.png?mask=8)
Middle School Athletics & Activities
Information and Resources
The District is committed to providing a well-rounded middle school experience that supports academic growth and offers meaningful opportunities for students to get involved, explore interests, and build connections. Athletics and extracurricular activities are an essential part of this experience.
As programs expand under the new middle school model, 6th grade students will have increased access to a wide variety of opportunities, including non-cut sports and extracurricular activities. At the same time, the District is committed to ensuring that opportunities for 7th and 8th grade students are not reduced and that their spots on tryout-based teams are preserved. This will ensure that all students have equitable access to cut sports over their middle school years. The District’s goal is to bridge the gap between non-competitive sports at the elementary level and highly competitive sports at the high school level. The District will continue to review and consider additional opportunities to expand offerings for all students on an annual basis.
At recent Board meetings, administrators shared presentations highlighting middle school athletics and activities as part of the transition planning. We encourage families to review the materials linked below for additional context and information.
- April 13, 2026 Board Presentation - view summary in 3/13/2026 Board Briefs
- February 23, 2026 Board Presentation - view summary in 2/23/2026 Board Briefs
Middle School Offerings 2026-2027
Families are encouraged to review the information below to learn more about the activities that will be offered to middle school students by grade level for the 2026–27 school year.
Please note that these guides reflect the 2025–26 school year (including game dates, practice schedules, and times) and are provided for reference only. Updated information for 2026–27 will be shared as it becomes available by season.
The middle school administrators will share further information during the Future Senator and Future Spartan Nights in early May. This information will also be shared with students before the conclusion of the school year, during Sneak Preview over the summer, and at the start of the school year at both middle schools.
Student Athletics & Activities
Select your topic(s)
In recent years, District 58 has expanded athletic and activity offerings through membership in the Southeast DuPage Elementary Athletic Association (SDEAA) Conference. Since joining two years ago, opportunities have increased to include activities such as wrestling, soccer, chess, and scholastic bowl. In addition, as a member of the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), students may participate in state series competitions across a variety of sports and activities, providing opportunities to compete at a higher level and showcase their skills.
Please see below for detailed overviews of the sports and activities that will be offered to your student, depending on their grade level.
District 58 middle schools participate in the Southeast DuPage Elementary Athletic Association (SDEAA) Conference, which includes the following 13 schools:
- Burr Ridge Middle School (Burr Ridge)
- Butler Junior High (Oak Brook)
- Cass Junior High (Darien)
- Eisenhower Junior High (Darien)
- Gower Middle School (Burr Ridge)
- Herrick Middle School (Downers Grove)
- Jefferson Junior High (Woodridge)
- Lakeview Junior High (Downers Grove)
- Lisle Junior High (Lisle)
- Old Quarry Middle School (Lemont)
- O’Neill Middle School (Downers Grove)
- Westmont Junior High (Westmont)
- Westview Hills Middle School (Willowbrook)
Since joining the SDEAA conference, the District has expanded opportunities such as wrestling, soccer, chess, and scholastic bowl for all students.
The District has also joined the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), which offers state series competitions in a variety of sports and activities throughout the year, providing students with opportunities to compete and showcase their skills.
Competitions are organized by Grade level (7th and 8th) and classified by school enrollment, with divisions determined by the number of participating schools.
The IESA offers state-level competition for the following District 58 sports and activities:
- Fall: Boys & Girls Cross Country, Girls Basketball
- Winter: Co-Ed Cheerleading, Boys Basketball, Co-Ed Chess, Co-Ed Wrestling, Girls Volleyball
- Spring: Co-Ed Scholastic Bowl, Boys & Girls Track and Field
District 58 aims to expand access to middle school activities for 6th grade students by offering a wider range of opportunities, including non-cut sports and extracurriculars. At the same time, the District is committed to preserving existing opportunities for 7th and 8th grade students, including spots on tryout-based teams. This approach supports equitable access to athletics across all three middle school years and helps bridge the gap between elementary and high school sports. The District will continue to review and expand offerings over time.
District 58 WILL OFFER the following SDEAA sports/activities to 6th grade.
- Co-Ed Chess Winter
- Boys Cross Country Fall
- Girls Cross Country Fall
- Co-Ed Scholastic Bowl Spring
- Boys Track & Field Spring
- Girls Track & Field Spring
- Co-Ed Wrestling Winter
Please note that many of the listed dates and times reflect the 2025–26 school year and are provided for reference only. Updated information for the 2026–27 school year will be shared as it becomes available.
District 58 is committed to preserving existing opportunities for 7th and 8th grade students, including participation on tryout-based teams and no-cut sports and activities. The District will also expand access to 6th grade students on no-cut sports and activities. This approach supports equitable access to athletics across all three middle school years and helps bridge the gap between elementary and high school sports. The District will continue to review and expand offerings over time.
District 58 WILL OFFER the following SDEAA sports/activities to 7th & 8th Grade:
- Boys Basketball Winter
- Girls Basketball Fall
- Co-Ed Girls Basketball Cheer Fall
- Co-Ed Boys Basketball Cheer Winter
- Co-Ed Chess Winter
- Boys Cross Country Fall
- Girls Cross Country Fall
- Co-Ed Scholastic Bowl Spring
- Boys Soccer Spring
- Girls Soccer Spring
- Boys Track & Field Spring
- Girls Track & Field Spring
- Boys Volleyball Spring
- Girls Volleyball Winter
- Co-Ed Wrestling Winter
Please note that many of the listed dates and times reflect the 2025–26 school year and are provided for reference only. Updated information for the 2026–27 school year will be shared as it becomes available.
District 58 WILL NOT offer the following SDEAA sports and activities to middle school students during the 2026–27 school year.
