TL;DR
NHSJS accepts high school research year-round, but submissions must meet its manuscript and review requirements. You can submit a Research Article or Literature Review; papers are limited to 20 pages, 12-point font, and single spacing. You will also need the required manuscript versions and an anonymized review copy. NHSJS uses editorial screening, expert peer review, and Scientist Advisory Board review, with a median review time of about eight weeks. Horizon provides 1:1 mentorship with PhD scholars and university professors throughout a full trimester, culminating in a 20-page, university-level research paper. Apply here or attend the next info session.
What is the National High School Journal of Science?
The National High School Journal of Science, or NHSJS, is a free, online, peer-reviewed research journal aimed at high school students. It publishes original research by high school students across scientific disciplines, as well as literature reviews covering significant developments in science and policy.
The journal is designed specifically for high school researchers, but papers still need to follow a formal research publication process.
Its current subject areas include computing, data and AI, earth and environmental science, engineering, health sciences, life sciences, mathematics and statistics, physical sciences, and social sciences, humanities and policy. The journal’s published work includes topics ranging from artificial intelligence and environmental science to psychology, medicine, engineering, economics, and policy.
That breadth means you shouldn’t assume your paper is unsuitable simply because it doesn’t fit a narrow definition of laboratory science. The more important question is whether your research fits one of the journal’s subject areas and meets its requirements.
For students considering how research fits into their broader academic profile, check out 8 Reasons Research Experience Helps Your College Application and Why Starting Research Early Is One of the Best Decisions You Can Make.
What does NHSJS publish? Research articles vs. literature reviews
NHSJS accepts two main types of submissions: Research Articles and Literature Reviews. They are not interchangeable, so you should decide which category your paper belongs in before you start preparing the manuscript.
A Research Article presents findings from original research. A Literature Review examines developments in existing research and should do more than summarise published information. NHSJS submission guidelines specifically say a Literature Review should help readers understand ongoing research or new advances in the field.
| Research Article | Literature Review | |
| Main purpose | Present findings from original research | Explain significant developments and advances in existing research |
| Abstract | Required | Required |
| Introduction | Required | Required |
| Figures or tables | Five or more | No more than four |
| Subheadings | Required | Required |
| Supporting material | Additional methods, figures, tables, and other information where necessary | Depends on the paper |
| What makes it different | Your research produces and discusses findings | Your review synthesizes research and explains developments rather than simply summarising known information |
The category you choose should match what you actually did, not what sounds more impressive. If you conducted an experiment, survey, observational study, computational analysis, or another original investigation, you will generally be working with the Research Article format. If your paper examines and synthesizes published research without presenting your own original dataset or experiment, the Literature Review format may be more appropriate.
If you are still developing your research question, our guides to STEM and biology research topics for high school students can help you narrow down a workable topic.
What are the submission requirements and formatting rules?
This is the section to check before you submit your manuscript. A strong research project can still run into problems if the manuscript does not follow NHSJS’s submission requirements.
The current NHSJS guidelines state that a manuscript in the standard citation format cannot exceed 20 pages, including figures and tables. The manuscript should use 12-point font and single spacing.
NHSJS requirements at a glance
| Requirement | NHSJS rule |
| Maximum length | 20 pages, including figures and tables |
| Font | 12 point |
| Spacing | Single |
| File format | Word or LaTeX |
| Word submission | Minimum 2 versions |
| LaTeX submission | Minimum 3 versions |
| Review manuscript | Identifying information must be removed |
| Required sections | Title, authors and affiliations, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, acknowledgments, references |
| Standard citations | Numbered superscripts before punctuation |
| References | Numbered in order of appearance |
| Submission schedule | Rolling throughout the year |
The first version needs to be anonymized for review. For a Word submission, NHSJS requires at least two versions. The first uses the standard citation format and removes personal identifying information such as author names, affiliations, and acknowledgments. The second uses NHSJS’s online publication citation format.
LaTeX submissions have a different process. NHSJS requires at least three versions, including the LaTeX PDF, a modified Word version using the online citation format, and the original LaTeX file as supplementary information.
