University Christian will join the Mississippi High School Activities Association beginning in the 2011-12 school year, principal and football coach Phil Hannan announced.

The Clarion-Ledger first reported the move on its website on Wednesday.

The Flowood school has been a member of the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools since its founding in 1990. It has been a longtime district rival of Porters Chapel, an MAIS member from Vicksburg.

In the MHSAA, University Christian might start another River City rivalry. It has approximately 90 students, which would likely put it in Class 1A and possibly in a division with St. Aloysius.

The MHSAA will announce its reclassification and new divisions in early December.