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
Weeks Middle School - Des Moines Public Schools
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We Are Weeks Strong
05/11/2026
📣 Weeks Weekly Activities (May 11 – May 15)
As we get closer to summer break, we are beginning to wind down some of our clubs and activities—but there are still great opportunities to get involved at Weeks this week!
🎯 Students can still participate in Brother to Brother, Badminton Club, Video Game Club, Comic & Manga Club, Sisters for Success, Art Club, and Boys Volleyball Club.
🎶 Be sure to support our talented students at the Orchestra Concert on Wednesday at 5:00 PM in the Auditorium!
⚽ Boys and Girls Soccer continue this week with practices and games at both Weeks and Cownie Soccer Park.
⏰ Morning activities like Yearbook and Ignite Bible Club are also still meeting before school.
Let’s continue to finish the school year strong and make the most of these final weeks together!
We Are Weeks Strong! 💙
05/05/2026
Congratulations to Louis! Louis and his team Lincoln Rugby practice on our soccer fields to prepare for their spring season! There’s also multiple former Weeks students who compete!
🏆 Athlete of the Week | May 4–9 🏆
Let’s hear it for our Athlete of the Week, Junior Louis Holmes! 🏉🔥
Louis has been dominating on the rugby pitch—leading the team in total points this season and ranking in the Top 10 in the state for tries scored! But what truly sets him apart is his high rugby IQ and the leadership he brings both on and off the field.
“Louis led the team in points scored on the year and is in the top 10 for tries scored in the state. Not just a great athlete, but he already has a high rugby IQ. He is a leader on and off the pitch as well.”
👏 Join us in celebrating Louis and his incredible season—keep up the amazing work!
05/04/2026
📣 Weeks Weekly Activities (May 4 – May 8)
We’re winding down our clubs as we get closer to summer break, but there are still plenty of great opportunities to get involved this week at Weeks Middle School!
🎯 Clubs & Activities:
Join us for Brother to Brother, Badminton Club, Video Game Club, Dream to Teach, Battle of the Books, Sisters for Success, Al Éxito, Comic & Manga Club, and Art Club.
🎶 Special Event:
Don’t miss our Choir Concert on Wednesday at 5:00 PM in the Auditorium—come out and support our talented students!
⚽ Athletics:
Boys and Girls Soccer continue this week with both practices and games at the fields and Cownie Soccer Park.
⏰ Morning Activities:
Yearbook and Ignite Bible Club are still meeting before school.
Let’s finish strong—get involved, support each other, and make the most of these final weeks!
We Are Weeks Strong! 💙
05/04/2026
A huge thank you to our Student Senate at Weeks Middle School who greeted our staff this morning with positive messages to start Teacher Appreciation Week! A great way to start our day!
04/28/2026
📣 Weeks Weekly Activities (April 27 – May 1)
No school on Monday—enjoy the long weekend! When we’re back, we’ve got a great lineup of activities happening all week at Weeks Middle School.
🎯 Clubs & Activities:
Join us for Brother to Brother, Badminton Club, Video Game Club, Dream to Teach, Battle of the Books, Comic & Manga Club, Sisters for Success, Al Éxito, and Art Club!
⚽ Athletics:
Boys and Girls Soccer are in action all week, including games at Cownie Soccer Park and practices after school.
💪 Morning Opportunities:
Start your day with Yearbook, Girls Weightlifting, Ignite Bible Club, and Tennis Club.
There’s something for everyone—get involved, stay active, and make it a great week!
We Are Weeks Strong! 💙
04/13/2026
📣 Weeks Middle School Weekly Activities – Let’s Get Involved!
It’s another great week to get connected at Weeks Middle School! We have a full lineup of clubs, activities, and sports happening before and after school—there’s something for everyone!
🏫 Before School Opportunities:
Start your day strong with Student Senate, Yearbook, Girls Weightlifting, Ignite Bible Club, and Tennis Club.
🎯 After School Clubs & Activities:
From Cooking Club and Video Game Club to Badminton, Battle of the Books, Dream to Teach, and Art Club—there are plenty of ways to explore your interests and try something new!
💪 Athletics in Action:
Track & Field is rolling all week, and Boys & Girls Soccer starts this Thursday with practices on the fields. Volleyball Club is also in full swing—come compete and improve your skills!
🤝 Building Community:
Programs like Brother to Brother, Sisters for Success, and Al Éxito continue to create strong connections and support for our students.
This is your chance to get involved, meet new people, and make the most of your time at Weeks. Let’s show up, get active, and stay engaged!
Let’s make it a great week—We Are Weeks Strong! 💙
04/13/2026
Attendance Update for March! Let's finish this school year strong by reaching our attendance building goal of 95%
04/10/2026
🎉 Happy National Assistant Principals Week! 🎉
This week, we proudly celebrate and recognize our incredible associate principals at Weeks Middle School, Mike Pentek and Lindsay Rains!
Behind the scenes, they are the heartbeat of our building. From supporting students and staff, to solving problems before most even know they exist, to ensuring our school runs smoothly each and every day, these two do it all. Their work often goes unseen, but its impact is felt everywhere.
They are leaders, problem-solvers, mentors, and champions for our students. Whether it’s early mornings, late evenings, or everything in between, they consistently go above and beyond to make Weeks a safe, supportive, and thriving place to learn!
👏 Thank you, Mr. Pentek and Mrs. Rains, for the countless (and often thankless) things you do for our school community. We appreciate you more than words can say!
💙💛
04/06/2026
🎉 Family Fun & Culture Night at Weeks Middle School 🎉
What an incredible evening we had at Weeks Middle School’s Family Fun & Culture Night on March 26th! It was amazing to see our school community come together to celebrate the cultures, traditions, and people that make Weeks such a special place.
Families enjoyed a night full of music, cultural performances, games, food, art, and activities while connecting with one another and celebrating the diversity that makes our school so strong. Seeing our students proudly share their cultures and talents with our community was truly something special.
A huge thank you to our staff and community partners who helped organize and support this event. Your time, effort, and passion made the night possible. We also want to thank the many families who came out to participate and celebrate with us — your presence is what makes events like this so meaningful.
This night was a perfect example of what it means to be Weeks Strong — a community that celebrates, supports, and lifts one another up. 💙
We can’t wait to do it again next year!
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901 E Park Avenue
Des Moines, IA
50315