be even stronger over the next two years.

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2. District 3A-8

Teams: Eau Gallie (Melbourne), Merritt Island, Palm Bay (Melbourne), Satellite (Satellite Beach), Titusville

2 Year Combined Win %: .628

Skinny: This all-Brevard County district is strong and that is thanks to all five teams being playoff teams over the last two years. With all these teams being familiar with each other the battle for district supremacy will be a fun one to watch the next two seasons.

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3. District 3A-2

Teams: Baker County (Glen St. Mary), Godby (Tallahassee), Suwannee (Live Oak), Wakulla (Crawfordville)

2 Year Combined Win %: .622

Skinny: With Suwannee moving into the district, it bolstered the winning percentage and with that said Baker County, Suwannee, and Wakulla will be fighting hard for the district championship and additional playoff berths in this district. If Godby improves, this district could stand out as one of the strongest in the state.

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4. District 3A-3

Teams: Raines (Jacksonville), Ribault (Jacksonville), Yulee

2 Year Combined Win %: .612

Skinny: Only a three-team district but with a solid two years for Raines and Yulee along with improvements being made by Ribault, this district could have a lot of hype and drama over the next two seasons.

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5. District 3A-13

Teams: Cypress Lake (Fort Myers), Estero, Island Coast (Cape Coral), Lemon Bay (Englewood)

2 Year Combined Win %: .532

Skinny: Estero and Lemon Bay’s success over the last two seasons helped propel the the district with a winning percentage above .500. Cypress Lake’s struggles the last two seasons is the biggest reason why the district is not ranked higher.

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6. District 3A-6

Teams: Atlantic (Port Orange), Bishop Moore (Orlando), Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares

2 Year Combined Win %: .519

Skinny: These teams have been in a district with mostly each other in the past so there is some familiarity here. Tavares struggles in 2022 led to the winning percentage being lower than what we thing this district could be. With Tavares and Atlantic both improving, this district has a chance of being a really good one.

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7. District 3A-15

Teams: Miami Central, Pompano Beach, Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines), Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale)

2 Year Combined Win %: .494

Skinny: One of the weakest districts Miami Central has been a part of in a long while, the struggles of Pompano Beach and Somerset Academy did not help at all. Miami Central will be the dominant team in this district based upon historical trends.

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8. District 3A-16

Teams: Key West, Miami Jackson, Miami Northwestern, St. Brendan (Miami)

2 Year Combined Win %: .482

Skinny: The fact that St. Brendan has the best winning percentage of the teams over the last two years could be open up some eyes, but with Miami Northwestern and Miami Jackson both having struggles this past season brought the winning percentage below .500. However, with both the Bulls and Generals getting new coaches in 2024, this district could improve greatly.

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9. District 3A-12

Teams: DeSoto County (Arcadia), Hardee (Wauchula), Mulberry

2 Year Combined Win %: .468

Skinny: With longtime rivals DeSoto County and Hardee who form the oldest rivalry in Florida in the district it brings an interesting perspective along with Mulberry as well. However, DeSoto County’s struggles last season brought the winning percentage under .500.

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10. District 3A-9

Teams: Anclote (Holiday), Dunedin, Hudson, Nature Coast (Brooksville)

2 Year Combined Win %: .435

Skinny: Hudson and Nature Coast have been playoff teams the last two seasons and the drop off is very sharp from there as both Anclote and Dunedin are a combined 4-36 over the last two years and that is why the combined winning percentage is below .500.

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11. District 3A-14

Teams: Aubrey Rogers (Naples), Barron Collier (Naples), Bonita Springs , Lely (Naples)

2 Year Combined Win %: .423

Skinny: The percentage is some what skewed here with Aubrey Rogers completing their first season and is now entering the state series for the first time. Also couple that with Bonita Springs struggling over the last two seasons put the district below a .500 percentage.

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12. District 3A-1

Teams: Bay (Panama City), Pensacola, West Florida (Pensacola)

2 Year Combined Win %: .410

Skinny: With the struggles of Pensacola over the last two years along with the mixed bag of results from Bay, West Florida stands as the strongest team in the district which makes this a bit of the weaker districts from the Panhandle.

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13. District 3A-4

Teams: Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), Menendez (St. Augustine), Terry Parker (Jacksonville), Westside (Jacksonville)

2 Year Combined Win %: .354

Skinny: Looking at this district, Bishop Kenny is by far the strongest team and with the struggles of Terry Parker and Westside over the last two seasons, it might be a while before this district can move from the bottom of some of the weakest districts in the state.

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14. District 3A-10

Teams: Chamberlain (Tampa), Jefferson (Tampa), King (Tampa), Robinson (Tampa)

2 Year Combined Win %: .301

Skinny: Given the struggles teams like Chamberlain, Jefferson, and King have the last few years parlays into district being very weak. Robinson is the only team over last two years to post a winning record.

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15. District 3A-11

Teams: Bayshore (Bradenton), Boca Ciega (Gulfport), Booker (Sarasota), Gibbs (St. Petersburg)

2 Year Combined Win %: .325

Skinny: Another district that has been plagued by struggling teams over the last two years, only Booker has posted a winning record over the last two years, part in thanks to their trip to the state semifinals this past season.

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16. District 3A-7

Teams: Central (Brooksville), Citrus (Inverness), Crystal River, Hernando (Brooksville), Weeki Wachee

2 Year Combined Win %: .276

Skinny: Among the weakest of the weakest districts in the entire state going into the 2024 season, the combined record of the five teams in this district over the last two years is 27-71. Not good and to think one of these five teams could be in the playoffs in 2024 and/or 2025. Not the best football we can think of here.