Conroe Falcons Aim for 2026 UIL District Stability

**Conroe High Falcons Eye Crucial UIL Realignment, Coach Elbert Hopes for District Stability**

**CONROE, TX** – Even as the dust settles on the recently concluded football season, the Conroe High School Falcons are already looking ahead to a pivotal event that will shape their athletic future: the University Interscholastic League (UIL) realignment process slated for February 2026. Head Coach Brad Elbert, who has led the Falcons since 2021, has openly expressed his strong desire for the team to remain in its current home, District 13-6A, for the upcoming 2026-2028 athletic cycle.

The UIL, the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Texas, conducts a comprehensive realignment every two years. This intricate process reconfigures districts across the state, impacting everything from football schedules and playoff paths to travel demands for all UIL-sanctioned sports, including basketball, volleyball, soccer, and more. The next realignment will determine the districts for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years.

The critical enrollment figures that dictate these changes will be officially captured in October 2025, a full sixteen months before the UIL’s official announcement in February 2026. Coach Elbert is confident Conroe High School will maintain its 6A classification, the largest in the UIL system. These same enrollment numbers will also establish the cutoffs for Division I and Division II for playoff purposes within the 6A classification, further influencing a team’s potential path to the postseason.

Currently, Conroe’s District 13-6A offers a familiar and geographically convenient setup, primarily featuring fellow Montgomery County schools: College Park, Grand Oaks, Willis, Oak Ridge, and The Woodlands. For football, the district also includes Cleveland and Caney Creek as competition. These “football-only” additions are common when the UIL seeks to balance district sizes and competitive equity for specific sports, often due to varying school enrollments or geographic considerations for certain athletic programs.

Elbert highlights several “real perks” to staying in District 13-6A. “The travel is a huge factor for us,” Elbert explained. “Our current district keeps most travel to within a roughly 45-minute radius. That’s a significant advantage compared to some of the sprawling districts out there where teams might spend hours on a bus.” This localized travel minimizes late-night returns on Friday nights, allowing players more time for rest and, crucially, less time away from their academics. “It truly allows our student-athletes to get home at a decent hour and helps them balance their demanding schedules,” he added. The familiarity also fosters local rivalries, which energize the student body and community.

While the coaching staff and Conroe ISD Athletic Director Jeff Smith will be meticulously monitoring the October 2025 enrollment figures, Elbert acknowledges that the final decision rests solely with the UIL. “Ultimately, it’s largely out of our hands,” Elbert stated. “But we’re certainly hoping for an outcome that keeps us close to home in what we believe is a competitive and convenient district. Stability is always a positive for building a program.”

The rapid population growth across Montgomery County, particularly within the Conroe Independent School District (CISD), means that enrollment figures can shift dramatically. These shifts are what often trigger significant district reconfigurations, potentially breaking up established rivalries, forcing teams into new travel scenarios, or altering the competitive landscape. While stability is the general feeling within the Falcons’ program regarding their current district, the biennial realignment process always brings an element of suspense and uncertainty.

For fans, parents, and school administrators, the UIL realignment has substantial implications beyond just the playing field. Travel budgets for athletic programs, community engagement with local matchups, and the continuity of established rivalries are all on the line. As the October 2025 enrollment snapshot approaches, the Conroe High School community will be closely watching, hoping for a resolution that maintains their current, advantageous district alignment.

Further information regarding UIL realignment procedures, timelines, and future announcements can be found on the official UIL website, uiltexas.org.