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2026 UIL realignment brings changes for CFISD
Eight years after Cypress-Fairbanks ISD high school athletic teams were split into two separate districts for the first time in history, CFISD’s two leagues saw changes as a result of the University Interscholastic League’s biennial Reclassification and Realignment on Feb. 2.
The UIL announced the 2026-2028 realignment at 9 a.m. for football, basketball and volleyball programs. Alignments for all other sports and activities will be released at a later date.
Cy-Fair, Cypress Creek, Cypress Ridge, Cypress Falls and Jersey Village high schools move over from Region III to join Cypress Lakes, Cypress Woods and Langham Creek high schools to form District 16-6A.
The remaining four CFISD schools, Bridgeland, Cypress Park, Cypress Ranch and Cypress Springs high schools move to Region III and join Lamar Consolidated ISD’s Fulshear, Foster and George Ranch high schools, and Waller High School to form District 23-6A.
“I think the competition will be good with the new alignments,” said Mike McEachern, CFISD athletic director. “It’s new, but we’re excited. It’s a little bit different with travel than what we’re used to, but we’re excited.”
The opening of Cypress Park (2016) and Bridgeland (2017) gave CFISD 12 high schools, with the result of the school district splitting into separate leagues for the first time during the 2018 reclassification and realignment.
Before the split, CFISD was its own self-contained league for a decade to coincide with Cypress Woods beginning varsity play in 2008. Before the campus opened, CFISD schools spent time aligned with Bryan and A&M Consolidated (2002-2004), Tomball and Magnolia (2004-2006) and Houston Strake Jesuit (2006-2008).
District 16-6A will have its bi-district playoff opponents coming from District 15-6A which includes Klein ISD, Magnola ISD and Tomball ISD.
District 23-6A will have its bi-district playoff opponents coming from the Austin-centric District 24-6A which includes schools from Hutto ISD, Georgetown ISD and Leander ISD.
For more information, visit the UIL website.
Source: CFISD
