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The Ames Community School District is on the move, athletically that is.
The Ames School Board unanimously approved the district's withdrawal from the Iowa Alliance Conference and its subsequent request to join the Little Hawkeye Conference during its April 21 meeting.
Ames will join a conference starting in 2026 that is relatively smaller than its current grouping. The high school, according to BEDS enrollment data from the 2024-2025 school year, has 327 more students than the second-biggest school in the Little Hawkeye Conference, Indianola High School (878 students). The smallest school in the conference, Pella Christian High School, has 251 students.
Eight of the 11 Iowa Alliance schools, including Ames High, boast enrollments of more than 1,000 students.
Superintendent Scott Grimes said the Little Hawkeye Conference aligns with the school district's needs in terms of size and competition, as well as providing increased levels of play for students.
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"What's always within changes for conferences is what's best for student involvement," Grimes said. "If we have teams A through F in basketball, these schools also have similar A through F, so we can compete with all our teams. It provides more opportunities for all the kids."
The Little Hawkeye Conference is comprised of Dallas Center-Grimes, Indianola, Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella and Pella Christian high schools.
The Iowa Alliance includes Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, Waterloo, Des Moines East, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines North, Des Moines Roosevelt, Ottumwa.
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Ames CSD has been a part of the Iowa Alliance since its formation in 2021. The league's 11 high schools are primarily located in central Iowa, split across two divisions. The Little Cyclones were joined by long-time rivals Fort Dodge, Marshalltown and Mason City, who were all also previous members of the CIML.
The Iowa Alliance has strived to provide student athletes with a great experience, and Ames has seen an upward trend in participation and athletic success, the local district noted. However, the district also has noticed some struggles, including an increase in travel and a decrease in gate receipts. The district said they often overwhelm their conference opponents in many sports and those schools can't always field teams for lower-level sports.
Ames CSD was approached by the Central Iowa Metropolitan League (CIML) and the Little Hawkeye Conference. With Ames included, the Little Hawkeye Conference has eight high schools.
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Ames High School's enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year was 1,106 students, according to school board documents.
The CIML consists of nine high schools, including Valley Johnson, Southeast Polk, Dowling Catholic, Urbandale, Waukee and Ankeny schools.
Valley High School had the largest enrollment in 2024-25 with 2,290 students. Compared to other schools, Marshalltown High School has the largest enrollment in the Iowa Alliance Conference, with 1,242 students.
The Little Hawkeye Conference has invited six additional schools, while the CIML has extended an invitation to four districts.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Why is Ames CSD leaving the Iowa Alliance Conference?
Continue reading...
The Ames School Board unanimously approved the district's withdrawal from the Iowa Alliance Conference and its subsequent request to join the Little Hawkeye Conference during its April 21 meeting.
Ames will join a conference starting in 2026 that is relatively smaller than its current grouping. The high school, according to BEDS enrollment data from the 2024-2025 school year, has 327 more students than the second-biggest school in the Little Hawkeye Conference, Indianola High School (878 students). The smallest school in the conference, Pella Christian High School, has 251 students.
Eight of the 11 Iowa Alliance schools, including Ames High, boast enrollments of more than 1,000 students.
Superintendent Scott Grimes said the Little Hawkeye Conference aligns with the school district's needs in terms of size and competition, as well as providing increased levels of play for students.
More: After sudden closure for 'client safety,' Live Hydration opens with renewed focus 6 months later
"What's always within changes for conferences is what's best for student involvement," Grimes said. "If we have teams A through F in basketball, these schools also have similar A through F, so we can compete with all our teams. It provides more opportunities for all the kids."
The Little Hawkeye Conference is comprised of Dallas Center-Grimes, Indianola, Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella and Pella Christian high schools.
The Iowa Alliance includes Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, Waterloo, Des Moines East, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines North, Des Moines Roosevelt, Ottumwa.
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More: Campustown Showdown in Ames will feature cattle drive, live music, fashion show
Travel, revenue and competition among reasons why Ames is on the move
Ames CSD has been a part of the Iowa Alliance since its formation in 2021. The league's 11 high schools are primarily located in central Iowa, split across two divisions. The Little Cyclones were joined by long-time rivals Fort Dodge, Marshalltown and Mason City, who were all also previous members of the CIML.
The Iowa Alliance has strived to provide student athletes with a great experience, and Ames has seen an upward trend in participation and athletic success, the local district noted. However, the district also has noticed some struggles, including an increase in travel and a decrease in gate receipts. The district said they often overwhelm their conference opponents in many sports and those schools can't always field teams for lower-level sports.
Ames CSD was approached by the Central Iowa Metropolitan League (CIML) and the Little Hawkeye Conference. With Ames included, the Little Hawkeye Conference has eight high schools.
More: How a female business owner has grown her Ames stores by committing to Iowans
Other conferences have high opponent numbers
Ames High School's enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year was 1,106 students, according to school board documents.
The CIML consists of nine high schools, including Valley Johnson, Southeast Polk, Dowling Catholic, Urbandale, Waukee and Ankeny schools.
Valley High School had the largest enrollment in 2024-25 with 2,290 students. Compared to other schools, Marshalltown High School has the largest enrollment in the Iowa Alliance Conference, with 1,242 students.
The Little Hawkeye Conference has invited six additional schools, while the CIML has extended an invitation to four districts.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Why is Ames CSD leaving the Iowa Alliance Conference?
Continue reading...
