According to Digital Spy:
The series, which ended its third season last night, will change focus from high school to college for the new season, giving new showrunners Patti Carr and Lara Olsen the opportunity to make some major changes.
“That’s something we’ve been told,” McCord revealed to EW. “I think their reasoning for thinking they might slim down the cast is because it might be too much going [on] with having people in different places.”
The actress said that although she herself has been unofficially reassured that her position on the series is safe, she is still concerned about which of her cast mates may get the axe.
“Obviously we’re all like a family now, that’s the part that sucks,” she added. “You’re wondering which one of your sisters or brothers might not be there.”