Homecoming. For many Americans, this single word conjures nostalgic images of high school life—football under Friday night lights, a sparkling gymnasium transformed into a dance floor, grinning teenagers with armfuls of mums. Homecoming represents an exciting fall tradition in countless high schools.
But what about middle schools? Do they join in the homecoming fun or take a pass? As the parent of a new middle schooler, you may be curious if your child will get to make homecoming memories too.
To find out, let’s explore what homecoming looks like at the middle school level. You might be surprised to discover the creative ways some schools celebrate—and the solid reasons why others don’t.
The Allure of High School Homecoming
First, let’s spotlight hallmarks of quintessential high school homecomings to understand why students eagerly await them.
The Big Game
Ask most high schoolers what homecoming means to them and you’ll likely hear: football! Homecoming revolves around a major rivalry game welcoming back alumni. Students feel thrilling unity at crowded pre-game pep rallies and roaring stands.
In 2019, over 1 million teens played high school football. Games ignite contagious excitement across generations of a community.
Dance Drama
Another homecoming highlight? Dancing the night away after months of buzzed-about dress shopping and date dilemmas. Elaborately decorated gyms host music and memories for ages.
While not all teens attend homecoming dances, over half of surveyed high schoolers called school dances important bonding opportunities.
Spirit Week Shenanigans
Long before the game and dance, high schools stir anticipation with themed dress-up days—tacky tourist Tuesdays, wacky wig Wednesdays, and more. Students showcase personality through costumes.
These spirit weeks build unity. One district analysis found over 80% of students participated in homecoming spirit days, with over 90% reporting increased school connection.
Royalty Treatment
What’s homecoming without a glittering court? Teens campaign for king and queen, voted by peers to represent school spirit.
While largely symbolic, the royal court taps into teens’ coming-of-age dreams. Nationwide, over 75% of students say feeling valued by peers is very important.
With pep and pageantry in the air, it‘s easy to see why homecoming generates such anticipation. But should middle schools join the festivities too?
The Realities of Middle School Life
Before deciding, it helps to recognize key differences in middle school priorities and scheduling. While high school homecomings play off athletics and social growth, academics take center stage in middle school.
Academic Spotlight
Where high school allows flexibility to focus on sports or socializing, middle school intensely prioritizes scholastics. Preparing adolescents for high school is the primary goal.
Many middle schoolers juggle challenging course loads with minimal free periods. Numerous schools implement hour-long classes to cover more curriculum. Pressure to perform well on standardized testing also intensifies by eighth grade.
| Average Middle School Class Schedule | Average High School Class Schedule |
| 45- to 60-minute periods | 40- to 50-minute periods |
| 6-7 periods per day with electives | 6-7 periods per day with more electives |
| Less flexibility with more required courses | More flexibility with room for free periods |
With academics in high gear, schools hesitate to dedicate extensive time to homecoming hoopla. High-intensity weeks of football frenzy and dance preparations could disrupt students’ focus.
Scheduling Snags
Accommodating homecoming also poses scheduling challenges. Unlike centralized high schools, middle schoolers often attend smaller regional schools without lighted stadiums for hosting games after dark.
And many middle schools share facilities with at least one other school. Coordinating home games plus elaborate dance decorating across these timetables can get tricky.
Nonetheless, some middle schools recognize the value of more limited celebrations to uplift school spirit without undermining academics.
Middle School Homecoming Alternatives
While you likely won’t see glittering floats or outdoor pep rallies at middle schools, many channel homecoming’s energy into approaches meeting adolescents’ needs.
Spirit Days or Weeks
Rather than coordinate an entire homecoming week, many middle schools focus efforts on one or two special spirit days coinciding with high school homecoming. These might include:
- Crazy Hat Day
- Team Colors Day
- Decades Day (dress in funky fashions from various decades)
- Pajama Day
- Superhero Day
Often students vote early in the school year to select favorite themed dress-up days. Seeing their peers decked out in silly costumes or cool team gear can spur middle schoolers‘ enthusiasm.
Homecoming spirit days allow students to express creativity and individuality without demanding huge investments of time, money, or planning.
