For the first time, sixth grade students will be eligible to participate in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) middle school interscholastic athletics beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
Middle school sports registration opened Monday, August 10, with sixth graders now eligible to join seventh and eighth grade students in the program. The change marks another milestone for middle school athletics in Montgomery County. Middle school sports were restored by MCPS during the 1996-1997 school year, and the upcoming school year will be the first since their return that sixth graders are permitted to participate.
The fall middle school sports season includes boys’ and girls’ slow-pitch softball and coed cross country. According to MCPS, the middle school interscholastic athletics program is designed as an extension of the physical education instructional and intramural programs for students in grades 6, 7 and 8. While interscholastic athletics provide a higher level of competition, the primary purpose of the program is to give students with an interest or talent in athletics additional opportunities to develop their skills.
