Only Hart County and coach Biff Parson in Class 3A kept their lead in the Improvement Tracker after the Week 5 games.

New at the top of their classifications this week are Newton (Josh Skelton), East Paulding (Van Spence), Tucker (Lonnie Jones), Peach County (Marquis Westbrook), Heard County (Shane Lasseter), Taylor County (Jess DeVoursney), Lovett (Mike Muschamp) and Windsor Academy (Dylan Bass).

AJC Varsity/GHSF Daily will rank the top five teams and their head coaches in each classification weekly based on improvement in the computer Maxwell Ratings from previous seasons and beating preseason expectations.

To qualify for the final standings, teams must have a winning record, make the playoffs and improve on their playoff advancement or seeding from 2025. Only teams with winning records are included in the weekly or final rankings.

The Improvement Tracker is based on an objective formula that uses current and historical Maxwell Ratings. Improvement from 2025 counts most, but the formula also considers previous years to discourage rewarding traditionally strong teams that simply bounce back from a down year.

The year-end winners will receive awards, presented by Formetco, at the Georgia Football Coaches Association College Coaches Luncheon in February in Macon.

Class 7A

  • +14.45 - Newton (Josh Skelton)
  • +8.93 - Brookwood (Chad Nighbert)
  • +8.13 - Westlake (Kevin Whitley)
  • +7.49 - Harrison (Luqman Salam)
  • +5.65 - Peachtree Ridge (Matt Helmerich)

Class 6A

  • +23.25 - East Paulding (Van Spence)
  • +12.33 - Lee County (Dean Fabrizio)
  • +9.14 - Coffee (Mike Coe)
  • +9.03 - Lassiter (Sean Thom)
  • +8.60 - Bradwell Institute (John Adams)

Class 5A

  • +10.49 - Tucker (Lonnie Jones)
  • +9.43 - Dalton (Chris Prewett)
  • +5.81 - Blessed Trinity (Ed Dudley)
  • +4.35 - Richmond Academy (Keenan Grissett)
  • +2.82 - Ola (Dustin Adkins)

Class 4A

  • +8.62 - Peach County (Marquis Westbrook)
  • +7.96 - Monroe Area (Kevin Reach)
  • +7.91 - Troup (Tanner Glisson)
  • +5.06 - Woodland (Stockbridge) (Robert Cummings)
  • +4.42 - Cairo (David Coleman)

Class 3A

  • +10.03 - Hart County (Biff Parson)
  • +6.22 - Toombs County (Buddy Martin)
  • +4.49 - KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (Corey Jarvis)
  • +1.20 - Hephzibah (Daniel Dorsey)
  • +1.08 - Murray County (Jason Allen)

Class 2A

  • +10.23 - Heard County (Shane Lasseter)
  • +9.27 - Utopian Academy (Darius Redman)
  • +7.38 - Model (Jeff Hunnicutt)
  • +5.56 - Bleckley County (Von Lassiter)
  • +4.35 - Bremen (Davis Russell)

Class A

  • +6.02 - Taylor County (Jess DeVoursney)
  • +2.81 - Randolph-Clay (Charles Pruitt)
  • +2.70 - Treutlen (Alan Shurling)
  • +1.97 - Baconton Charter (Jermaine King)
  • +1.94 - Montgomery County (Gabe Gay)

Class 4A-2A Private

  • +9.95 - Lovett (Mike Muschamp)
  • +7.25 - Holy Innocents’ (Nick Perrotta)
  • +4.29 - Mt. Bethel Christian (Damon Dawson)
  • +3.52 - Greater Atlanta Christian (Tim Hardy)
  • +2.51 - King’s Ridge Christian (Mark Buchanan)

GIAA

  • +8.98 - Windsor Academy (Dylan Bass)
  • +6.88 - Athens Christian (Terance Mathis)
  • +3.22 - Edmund Burke Academy (Andy Woodard)
  • +3.11 - Strong Rock Christian (Brad Bowles)
  • +2.31 - Calvary Christian (Emmanuel Brunson)

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Sandy Creek quarterback Caleb Hill (left) speaks to AJC Varsity reporter Jack Leo after a 21-0 win over Douglas County in August. Sandy Creek is the unanimous No. 1 team in Class 4A, according to the AJC Varsity Composite Rankings, but stands No. 5 in the GHSA Post Season Rankings and is projected to finish as the No. 5 seed, according to the Maxwell Ratings' latest PSR projections. (Oscar Guevara Saenz for the AJC)

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Atlanta's City Council proposed a resolution urging the mayor's office to move forward with plans to construct light rail along the Eastside Beltline. (Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.)

Credit: Atlanta Beltline Inc.