Themed Dances
Some middle schools host special dances around homecoming time, though usually without the formal trappings of high school homecomings. Popular themes can make these dances really appeal to middle schoolers, like:
- Decades Dance (play 60s, 70s, 80s music and dress in fashions through the ages)
- Totally 80s Dance (neon, big hair, hip hop)
- Black Light Dance (wear bright colors to glow under black lights)
- Masquerade Ball (everyone wears masks and dresses up)
- Halloween Costume Dance (students dress up in spooky or funny costumes)
Keeping things lighthearted with fun themes—instead of formal wear and royalty courts—creates an environment for middle schoolers to dance comfortably with friends. Themed costumes add extra excitement too.
Pep Rallies
Some middle schools plan special pep rallies around the time of high school homecoming games, often during the school day. These high-energy school assemblies let students cheer for various school clubs and teams.
Typical pep rally elements include:
- Cheerleading squad performances
- Dance team, color guard, or marching band routines
- Class competitions like tug of war or relay races
- Announcements about upcoming events/games
Pep rallies give middle school students an exciting break from academics while fueling school spirit. Students take pride in screaming for friends performing in bands, dance troupes, choirs, theater groups and more.
Tailgate Parties
For middle schools with athletics like football or soccer, hosting tailgate parties can build homecoming excitement safely on campus rather than at packed stadiums. Students, families and staff unite before a game over food, activities and music in the parking lot or a field.
Tailgates work well for large middle school populations across multiple grades. They also accommodate parents who may prefer not driving students late at night to high school football stadiums across town.
Homecoming Floats and Parades
Some creative middle schools organize small homecoming parades around the school’s loop driveway or neighborhood streets. Students have fun decorating bright floats with themes like under the sea, jungle safari, or circuses.
Parades foster bonding between grades as older students mentor younger ones on creating floats. Neighborhood parades also increase community engagement. Plus, parades work well for middle schools without suitable game fields on campus.
Dances With Friends
Rather than one major dance, a few middle schools host smaller simultaneous “dances with friends” in the cafeteria, auditorium, and gym. Smaller groups appeal to students feeling uncomfortable in overwhelming noisy rooms filled with hundreds of peers.
Having a choice of environments empowers introverts and any students managing anxiety. Plus, prices stay affordable if hosting three medium-sized dances rather than one huge, elaborately decorated dance.
These creative adaptations allow middle schools to tap into homecoming excitement in age-appropriate, inclusive ways.
Should Middle Schools Have Full Homecomings?
While middle schools often take a pared-down approach to homecoming week traditions, some parents and students wish administrators and teachers would organize larger celebrations more akin to high schools.
Proponents argue full-experience middle school homecomings could:
- Get middle schoolers more excited about school activities
- Give students leadership opportunities in planning events
- Help sixth graders transition smoothly into middle school culture
- Foster lasting school spirit
However, opponents counter that lavish middle school homecomings could:
- Distract students from academics
- Create unhealthy popularity contests around royalty elections
- Lead to inappropriate formal attire or dance behavior
- Place undue social expectations on 11-13 year olds
Additionally, funding and organizing labor-intensive high school style homecoming events requires major commitments from administrators, teachers, parents, and community members.
With staff and budgets already stretched thin at most public middle schools, devoting weeks to homecoming hoopla could detract from core academic priorities.
Should You Push for Middle School Homecoming?
Wondering if you should rally your school to host fuller homecoming festivities? Consider key factors first.
If your middle school:
- Has strong school spirit and student leadership opportunities in place…
- Can fund and staff homecoming events without sacrificing academics…
- And has scheduling flexibility around facilities/traffic flow…
Then, floating the idea may warrant consideration. Be prepared to volunteer many hours along with a strong committee.
However, if your middle school:
- Struggles with student morale, discipline issues or achievement gaps…
- Frequently requests parent donations for basic supplies due to tight budgets…
- And has facilities insufficient for hosting evening games…
Then pouring limited time and money into an elaborate week of homecoming hoopla may not best serve students. Consider constructively advocating for more modest events like spirit days or dances instead.
Making Middle School Memories
As your kids navigate the ups and downs of middle school friendships and classes, finding ways to make positive memories matters. Events sparking smiles through school spirit or community connections, whether big celebrations or small moments, enrich this transitional time.
While middle schools may not replicate the full Friday Night Lights experience of high school, alternatives like spirit days, dances, pep rallies or parades can still make students beam. If nothing else, assure your middle schooler they’ll get their chance to dance under glittering streamers soon enough.
For now, focus on supporting them through the intensity of middle school curriculum. And if you spot them scribbling poster board slogans in paint pen, well, sounds like spirit week may have arrived after all!