Please note that District 58 does currently offer these programs. A description of why these sports are not currently offered can be found by clicking on each sport listed below. The District will continue to review and consider potential opportunities to expand offerings for our students in the future.
- Co-Ed Band (not offer)
- Boys Baseball (not offer)
- Girls Softball (not offer)
- Boys & Girls Golf (not offer)
- Boys & Girls Swimming (not offer)
Participation in clubs, athletics, and activities plays an important role in student development, helping to build confidence, teamwork, leadership, and time management skills while fostering a strong sense of belonging and connection to school.
Our middle schools offer a diverse selection of clubs and activities that encourage 6th, 7th & 8th grade students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and form meaningful connections with peers.
The District is also in the process of reshaping its middle school intramural program for 2026-27 to broaden athletic opportunities for students in grades 6–8. Each trimester, schools will offer a variety of extracurricular experiences designed to reflect student interests, as well as staff expertise and availability.
We encourage families to review the Student Clubs & Activities overview for each school (see links below) to learn more about the types of extracurricular opportunities that may be available to students.
Each year, school offerings are developed for each trimester based on student interest, as well as staff expertise and availability. Please note that the overviews list activities, dates, and times for the 2025–26 school year and are provided for reference only.
As we prepare for the transition to the new 6-8 model this spring, students currently in grades 5–7 will be asked to share their feedback on their interests and the types of activities they would like to see offered next year. Survey responses will help guide club and activity offerings for 2026-27. Updated information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
Herrick Student Clubs & Activities 2025-26
- Anime/Drawing
- Bright StART
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Environmental Club
- Guitar Club
- Improv Club
- Intramurals
- Musical
- Photography Club
- Service Squad
- Student Council
- Coding Club/Unplugged
O'Neill Student Clubs & Activities 2025-26
- Courtyard Club
- Cooking & Sewing Club
- Craft Club
- Drama Club
- Intramurals
- Musical
- Newspaper/Media Club
- Student Council
Intramurals give students an opportunity to compete in different sports after school. The District is in the process of reshaping its middle school intramural program for 2026-27 to broaden athletic opportunities for all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.
Each trimester, schools will offer a variety of intramural options designed to reflect student interests, as well as staff expertise and availability.
Intramural sports will likely occur after school, depending on space availability. Information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
District 58 is committed to providing a well-rounded middle school experience that supports both academic growth and student interests, including strong opportunities in music. Participation in music programs plays a vital role in student development, fostering creativity, collaboration, discipline, and critical thinking, while also supporting overall academic success.
The District continues to expand opportunities for students to engage in meaningful learning experiences, including music. Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, band, orchestra, and choir will be available to all students in grades 6–8 as part of the regular school day, rather than as early bird (before school) offerings. Additional music opportunities for students in grades 7 and 8 will be available by audition and will take place outside of the school day.
District 58 is also a member of the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA), which provides opportunities for our students to participate in district and state-level festivals.
Concert Band
Will be offered to 6-8 grade students during the school day, as part of the exploratory period, and will no longer be an early bird (before school) offering.
Choir and band/orchestra may be scheduled concurrently and will count as a single class period within a student’s schedule.
Students currently enrolled in band who wish to continue in middle school were asked to indicate their interest on their course selection form, as communicated to families on February 5, 2026.
Choir
Will be offered to 6-8 grade students during the school day, as part of the exploratory period, and will no longer be an early bird (before school) offering.
Choir and band/orchestra may be scheduled concurrently and will count as a single class period within a student’s schedule.
All students are eligible to participate in choir, regardless of prior enrollment. Students who wish to participate in choir in middle school were asked to indicate their interest on their course selection form, as communicated to families on February 5, 2026.
Orchestra
Will be offered to 6-8 grade students during the school day, as part of the exploratory period, and will no longer be an early bird (before school) offering.
Choir and band/orchestra may be scheduled concurrently and will count as a single class period within a student’s schedule.
Students currently enrolled in orchestra who wish to continue in middle school were asked to indicate their interest on their course selection form, as communicated to families on February 5, 2026.
Students in 6th grade may participate in band, orchestra, and choir during the school day as part of their exploratory period. Please see above for additional information.
Students in 7th and 8th grade may participate in band, orchestra, and choir during the school day as part of their exploratory period. Please see above for more information.
In addition, audition-based performance opportunities are also available for 7th and 8th grade students outside the school day, including vocal ensemble, jazz band, and chamber string ensemble.
Chamber Strings
Will be offered to 7th & 8th grade students (no 6th grade), by audition only.
Members are selected from orchestra participants who audition for this additional challenging opportunity. There are various commitments throughout the school year.
During the 2025-26 school year, auditions were held in September and rehearsals were held before school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at both Herrick and O'Neill. Information and scheduling for the 2026-27 school year will be shared with families as soon as it is available.
Vocal Ensemble
Will be offered to 7th & 8th grade students (no 6th grade), by audition only.
Herrick's "Chamber Choir" and O'Neill's "OMS Singers" are advanced audition-only vocal ensembles designed to provide a stimulating musical experience for choir students interested in an extra challenge. There are various commitments throughout the school year.
During the 2025-26 school year, auditions were held in September and rehearsals were held before school at both Herrick and O'Neill. Information and scheduling for the 2026-27 school year will be shared with families as soon as it is available.
Jazz Band
Will be offered to 7th & 8th grade students (no 6th grade), by audition only.
Students who are in good standing in the Concert Band at Herrick or O'Neill are eligible to audition for this more challenging and selective ensemble. There are various commitments throughout the school year.
During the 2025-26 school year, auditions were held in September and rehearsals were held before school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at both Herrick and O'Neill. Information and scheduling for the 2026-27 school year will be shared with families as soon as it is available.