06/03/2026
The Des Moines Public Schools Middle School Athletics Challenge
A New Era for Middle School Athletics in Des Moines Public Schools
For nearly 15 years, Des Moines Public Schools middle schools have competed against each other in football, cross country, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track, soccer, and now girls flag football. Every season, teams battle for city championships, school pride, and bragging rights. Wins and losses are tracked, standings are kept, and student-athletes give everything they have to represent their schools, but beyond individual sport championships, we have never fully celebrated the overall success of our middle school athletic programs.
That changes beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
Introducing The Middle School Athletics Challenge.
The Athletics Challenge is a year-long competition between all 10 DMPS middle schools that recognizes overall athletic success across every sport season. Schools will earn points based on where their teams finish throughout the year in each sport, creating a running competition for three championships:
Girls Sports Champion
Boys Sports Champion
Overall Athletics Champion
Our School Engagement Coordinators have made it a priority to improve and elevate the middle school athletic experience for our student-athletes. By studying years of athletic data and looking at successful high school and collegiate athletic models, we believe this challenge can:
• Build school pride
• Increase student participation
• Make sporting events more meaningful
• Strengthen school communities
• Celebrate student-athletes in new ways
• Prepare students for high school athletics and competition
• Most importantly, we want our students to feel like they are competing for something bigger than themselves. Every match, race, meet, and game now contributes to their school’s standing in the Athletics Challenge.
How the Athletics Challenge Works
Each sport season is assigned a point value. At the conclusion of the season, schools earn points based on where they finish in the standings, tournaments, or all-city competitions.
Girls Sports Scoring
7th Grade Volleyball- Standings are based on the All-City Tournament results.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
8th Grade Volleyball- Standings are based on the All-City Tournament results.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Girls Cross Country- Standings are based on the All-City Meet results. Because schools compete in feeder-based co-ops, this sport is worth a maximum of 5 points to avoid unfairly penalizing schools with fewer or no co-op partners.
Example:
If the Lincoln feeder team wins, Brody, Weeks, and McCombs each receive 5 points.
Girls Basketball- Standings are based on end-of-season records.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Girls Track- Standings are based on the All-City Meet results.
1st Place = 10 points 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Girls Flag Football-Standings are based on the All-City Tournament results.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Schools that do not field a team will receive 0 points.
Girls Soccer- Standings are based on end-of-season records.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Boys Sports Scoring
Football- Standings are based on records against DMPS schools. Because schools compete in feeder-based co-ops, football is worth a maximum of 5 points.
Example:
If the Lincoln feeder team wins, Brody, Weeks, and McCombs each receive 5 points.
Boys Cross Country- Standings are based on the All-City Meet results. Co-op scoring structure applies.
Maximum value: 5 points.
Wrestling- Standings are based on the All-City Meet results. Co-op scoring structure applies.
Maximum value: 5 points.
Boys Basketball-Standings are based on end-of-season records.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Boys Track- Standings are based on the All-City Meet results.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Boys Soccer- Standings are based on end-of-season records.
1st Place = 10 points, 2nd Place = 9 points, 3rd Place = 8 points And so on down to 1 point.
Overall Athletics Champion
At the end of the school year, schools will also compete for the title of Overall Athletics Champion.
To determine the overall standings:
Schools earn placement points based on where they finish in the Boys Sports standings
Schools earn placement points based on where they finish in the Girls Sports standings
Those totals are combined to create the final Overall standings
Example:
If Hoyt finishes:
4th in Boys Sports = 7 points
6th in Girls Sports = 5 points
Hoyt’s Overall score would be 12 points.
Updates Throughout the Year
After every sport season:
-Standings will be updated
-The “podium” (Top 3 schools) will be shared for Boys, Girls, and Overall
-Upcoming seasons and their impact on the standings will be previewed
These updates will be shared with students, staff, families, and the community to build excitement and celebrate athletic accomplishments across DMPS.
We believe this creates:
• More energy around middle school athletics
• Greater school pride
• Increased participation
• Stronger support for student-athletes and coaches
• A higher standard of competition and preparation
• Celebrating Our Student-Athletes
The Middle School Athletics Challenge is ultimately about celebrating the incredible things happening in our schools every single day.
Our students compete with passion. Our coaches dedicate countless hours. Our schools represent their communities with pride.
Now, those accomplishments will be recognized in a new way. At the end of each school year, trophies will be presented to:
The Girls Sports Champion
The Boys Sports Champion
The Overall Athletics Champion
We are excited to launch this new tradition in Des Moines Public Schools and continue building a culture where student-athletes, coaches, schools, and communities can take pride in competing together.
-Ryan Gray
Student Engagement Coordinator Weeks Middle School
