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.
Combined School policy faq
The core reason schools cannot combine freely is to protect fairness, avoid super-groups, and ensure the spirit of opportunity rather than advantage. The restrictions are in place to allow smaller schools to offer students a chance to participate while maintaining competitive integrity for all programs.
The intent here is to prevent “double-dipping” of resources. If a school already has an established performing group such as a marching band, allowing them to also combine with another school could give them an unfair advantage in terms of talent pool, staffing, and funding. This rule ensures that the combination policy is only used to provide smaller or underserved schools a chance to participate—not to strengthen already established programs. Unfortunately, this does not address those high schools with marching band programs that do not want to offer an indoor program, but the integrity of our scholastic classes is paramount.
This guideline prevents schools from creating multiple groups through one combination agreement. Without this restriction, two schools could form multiple groups, which would stretch the spirit of fairness. Limiting the combination to one group ensures that the policy is used for access and opportunity, not expansion or competitive advantage.
Disallowing auditions eliminates the possibility of “cherry-picking” the best students from multiple schools. The Combined School policy is designed to let all interested students from smaller schools participate when they wouldn’t otherwise have enough membership to field a group. If auditions were allowed, the policy could be misused to form “super-groups,” undermining competitive balance.
The deadline ensures that all groups are finalized before the competitive season begins. This protects the integrity of scheduling, adjudication assignments, and classification. The signatures from school leadership confirm that the combination has institutional approval and is not simply an informal arrangement between directors.
This formal approval process creates accountability. It ensures that district administrators—not just directors—are aware of the arrangement and the rules tied to it. By outlining restrictions in writing, WGI reinforces that the combination is a privilege designed to provide equitable access to participation, not a loophole for competitive gain.
WGI is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where every student has the opportunity to perform. We understand that policy changes may impact how some groups participate in competition, but no students will be excluded from the WGI experience. If a group is not eligible for Scholastic classes under the revised Combined School policy, they may still compete in the Independent classification. These refinements are designed to strengthen the fairness and integrity of scholastic competition while ensuring all groups continue to have a place on the WGI stage.
No. While Independent groups are required to provide insurance, conduct background checks, and register with their state as a corporation, association, or other entity, WGI has made accommodations for groups that use exclusively scholastic participants from a school district, but compete as an independent group. These groups may use school district insurance, district background check policies, or other district resources (such as rehearsal facilities and instruments) with a signed Scholastic as Independent Master Agreement, provided that all students reside within the school district’s jurisdiction. We appreciate that providing for these situations is part of an inclusive environment for any student wishing to participate in WGI. Please email office@wgi.org if this circumstance applies to your group.
