APEX Athletics
A Team for Every Player
At the IDEAL School of Manhattan, APEX means Academic and Physical EXcellence, and the goal of the APEX Athletics Program is to provide the framework needed for our student athletes to develop healthy habits in order to achieve a full mind-body balance.
To this end, we have designed a program that will allow our older students (Grades 5-12) to focus on academics and athletics in a structured environment that supports every student’s success.
APEX teams and clubs range from competitive league play to noncompetitive and modified club play. Students are encouraged to participate, and all students who wish to join can and will play in the APEX Program.
Playing sports does not just prepare an athlete, but prepares the citizen with valuable life and leadership skills, ready to contribute to society.
Students choose their sport and IDEAL’s Athletic Department matches them with the right team or club that will be the best fit, taking into consideration factors such as the student’s age (competitive leagues have strict age and grade requirements), skill level, intensity of competition, the student’s interests and goals, and social and leadership opportunities. Most sports have Middle School, High School, and mixed age options. There are co-ed teams and separate boys and girls teams, depending on the level of student interest and league requirements.
We are committed to teaching our students how to be a valuable, kind, respectful, and dedicated person through physical education and teamwork. Our student athletes embody our school’s values of Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, Acceptance, and Leadership in our own gym and outside of it. We strive to help our students grow as people, grow as athletes, and have fun doing it.

We Are the Champions!
IDEAL's Middle School Boys basketball team won the Middle School Athletic League championship on March 6! The team took the trophy with a 51-44 win over the Gateway School.
This marks the second Middle School championship win and the first since the girls team won the MSAL championship in 2017.

We Are Also Champions!
The High School boys basketball team also won their league championship! The the week after the Middle School boys took the trophy, IDEAL's High School team won its first-ever Metro League title in a hard-fought 47-41 victory against Legacy.
A Message from the Athletic Director

As Athletic Director, one of the things I love most about sports at IDEAL is how every student can find a place to belong, grow, and thrive. Whether it’s a student discovering a new sport for the first time or an experienced athlete stepping into a leadership role, I’ve seen how our inclusive approach helps young people gain confidence, build community, and learn what it means to be part of a team. At IDEAL, sports aren’t just about competition – they’re about connection, growth, and creating opportunities for every student to succeed both on and off the court.
Rory Plunkett
Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher





