8th-grade students are encouraged to participate in NCSD’s 8th-grade level programming. 8th-grade students with exceptional skill development will be eligible to participate in conversations & evaluations with high school coaches/sponsors regarding their potential inclusion in high school activities.
8th-grade inclusion in Nevada High School programming will be limited to the respective head coach’s/sponsors’ evaluation that the student would be a varsity (highest level) impact player/contributor, or the head coach’s/sponsors’ perspective that the inclusion of the player/athlete on the high school team would fill a position-specific need within the program at a lower level. Coaches will clearly communicate to the HS & MS activities director any students they plan to begin participation conversations with before those formal interactions begin.
Coach & Program Desire & Need
If an NHS program head coach/sponsor believes that the 8th-grade student will be a varsity (highest level) contributor or that their skill set will fill a positional need on a lower-level high school program, NHS head coaches/sponsors will reach out to students & families regarding their potential inclusion in high school programming. If the coach & student agree that high school programming is the best fit, they may be invited to join the high school programming for that specific activity. Students joining high school programming would forgo their middle school programming for that activity during their 8th-grade year and would not be eligible to participate in another middle school IHGSAU/IHSAA-sanctioned activity during that activity’s season.
Student & Family Desire
8th-grade students and families who wish for their student to participate at the high school level but have not been contacted by the high school coach/sponsor in a particular activity are encouraged to contact the program’s head coach/sponsor to begin a conversation about their desired involvement.
Program head coaches/sponsors, in collaboration with HS & MS activities director, will make the final decision on 8th-grade involvement in high school programming.
Academic
Per this policy, Middle school students would be held to the same standard of academic eligibility as high school students in policy 503.9 – High School Academic Eligibility. All students will enter 9th grade academically eligible for all high school activities.