Don’t leave formatting until the last five minutes before submission. Converting citations, anonymizing the manuscript, and preparing multiple versions can take longer than you expect. For a broader breakdown of how to organize a research paper, see the key components of a high school research paper.
What sections should your paper contain?
NHSJS lists these sections in order:
- Title
- Authors and affiliations
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Acknowledgments
- References
Your abstract also needs to cover the background or objective, methods, results, conclusions, and keywords. NHSJS currently specifies a 200- to 250-word limit for the abstract.
The Methods section should explain how the research was conducted, including the research design, sample or participants (where relevant), data collection, variables or measurements, procedure, data analysis, and ethical considerations (where applicable).
The Discussion should interpret your findings, connect them to your objectives, address limitations, and explain implications or possible future research. It should not introduce completely new information that was not part of the research.
How should you format citations?
NHSJS uses numbered citations rather than an author-date system.
For the standard submission format, references are numbered in the order they first appear. The citation number appears as a superscript before the punctuation mark. The reference list follows the same numerical order. You also need to prepare a different citation format for the online publication version. Instead of a superscript number, place the complete citation in double parentheses in the text.
This is easy to overlook if you normally use APA, MLA, or another citation system. Before submitting, check the NHSJS Submission Guidelines and use the journal’s templates rather than trying to recreate the format from memory.
You can also use our guides on formatting citations in a high school research paper, as well as free databases every student researcher should use if you are still building your research and citation workflow.
How does the peer review process work?
Submitting your paper does not mean it immediately goes to a scientist for comments. NHSJS uses a three-step process that starts with an editorial screening before the manuscript reaches expert reviewers.
Step 1: Initial editorial screening
The editorial team first checks the submission for basic requirements, scope alignment, and overall suitability.
The team can reject a manuscript at this stage rather than sending it to peer reviewers. That makes the basic submission requirements important even if you believe the research itself is strong.
Step 2: Expert peer review
Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent to one or two qualified reviewers for detailed evaluation. NHSJS says its reviewers include graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and professional scientists with expertise relevant to the manuscript.
For you as a high school researcher, this means the review is not simply a teacher checking whether your paper looks complete. Reviewers are assessing the research itself. They may look closely at your research question, methodology, analysis, interpretation, evidence, figures, and limitations. The exact comments will depend on the paper and its subject.
Step 3: Scientist Advisory Board review
After peer review, a member of NHSJS’s Scientist Advisory Board evaluates the manuscript. NHSJS describes this board as consisting of researchers and professors who provide additional feedback.
The final decision can be accept, minor revisions, major revisions, or reject.
If you receive a revision request, that does not mean you have to start the entire project again. Read every reviewer comment carefully, make the requested changes where appropriate, and explain your revisions clearly.
How long does it take to hear back?
NHSJS accepts submissions on a rolling basis, so there is no single annual submission deadline you need to wait for.
For the standard process, NHSJS currently gives a median and average review time of about eight weeks. Initial editorial screening generally takes one to two weeks, followed by approximately eight weeks of peer review. During July through December, NHSJS says peer review can take up to 12 weeks because of higher submission volume.
NHSJS reports that 95% of papers receive an initial decision within 14 weeks.
If you receive a request for revisions, you will need additional time to make the changes, and revised manuscripts go through another review cycle. NHSJS currently estimates approximately four weeks for this standard revision review. Once a manuscript is accepted, final copyediting, layout, and proofreading take approximately one to two weeks before online publication.
So don’t assume that submitting today means having a published paper in a few weeks. A straightforward submission can take several months from initial submission through review and publication, and revisions can extend the process further. If you are still revising your manuscript, this guide on how long it takes to write a research paper can help you set realistic expectations for the writing and revision stage.
How is this different from submitting to a professional journal?
The biggest difference is who the journal serves. NHSJS targets high school students, while professional journals generally publish research from established researchers, graduate students, and other professionals in their fields.
That does not mean you should treat a high school journal submission like a school assignment.
