DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Ncribble, you beat me to it. I think the R7 would be ideal.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

You didn't mention it, but:

What is the old camera? Are you retiring it?
Do you have other lenses that you might continue to use?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

My advice is avoiding the sensors over 24MP, the 32.5 on the 90D and R7 are both prone to motion blur and relatively poor low light performance because of those small pixels. (I own both.) They will drive beginners like HS student photographers nuts.

I agree with the 80D if you can find a used one in excellent condition - I own one of those also and do a lot of small birds with it - similar needs to fast action sports in daylight.
I would recommend a 2 lens setup. A good used EF 24-105L f/4 (first model will be cheaper-I have one and love mine.) will cover the about campus and portrait work and a zoom that goes out to 250 to 300 for the sports. It is the fast lens part for the night sports that will add $$$. Fortunately, the 80D handles high ISOs well so a variable or f/4 will probably work just fine except for "that school" with the absolutely awful (read cheap) lighting. If things work out as to price, you may have one or two hundred left for a decent flash. Avoid Canon and look for something like the Yongnuo clones of the high-end Canon's, I use one of their clones of the Canon 600 and those are about $140 new or down to $85 for the slightly less powerful models. You can't use them for the sports, so the 600 series guide number of 60 m (196 ft) aren't necessary. But the cheerleaders, band, half-time show, theater and dance groups etc. they will probably let you use flash.

On that long lens, you don't need the razor sharp pro lenses since you aren't printing billboards or poster size images (maybe a few of those for a display). Way back in the 1970's I taught Basic Photography for one year and the students, including the students who did the football and other team sports, seldom did more than 8x10 and the rare 11x14 print. Mostly it was for the school paper or year book. And today prints will probably be rare except for the occasional bulletin board display. An online posting or yearbook/school paper size image doesn't need that kind of resolution at all.

You should be able to keep in the $3000 budget. You can always use the old camera as a backup/second shooter if you go for an EF body and two lenses instead of the newer mirrorless or one more expensive zoom lens.

Thinking about it my 7DII sports/action body with 20MP would probably do what you need done as long as you teach them to fill the frame so no cropping is needed.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

If you want the kids involved, try to think like they do. They are used to automatic "computational" photography on their phones. The Sony RX10 IV has been suggested a couple times so far. My experience, watching my wife with hers, suggests it has very good automatic modes. Maybe the kids would be more involved if you taught them how automatic works.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Yes, for sports the R7 is up there with the Z9 but better AF as the R7 has the R3 AF which is best in class.
Also high resolution and weather sealing.
It will be a great setup and faster than any other camera in its class especially for action and sports.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

If you can get by with just a newer lens, seems like a more productive path.
If you’re certain mirrorless is the way to go, then Sony, Nikon and Canon are good choices to shoot HS sports. But your budget may need a stretch.
However, there are good deals to be had in used refurbished DSLRs thanks to the infusion of mirrorless. Nikon’s D3S or D4 are low light beasts. Find one with 50,000 clicks and you will still have a lot of life left on the shutter. I don’t know the Canon equivalent.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

I would talk to the YB company rep about getting a new camera and lens. 10 years is a long time for a “signing bonus”. If your school generates good money for them they should gladly fork out the money for an entry level mirrorless and lens.

Bayou

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Interesting that the op likes the Canon products for ease of use and logical operation.
Yet there is a strong push to completely change system to the favorite of the suggestor.
The R7 has no peer, stays with what the OP is comfortable with and is excellent for the acton shots needed with best in class AF.
And fits the budget.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

As an industry insider who worked for three yearbook companies, I can tell you that all that does is "hide the pea under a shell" somewhere...

My former employers used to set up "deals" like that. I sometimes specified and ordered camera kits for our reps when they did that.

The money to buy the "signing bonus" comes out of the contract, which is ultimately paid for in the price of yearbooks sold in that school. There is either a slight decrease in printing features, or an increase in the price of "add-on extras" such as special cover treatments (foil stamping, metal inlaid seal embossing, texturing, hand-rubbed antiquing, tip-in prints...), or special papers or extra color sections or extra 16-page signatures.

There is no free lunch... but they make the purchase "easy to do," and they tie the school to a three year contract to do it. If you don't like the company or their rep after the first year, guess what? You're screwed for two more years!

It's probably better to put the camera into the YEARBOOK budget as a separate line item from printing, and buy it as a yearbook project expense. If the only way to get it is through the printing company, then they should just bill it as a line item. That avoids questions about "funny money" from arising.

photoman43

I recommend a new or used Nikon D500 with the 300mm f4 pf lens and maybe a nikon 1.4x teleconverter. It all depends on how much focal length you need and how wide the fastest aperture needs to be. Other nikon lenses might be the 70-200mm f4 (bought used). Or one of the Nikon 70-300 tele lenses. A f 2.8 lens costs a lot more than a f4 lens.

Mirrorless is great, but you can get much more for your $$$ with a new or used DSLR and lenses made for it.

The D500 is probably the best sports camera ever made for its price range.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

They have Canon now.
The D500 is very old and primitive by today's standards.
The R7 AF is years ahead for action, faster FPS more than double the resolution and the tracking is pro level that the D500 completely lacks.
Then with the flip of a switch you get 4k video clips which the students will love and that is lacking on the D500 as it cannot track action in the video mode fast enough to keep up with a walk hardly.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Except for the fact that he prefers Canon to Nikon, the advice provided by CHG_CANON is always spot on. If you too like Canon equipment, you will not go wrong by carefully reviewing and following his advice. Read too the post by burkphoto whose advice is similarly consistent and excellent. Let me just add my two cents by noting that if you are able to find factory refurbished (and let me emphasize the word 'factory') equipment, it is frequently a preferable alternative to used equipment, although used equipment from KEH or MPB or others on burkphoto's list can be an excellent way to purchase what you need. In all cases, be sure to check out the equipment right away so if you encounter any problem, it can be remedied during the return or guarantee period. Finally, I note that you are a new member of our forum. Don't hesitate to pose any questions you might have here. With few exceptions, our members are both knowledgeable and most willing to help their fellow photographers. Good luck as you move forward with your equipment acquisition.

nealbralley Loc: Kansas

CHG_CANON and others recommending paying less for the camera and more for the lenses are spot-on! I would definitely recommend buying something along the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens as a starter (Tamron and Sigma’s newer products work very well). You will need the wider aperture of f/2.8 for shooting evening sports. If you buy a crop sensor camera you will effectively get more focal length reach through your lens(es). For yearbook purposes, an APS-C or micro 4/3ds camera will more than meet your needs. You really won’t need to go full frame.