Explore student competitions.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, Teams design an original sustainable orbital energy concept and explain it through a mission brief, model or technical drawing, and short video pitch. Free entry is for teams of two to four U.S. or territory residents in grades 6–8, with adult supervision and guardian consent. The main challenge is connecting technical feasibility, sustainability and a clear presentation.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, C-SPAN StudentCam challenges students to make an original five to six minute documentary exploring a civic issue through research, contrasting viewpoints and relevant C-SPAN footage. Open to grades 6–12, including eligible international students, individually or in teams of up to three. The main challenge is turning verified evidence into a concise, balanced film with clear citations.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Beginner, The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the final stage of a school and regional pathway built around live oral spelling and vocabulary study. Students must meet the 2027 grade, age and school-enrollment rules and qualify through the pathway serving their area. The greatest demands are sustained vocabulary preparation, precise recall and composure during a live elimination format.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Intermediate, National PTA Reflections is a themed arts programme covering literature, visual art, music, film, photography, dance and an Accessible Arts pathway. Students enter through a participating local PTA or PTSA and follow local and state rules for their grade division and chosen category. The central challenge is turning a personal interpretation of the theme into a coherent original work and artist statement within category rules.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Intermediate, This annual K–12 mathematics competition uses grade-banded multiple-choice papers with national and state rankings for proctored participants. Students enter through a school, centre, remote or virtual option and work at their actual grade level. Success depends on spotting efficient ideas across varied word problems and maintaining accuracy through a 75-minute test.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, A published-work contest covering student writing, visual journalism, broadcast, video and yearbook communications. High school students and eligible recent graduates enter through state affiliates or At-Large, with overseas access specifically for Department of Defense schools. The main challenge is selecting and presenting coherent original work that satisfies its category criteria and publication requirements.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, A national Federal Reserve research-and-writing competition in which school teams turn an annual economics theme into an academically grounded podcast script. Grade 9–12 teams enter through an eligible high school or qualifying homeschool route with a faculty or adult advisor and principal acknowledgement. The work demands sustained source research, data interpretation and collaborative writing that makes economics rigorous without losing clarity or an engaging spoken voice.

QUICK SUMMARY

Difficulty varies by division from Intermediate to Advanced, A team STEM project competition in which students investigate or solve a problem in their own community through scientific inquiry or engineering design. Students in grades six to nine work with an adult advisor and meet the programme’s eligibility rules. The main challenge is documenting credible evidence and explaining the team’s decisions, with presentations at later stages.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, The 2027 U.S. edition is a free individual STEM project competition for eligible Grades 7–12 students who usually live in one of 56 U.S. Competition Regions. Applications close at 11:59 PM ET on 11 April 2027, followed by two review phases and an in-person Washington, DC festival for up to 64 Champions. Entrants must develop an original individual STEM project and present it through written responses, an anonymous PDF and a downloadable video; advancement depends on impact, originality and clear communication across two review phases.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, A U.S. civic-engagement contest for students who have moved beyond proposing a good idea and can show meaningful action in a real community. U.S. citizens and U.S.-based students ages 13–19 may enter individually or in groups of up to five through the online portal. Strong entries need credible project execution, evidence of impact and a thoughtful link between practical work, civic principles and concise public communication.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Advanced, A student film festival accepting original films across narrative, documentary, animation and other categories for selection and public screening in New York. International directors must have been in high school or younger during production, with the stated graduate exceptions. The main challenge is completing a coherent film that combines purposeful storytelling, sound and editing while meeting category and technical requirements.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Intermediate, A school mathematics league built around several short cumulative meets rather than one long annual examination. Schools enter teams from grades 2-9 or AP Calculus and may involve any number of students at the registered level. Compact time limits and cumulative scoring reward accurate reading, flexible problem solving and reliable performance across the school year.