You still need a clear research question, a defensible method, appropriate analysis, evidence for your conclusions, and a manuscript that follows the journal’s requirements.
NHSJS’s review process also involves reviewers with research experience, including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and professional scientists.
The scale of your project may be different from that of a large university research group. You may have a smaller dataset, fewer resources, or a narrower research question. But you should acknowledge those limitations rather than hide them. Think of the submission as a transition from “I completed a research project” to “I can communicate this research as a scientific paper.”
If you are comparing journals specifically for high school research, our guide to research journals for high school students can help you understand the different submission options.
NHSJS may not be the right fit for everyone, but other student-focused journals also accept high school research. The Journal of Emerging Investigators and the Journal of High School Research are two comparison options worth exploring, particularly when you are deciding where your paper’s topic and format fit best.
What makes a paper strong enough to be accepted?
There is no published NHSJS formula that guarantees acceptance, so you should not approach submission as a checklist that automatically produces an acceptance.
Instead, look at whether your manuscript gives a reviewer enough information to understand, evaluate, and reproduce the logic of your research.
Your research question should be specific enough that the reader can tell exactly what you set out to investigate. Your introduction should explain the background, establish why the question matters, and show how your research fits into existing work.
A focused question also makes it easier to build your argument. See how to write a thesis statement in 10 steps to help you turn a broad idea into a specific central claim.
Your Methods section should make the research process understandable. If you conducted an experiment, explain the design, participants or samples, measurements, procedure, and analysis. If you conducted a literature review, explain how you searched for and selected the relevant research.
Your Results section should present what you actually found. The Discussion should explain what those findings mean, how they relate to your research question, and what limitations affect how confidently you can interpret them. Finally, look at the paper as a reader rather than as the person who wrote it.
Can you understand the research question from the first few pages? Do the figures and tables add useful information? Do your conclusions follow from your results? Have you acknowledged limitations? Are your citations complete and correctly formatted?
These questions are more useful than trying to make your paper sound “advanced.”
Why do submissions get rejected?
NHSJS does not publish an acceptance rate or a definitive list of the most common reasons papers are rejected. However, its published review and submission guidance points to several areas that can create problems.
If you are still writing your first research paper, our broader guide to publishing research in high school covers the process from developing your research to preparing a manuscript for publication.
The manuscript does not follow the requirements
This is one of the easiest problems to prevent. Exceeding the page limit, submitting the wrong versions, leaving identifying information in the anonymized manuscript, or using the wrong citation format can delay review or contribute to rejection. NHSJS explicitly warns that failure to follow its formatting requirements can result in delays or rejection.
The research does not fit the journal
NHSJS’s initial editorial screening considers scope alignment and overall suitability. Before submitting, check the journal’s subject areas and published work rather than assuming that any science-related project automatically fits.
The research question is unclear
A paper can contain a lot of information without answering a precise research question. If the reader cannot tell what you investigated, it becomes difficult to judge whether your methods and conclusions address the objective.
The methods are not sufficiently explained
A reviewer needs to understand how you obtained your evidence. If important details about the sample, procedure, measurements, or analysis are missing, the reader may not be able to evaluate the findings’ reliability.
The conclusions go further than the evidence
A strong paper does not have to prove that its findings apply everywhere. If your sample is small or your study has other limitations, acknowledge them. A carefully stated conclusion is more useful than a dramatic conclusion that your data cannot support.
A Literature Review only summarises
NHSJS specifically says its Literature Reviews should not simply summarise known information. They should inform the reader about ongoing research or new advances.
The paper violates the AI policy
This is particularly important before submitting in 2026.
NHSJS permits some uses of AI tools during the research process, including coding, debugging code, running or interpreting analyses, and searching the literature. Spelling and grammar checkers are also permitted when they correct errors.
However, NHSJS states that AI may not draft, paraphrase, expand, or rewrite your prose, including text that you subsequently edit. Authors must disclose their AI use when submitting.
NHSJS also says accepted manuscripts undergo human and software screening before publication. A manuscript that does not pass this screening may be returned for rewriting or rejected.
