General Resources

Why Your School Should Become a Member

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) stands as a pivotal organization dedicated to fostering both athletic and academic excellence among young students throughout Illinois. Established in 1929 and growing to now have over 950 annual members, the IESA has had a mission to provide enriching opportunities for elementary and middle school students by offering a diverse array of programs that encourage personal growth, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. (A Brief History of the IESA)

By organizing state-level competitions and events, the association not only supports the development of athletic skills but also promotes academic achievements, nurturing well-rounded individuals prepared for future challenges. Through its commitment to inclusivity and fair play, the IESA plays a crucial role in shaping the educational experiences of countless young learners, inspiring them to strive for greatness in all their endeavors.

How to Join the IESA

To join the IESA, a school must complete a membership application and fulfill any associated requirements. Below is information on how to proceed:

1. **Eligibility**:  IESA member schools must be located within Illinois and be both registered with and recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education. Participating students must be in grades 5-8 and meet all eligibility requirements. Eligibility also requires that seasons for activities in which member schools register align with IESA season start and end dates. (See the activity charts below for activity and season details.)

2. **Fees**: The annual membership fee must be paid by each school wishing to be a member of the IESA. Annual membership is currently $275.00. In addition to the annual membership fee, member schools will also pay activity fees by the applicable deadlines for any IESA activity in which they would like to participate. See the IESA Fee Schedule.

3. **Compliance**: Familiarize yourself with IESA’s rules and regulations. Schools must comply with these to participate in IESA offered activities. See the IESA Handbook for full by-law requirements.

4. **Application**: An administrator from your school will need to complete the New Member School Application. The digitally fillable application will require information about your school, such as enrollment numbers and contact details for the school and administration. (Please note: This may be completed and submitted by school administration ONLY.)

5. **Submission & Confirmation**: Submit the completed application per the application instructions. After submission, if applicable eligibility is confirmed by our office, you will be notified that your school’s application has been approved and login and registration information will be emailed. Once in receipt of the login information, your school can login online to generate an invoice for membership and activities. Payment in the form of a school check will then need to be mailed to the IESA office by the applicable deadline.

New Member School Application

What IESA Offers

The IESA hosts state series competitions in ten sports and five activities, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience for students, schools, and fans alike.

Competition Schedule:

- Fall State Championships: Boys and Girls Golf, Girls Softball, Boys Baseball, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Girls Basketball, Speech

- Winter Championships: Cheerleading, Boys Basketball Championships, Chess, Wrestling, Girls Volleyball

- Spring Championships: Music Solo and Ensemble, Music Organization Contests, Boys and Girls Bowling, Scholastic Bowl, Boys and Girls Track and Field

Competition Structure: IESA conducts its state series competitions across multiple classes, featuring separate divisions for seventh and eighth grade teams. Schools are classified based on enrollment, with class sizes determined by the number of schools entering each series, as authorized by the IESA Board of Directors.

Current State Series Offered

State series are scheduled in conjunction with the Standardized Calendar created by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and adopted by the IESA Board of Directors. Weeks are numbered from 1-52 with Week 1 being the first week in July beginning with Sunday. Days of competition in the respective state series are fixed within the framework of the Standardized Calendar. The dates within a respective week in the Standardized Calendar vary on a yearly basis. Member schools usually participate in regular season competition prior to the start of the state series in the respective sports and activities. Most IESA activities have a defined season. The levels of competition within a state series determine how long it takes to conduct the state series in the sport/activity. Interscholastic competition in most state series is conducted in multiple classes, and for some, in separate series for seventh grade teams and eighth grade teams. Schools are classified based on their enrollment in the respective state series. The number of classes is authorized by the IESA Board of Directors, and a major factor determining classification in a respective state series is the number of schools entering the series. (See Class Determination for additional information.)

The following table shows the number of schools entered in each activity.

*Most recent total number of school entries in the sport series.

Member schools may enter and compete in one or more of the offered state series. Here is how each of IESA's state series is conducted: