UIL Realignment Keeps Del Rio in District 30-6A With Laredo, Eagle Pass

Del Rio High School will remain in District 30-6A with Eagle Pass and the Laredo programs for the University Interscholastic League’s 2026-28 cycle, keeping the Val Verde County school in the Laredo grouping rather than sending it into San Antonio or West Texas competition.

"On the table were the possibilities that Del Rio High School would spend the next two years competing against either schools from San Antonio or West Texas. Instead, the Texas University I"

The UIL district list for 2026-28 places District 30 as Castroville, Medina Valley, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Laredo Alexander, Laredo Johnson, Laredo United and Laredo United South. Some published lists show San Antonio Southwest and Southwest Legacy instead of Castroville and Medina Valley, a discrepancy that will need confirmation against the UIL’s official release. Laredo’s four 6A programs - Alexander, LBJ, United South and United - remain paired with Del Rio and Eagle Pass under the new alignment.

The shift has practical consequences for local schedules and for communities that support high school sports. Coaches in the region voiced concerns about how broader moves across the state changed opponents and weeks on the schedule. "Everybody says ‘hey, four teams get in," Hartman said. "You got to win the one that counts.' … but with all the scheduling and everything, I would’ve liked to have Del Rio in our district. It makes scheduling so much easier, even if it was just a football district but (the UIL) was looking at the travel part and I understand that."

Hartman later described the scramble that followed other districts’ announcements: "We knew it was coming but we still got blindsided on some other things because once other districts came out, some teams being a seven team and eight team district that we’re trying to get into and play, it hurts our week five and week six stuff and so you know I blindsided because we had a team that we’re playing in week three end up moving a team into our spot because they had gotten into an eight team district and so it’s just a little crazy. … It’s just a little bit of craziness and a little bit of chaos but sometimes as a coach, you like that but other times you just want to have your schedule right."

Regionwide realignment reflects statewide ripple effects sparked by larger shifts, including changes tied to Houston-area realignment that altered Region IV groupings and helped keep Laredo-area programs together with Del Rio and Eagle Pass. Locally, the changes also accompany a shrunken District 2-6A in West Texas, now a five-team district after recent moves. Wolfforth Frenship dropped to District 2-5A Division I, Compass Academy football moved to 3A Division I, and Midland Legacy is noted as "soon to be renamed Midland Lee." Odessa High remains in search of its first football playoff appearance since 2013.

Beyond wins and losses, longer travel and unsettled schedules raise equity and public-health concerns for Val Verde families. Greater travel burdens increase costs for low-income households, reduce time for homework and recovery, and can complicate access to medical care and timely concussion follow-up after games. Local programs, boosters and school districts will be watching the official UIL release and the forthcoming district schedules to gauge transportation needs, game-night staffing and medical coverage.

What comes next is confirmation and clarity: UIL’s official district paperwork and the season schedules will settle any remaining roster discrepancies, and coaches must adapt practice plans and travel logistics as districts finalize matchups for 2026-28. For Del Rio and Val Verde County, the realignment keeps familiar regional rivalries intact while renewing questions about travel equity and the resources schools will need to keep student-athletes safe and supported.