[Can you dig it?]

Would someone explain to me Highlands' situation in regard to the class they play in? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they actually a 3A school that plays up to 5A? I understand it's more convenient due to travel and opponents being closer in 5A, but why don't they consider jumping on up to the big boys and competing with St. X and Trinity?

At the start of the most recent cycle, Highlands was a 3a program and CovCath was 4a. Both were the only NKY representative in their particular classification, so they appealed to be allowed to play up to 5a so that they could form a district with Scott, Holmes and Dixie. Holmes dropped to 4a this year due to a shrinking enrollment, which left the four team district. By today's numbers, Highlands is considered a 4a school, as is CovCath and possibly Scott. Moving these teams to 4a would leave Dixie as the only 5a school in NKY, so how will that be handled? NKY 6a already has six teams, so letting Dixie play up would be a nightmare.
No way Highlands would be allowed to move to 6a. It would be seen as a vanity move.