The Georgia High School Association released proposed classifications for the 2014-16 cycle Monday, and four northwest Georgia area schools will be affected.

Dalton, with a student enrollment number of 1,640, will move up to Class AAAAA and will be the only area school in Georgia's second-highest class. Also moving up are Calhoun and Murray County to Class AAA and Gordon Lee to Class AA.

Dalton athletic director Jeff McKinney said the move will increase travel costs but could have been worse.

"I'm still very curious how the GHSA will select regions," McKinney said. "We've had rivalries with schools such as Rome, Cass and Woodland that are also going to be in Five-A. We hope to be able to keep as many of our local rivals as we can, but that depends on how many schools wind up in our region and the other area regions."

Schools have until Dec. 2 to request to play in a higher classification, and the GHSA will meet Dec. 3 to form region alignments. A school may appeal to transfer to a lateral region by Dec. 13, and on Jan. 14 the ruling body will ratify its classification plan.

Among the other notable moves statewide are Buford, St. Pius X and Cartersville, each going from AAA to AAAA, and Jefferson going from AA to AAA.

Kaufman to Virginia

Baylor School track athlete Kate Kaufman will be heading to the University of Virginia to continue her pole vaulting career.

Kaufman, who committed to the Cavaliers in late October, also visited Villanova, Lehigh, Bucknell and Lafayette and was recruited also by Samford.

The Baylor and Chattanooga record-holder in girls' pole vault with a personal best of 11 feet, 3 inches, Kaufman is a three-time state place winner in the event and placed in the pentathlon also in the 2013 state meet. She has earned three varsity letters in basketball and two in volleyball for the Lady Red Raiders.

GHSA 2014-16 Proposed Classifications

• Class AAAAA

Dalton

• Class AAAA

Heritage, Southeast Whitfield, Ridgeland, Northwest Whitfield, LaFayette

• Class AAA

North Murray, Sonoraville, Calhoun, Ringgold, Coahulla Creek, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Murray County, Gordon Central

• Class AA

Chattooga, Dade County, Gordon Lee

• Class A

Trion, Christian Heritage