Two proposals submitted to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) would separate public and private schools in the postseason, a structural shift that would change how Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South reach state championships.

The West Suburban Conference (WSC) submitted both proposals as part of a batch of 25 bylaw amendments the IHSA published for its 2026-27 legislative cycle, first reported by Stateline Sports Network. Neither Wheaton school belongs to the WSC. Both compete in the DuKane Conference. But the proposals would apply statewide, affecting every IHSA member school's postseason path.

Two options, one goal

Proposal 8 would create entirely separate postseason classes for boundary (public) and non-boundary (private and magnet) schools in any sport with three or more classifications, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Public and private schools would no longer compete for the same state title. In football, six of eight classes would go to public schools and two to private schools, with 75 percent of playoff berths reserved for boundary schools.

Proposal 15 takes a narrower approach. Public and private schools would play through separate sectionals and supersectionals, but the paths would merge at the state semifinals. Three semifinal berths would go to public schools and one to a private school in each class. One state champion per classification would still be crowned.

Downers Grove North athletic director Dave Rose wrote both proposals. He declined to comment on the specifics, telling the Sun-Times that the proposals are still early in the process and he wants them discussed at town hall meetings in November first.

What it means locally

The Falcons and Tigers know what it's like to draw a Catholic League opponent in the bracket. WW South faced Joliet Catholic in a Class 6A playoff matchup this fall, a game the Daily Herald called the game of the week. Joliet Catholic's four losses all came against fellow private-school programs: Fenwick, Providence, Mount Carmel and IC Catholic Prep.

Under either WSC proposal, matchups like that one would disappear or become far less common. Proposal 8 would eliminate them entirely in the postseason. Proposal 15 would keep them possible only at the semifinals or finals.

The timeline

Because the two proposals compete, the WSC is expected to pull the less popular one after gauging feedback at IHSA town hall meetings this month, according to the Sun-Times. The IHSA's Legislative Commission will decide around Nov. 23 which proposals make the statewide ballot. Member schools vote Dec. 1-15, with results announced Dec. 16. A simple majority passes any proposal.

IHSA Associate Executive Director Matt Troha described the process in late October, according to Stateline Sports Network. Proposal 0, which would raise the enrollment multiplier for non-boundary schools from 1.65 to 2.5, is already marked for the ballot.

Private schools push back

St. Laurence athletic director and Catholic League vice president Tim Chandler told the Sun-Times that Proposal 8 is a non-starter for private schools. He said if private schools are separated entirely, they would face a choice about whether to remain in the IHSA at all.

Daily Herald columnist Kevin Schmit wrote that IHSA leadership has said it prefers keeping private schools in the same state series as public schools. That preference aligns more closely with Proposal 15's structure, which preserves a single champion.

The Sun-Times reported that several sources confirmed the IHSA could implement Proposal 15 as board policy without a membership vote. Chandler said the Catholic League would prefer that route, because the board could adjust the system more easily over time.

Other proposals on the table

The 25-proposal batch includes several other significant items: a proposal to roll back the expanded 384-team football playoff field to 256 teams, a proposal to require a two-thirds supermajority to pass future bylaw amendments, and a proposal to allow one penalty-free transfer before the start of sophomore year.

Town hall meetings across the state are underway this month. The ballot will be set by late November.