Oskaloosa Schools Studying Future in Little Hawkeye Conference
OSKALOOSA, Iowa – Oskaloosa Community School District is taking a hard look at whether it should stay in the Little Hawkeye Conference or move to a different conference in the future.
Earlier this year, the Little Hawkeye Conference voted to add two more schools starting with the 2026–27 school year. Both of those schools have accepted their invitations. With those changes, the conference will be larger and will include some schools that are much bigger than Oskaloosa.
In a statement, the district said there is now “a widening gap between larger and smaller schools within the Little Hawkeye Conference,” and that it is the right time to review what kind of conference is best for Oskaloosa students and families.
The Little Hawkeye Conference is a group of Iowa high schools that play each other in sports and also take part in music, drama, and other activities. Schools in the conference include Dallas Center-Grimes, Indianola, Newton, Norwalk, Oskaloosa, Pella, and Pella Christian, with two more schools scheduled to join in 2026–27.
As bigger schools join, it can become harder for smaller and medium-sized schools to compete on an even level. Larger schools often have more students, which can mean more athletes to choose from and deeper teams in many sports. It can also affect things like band, choir, and other activities where numbers matter.
Travel is another concern. As the conference grows and stretches farther across the state, bus rides get longer for games and events. Longer trips can mean students get home late at night, miss more class time, and families have a harder time traveling to support their kids.
In its statement, Oskaloosa said that “competitive balance, travel, scheduling, and opportunities across athletics, performing arts, and activities remain central to that review.” In simple terms, the district wants to make sure that matchups are fair, travel is reasonable, and students in all activities have good chances to succeed.
To study the issue, the district has set up a leadership committee. This group includes parents, community members, teachers, and coaches. The committee will look at several options:
– Staying in the Little Hawkeye Conference
– Helping form a brand-new conference with other schools
– Asking to join a different existing conference
Right now, the district says no decisions have been made. The committee is not yet telling the school board to take any specific action. The goal is to study all options first, talk through the pros and cons, and then decide what makes the most sense.
The district says its main goal is to do what is best for students. That includes student-athletes, but also students involved in music, drama, speech, and other school activities that depend on conference schedules and events.
For students and families, any future conference change could affect who Oskaloosa plays, how far they travel, and how often they compete against schools of similar size. Staying in the Little Hawkeye Conference would keep many current rivalries, but may mean more games against larger schools and more long road trips as the league grows. Moving to a different conference, or helping form a new one, could lead to more games with schools closer in size or distance.
The district expects to complete its review before July 1, 2026. Any official change would require action by both the conference and the Oskaloosa School Board. The district said it will share updates after any official action is taken.
