The purpose of the 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?
A group in any scholastic class may apply for approval to combine students from multiple schools within a school district under the following guidelines:
• 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.
• 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.
• School districts with multiple competitive field marching band programs within the district will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for approval to combine students from multiple schools.
• 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 December 1, 2024.
• 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, all combined groups may be required to compete using a school district name or, under rare circumstances, a combined name approved by WGI.
• Once approved, the WGI office will 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.