So if you use AI while preparing your research, read the policy before you submit rather than assuming a grammar tool and a generative writing tool are treated the same way.
Publication is also only one way to share research. Depending on your goals, you can explore research competitions and research conferences for high school students as other ways to present your work.
How a mentor changes your odds
A mentor cannot guarantee that a journal will accept your paper. A good mentor can help you identify problems before a reviewer does.
The most useful question a mentor can help you answer is simple: “If I submitted this tonight, what would a reviewer challenge?”
For example, your mentor might notice that your research question is too broad, that a method does not fully answer the question, that an important limitation is missing, or that a conclusion is stronger than the results justify.
That kind of feedback is especially useful because you can get too close to a paper after spending months on it. You know what you intended to say, so gaps obvious to a new reader can be surprisingly hard for you to see.
Horizon provides 1:1 mentorship with PhD scholars and university professors, with the same mentor throughout a full trimester. The program ends with a 20-page university-level research paper, and strong work has a publication route through the Horizon Scholar Journal. If you want support taking a research project from an idea through a finished paper, you can apply here or attend the next info session.
To understand the application process specifically, visit How to Apply to the Horizon Academic Research Program.
Frequently asked questions: Publishing in NHSJS
Yes. NHSJS targets high school students and accepts original research submissions year-round. You should still check the current submission requirements before sending your manuscript.
Yes. NHSJS accepts Literature Reviews as one of its two main submission types. A review should do more than summarise existing information and should help readers understand ongoing research or new advances.
A manuscript in the standard citation format cannot exceed 20 pages, including figures and tables. NHSJS also requires 12-point font and single spacing.
NHSJS uses numbered citations for the standard manuscript. References are numbered in order of appearance, and citations appear as superscript numbers before punctuation. You also need a separate online publication citation format for the relevant manuscript version.
The first review version must remove identifying information, including author names, affiliations, and acknowledgments. The exact file requirements depend on whether you submit in Word or LaTeX.
NHSJS currently gives a median and average standard review time of about eight weeks, with 95% of papers receiving an initial decision within 14 weeks. The peer review stage can take longer from July through December because submission volume is higher.
NHSJS permits certain research-related uses of AI, but it does not permit AI to draft, paraphrase, expand, or rewrite your prose. You must also disclose AI use at submission, so check the current policy before using an AI tool as part of your research workflow.
You can revise the manuscript and resubmit it when NHSJS requests minor or major revisions. Revised manuscripts undergo another review cycle, which NHSJS currently estimates at approximately four weeks for standard submissions.
NHSJS’s current AI policy refers to an article processing charge, or APC, associated with editorial handling. The policy also states that the APC is not refunded if a manuscript is subsequently rejected or withdrawn. Check the journal’s current submission information for the applicable fee before submitting.
Yes. A mentor can review your research question, methods, analysis, conclusions, and manuscript structure before you submit. Horizon offers 1:1 mentorship with PhD scholars and university professors over a full trimester, culminating in a 20-page, university-level paper. Apply here or join the next info session.
Resources
External
- NHSJS homepage
- NHSJS Submission Guidelines
- NHSJS Submission Types
- NHSJS Submit Your Work
- NHSJS AI Usage Policy
- NHSJS peer review process
- Journal of Emerging Investigators
- Journal of High School Research
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- How to Publish Research in High School
- Research Journals for High School Students
- What Are the Key Components of a High School Research Paper?
- How to Format Citations in a High School Research Paper
- How to Write a Thesis Statement in 10 Steps
- Free Databases Every Student Researcher Should Use
- How Long Does It Take to Write a Research Paper?
- What Can You Actually Do With a High School Research Paper?
- Research Competitions for High School Students
- Research Conferences for High School Students
- STEM Research Topics for High School Students
- Biology Research Topics for High School Students
- 8 Reasons Research Experience Helps Your College Application
- Why Starting Research Early Is One of the Best Decisions You Can Make
- How to Apply to the Horizon Academic Research Program
Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program