The purpose of WGI’s Combined Schools Policy is to encourage participation from scholastic groups that may have limited resources while keeping the integrity of the scholastic classes intact. Combining schools for the purpose of competitive advantage is contrary to this policy and will not be approved.
What is a Combined School?
Multiple groups within a school district may be approved to combine on a case-by-case review by WGI. In very rare cases, schools from different districts may be approved to combine. A group in any scholastic class may apply for approval to combine students from multiple schools within a school district under the following guidelines:
• Groups combining students from multiple schools within a school district may not have another group in the same division (Color Guard, Percussion, or Winds) participating locally with a Circuit Partner or with WGI.
• Only one (1) group, competitive or otherwise, can result from the combining of schools.
• If a school has a marching band program, they are not eligible to combine with another school with a marching band program.
• There can be no auditions of any kind to determine participation in the combined school group.
• Scholastic groups utilizing students from parochial, vocational, or charter schools must apply for approval under combined school guidelines.
What is the application process?
• Groups applying to combine students from multiple schools must submit an application for approval by the announced deadline date.
• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• All applications, including completed Superintendent Confirmation Letter, must be submitted to the WGI office no later than December 1. No applications or required paperwork will be accepted after December 1.
WGI will have the final determination on whether a group will be permitted to combine students from multiple schools. If application for combined schools is denied, the group has the option to either not include students from other schools or compete in an independent class.
If approved, combined groups will be required to compete using the host school name, a school district name or, under rare circumstances, a combined name approved by WGI.
Once approved, a letter from WGI will be sent to the district superintendent and principals notifying them of approval and outlining the restrictions that apply to a combined program. The WGI office will also provide the Combined Schools Participating Group Master Agreement to the group. This must be completed, including signature by the district superintendent, and submitted to the WGI office by the event entry deadline date. A letter from WGI will be sent to the district superintendent and principals notifying them of approval and outlining the restrictions that apply to a combined program.
