Rather than placing it under athletics it should be placed under a STEM or academic program. I know it is a strange thought to some that your school be known for excelling in academic competitions rather than athletic ones.
What you really want is getting it placed in a category that qualify teachers for stipends. One of the biggest problem with sustainability of a school team is retention of the primary school contact. (Full disclosure I am not a teacher and would benefit from this.)
Pros:
- Teacher stipends would sustainability of the program
- Abiltity to network with other students. employers college level academics which create employment and further education