How are high school football teams divided, e.g. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A?

Question

What are the different divisions for high schools, how does this system work?

Answer 1

It depends on the state and sometimes on the local league.  

In Florida 1A is the smallest size school and 6A is the biggest.  

Answer 2

It's based on the size of the student body population: the higher the number, 5A, 4A, the bigger the school.

I've been to a number of different states and this system is pretty much standard.

Answer 3

in Az 5A divison 1 is the biggest then 5a divison 2 then 4A divison 1 and EtC...... but thats AZ  

Answer 4

ok first off, 6A is the biggest, 1A is the smallest. you take the Top 3 classes (soph,jr,sr) and add up all the students. and they do that to every single school in the state. then they compare all the schools in the state, and then they assign them "classes" (1A,2A,etc.) based on how big they are.

so lets just say the biggest 30 schools (enrollment wise) will be class 6A, the next 30 or so will be 5A,etc etc.