Autauga Academy Rejoins AISA for 2026-27, Leaving AHSAA After Two Seasons
PRATTVILLE, AL — Autauga Academy is coming home.
The Prattville school announced July 1 that it will rejoin the Alabama Independent School Association for the 2026-27 school year, returning to the organization it helped build as one of its founding members more than five decades ago.
Headmaster and head coach Jeremy Carter said the AISA simply offers a better environment for Autauga’s student-athletes — one that aligns with the school’s size, location and mission to give more young people the chance to compete.
“By going back in (to AISA), we’re able to get some kids that may not be able to play at those other schools to compete at our school,” Carter said.
AISA Offers Greater Access and Opportunity
A key driver behind the decision is the AISA’s open eligibility structure, which removes residency barriers that can prevent students from participating at other schools.
Under AHSAA rules, student-athletes must meet strict jurisdictional requirements based on where they live. The AISA offers more flexibility — an advantage Carter said is critical for a smaller school competing in the same market as larger public and private institutions.
“With AISA, they don’t have to move,” Carter said, referring to students who otherwise might be ineligible to play at Autauga under AHSAA guidelines. “It was an easy transition, knowing that by going back to AISA, we are able to get some of these kids that can’t play at a Prattville, that can’t play at a PCA (Prattville Christian Academy).”
The move means more student-athletes will have a path to compete at the varsity level — a cornerstone of what the AISA has long offered smaller schools across the state.
Manageable Travel Brings Athletes Closer to Home
The AISA’s regional structure also returns Autauga to competition closer to home, where neighboring schools like Billingsley, Verbena and Maplesville are just down the road.
“Those guys are right in our backyard,” Carter said. “When I have to get kids back to school and we’re playing a basketball game two and a half hours away, that’s just not feasible.”
Competing within a tighter geographic footprint means less time on the road, more time in the classroom and a better overall experience for student-athletes and their families — priorities the AISA is built to support.
A Natural Fit for the Generals
Carter said the AISA’s environment is simply better suited to Autauga’s scale and community.
“It wasn’t a hard decision, because our board members have kids here, too,” he said. “They understand the travel (dilemma).”
The school serves grades K3 through 12 and has operated as a fully accredited college preparatory institution for more than 50 years. Returning to the AISA restores a natural competitive alignment — one where Autauga can thrive rather than strain to keep pace with larger programs.
Football Schedule Already Secured for Fall 2026
Autauga enters the AISA with its 2026 football schedule already in place. When Lakeside School announced it would drop to the 8-man level this fall due to low participation numbers, Autauga stepped in to assume Lakeside’s full schedule — giving the Eagles a ready-made slate of opponents for their return season.
Back Where It Belongs
Autauga Academy joined what was then known as the Alabama Private School Association in 1970 as one of the organization’s early members. The school spent two seasons in the AHSAA’s Class 1A before electing to return — becoming only the second school in state history to rejoin the AISA after departing for the AHSAA.
Carter said the decision comes down to what is best for the Autauga community.
“I have to worry about Autauga Academy and how to survive and prosper here,” he said.
With its return to the AISA, Autauga Academy is positioned to do exactly that — competing in an association where its size, location and community ties make it a strong and natural fit.
