If you are a high school student and want to go beyond regular assignments, competitions for high school students should be on your radar. Competitions are one of the most practical and fun ways to test what you actually know about a field. They give you a clear task, a timeline, and a way to measure your performance.
Competitions for high school students help you build skills like problem-solving, time management, and structured thinking. You might solve questions, build a project, or present an idea depending on the format. These competitions also give you outcomes you can point to, such as rankings, scores, or completed work.
What do competitions for high schoolers include?
Competitions for high school students are usually built around clear tasks with fixed rules and deadlines. In academic formats, you solve timed problem sets in subjects like math, science, or economics, which trains you to apply concepts quickly and accurately. In project-based competitions, you might build something from scratch, such as a research paper, a business plan, or a coded application.
In other formats, like case or technical competitions, you work on real or simulated problems. You may analyze datasets, create structured solutions, and present them using slides or reports. Some competitions also involve coding platforms, robotics kits, or simulation tools where you build and test systems under constraints. Across all types, you learn how to structure your work, manage time, and present results in a way that can be evaluated clearly.
To make your search easier, here are 15 competitions for high school students! If you’re specifically interested in STEM, check out our guide to science competitions for high school students.
15 Competitions for High School Students
1. NASA Drop Tower Challenge
Location: Remote; devices tested at NASA’s 2.2 Second Drop Tower, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Cost: Free to enter
Program Dates: Testing: February – March | Reports due: May 1 | ASGSR conference: Fall
Deadline: Check the website for the current cycle deadline
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 from U.S. schools across all fifty states, tribal nations, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and DoDEA schools
The NASA Drop Tower Challenge is about designing paddle wheels that spin in water purely because of how their surfaces interact with liquid, no motors, no springs, no mechanical parts. The catch is that the spinning has to happen in microgravity. NASA tests the devices by dropping them 24 meters inside their 2.2 Second Drop Tower, recreating the conditions of apparent weightlessness to see whether the surface properties alone can drive rotation.
Your team’s job is to design for a physics phenomenon that behaves completely differently the moment gravity stops pulling the way it normally does. You begin by writing a proposal with conceptual drawings and a brief entry form. If selected, you build the paddle wheel, ship it to NASA, and wait for the video footage from the drop test, which your team then analyzes and submits as a report. Top teams from the reporting phase are invited to present at the annual American Society for Gravitational and Space Research meeting.
2. State of Iowa Physics Competition
Location: Maucker Union, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cost: $3 per student
Program Dates: April 7
Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; each school may enter up to three teams per event
The State of Iowa Physics Competition, held at the University of Northern Iowa and supported by the Iowa American Association of Physics Teachers, is built around hands-on device challenges. Across five events: Catapult, Mousetrap Car, The Flying Machine, Optical Slalom, and Fermi Questions, you and your team design and operate devices using inexpensive, everyday materials like mousetraps, rubber bands, mirrors, and compact discs. The competition takes place in a single day, with a qualifying preliminary round in the morning and a final round in the afternoon. Medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each event, and trophies go to students on the top three overall school teams.
3. Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest
Location: Online submission
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Submissions open mid-February; winners announced before the annual JASNA General Meeting
Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students and home-schooled students enrolled at the high school level during the contest year; JASNA membership is not required; students whose essays have previously placed first are not eligible to re-enter; essays must be original, unpublished work
The JASNA Essay Contest is a literary analysis competition where you write a full-length essay based on a specific prompt drawn from Jane Austen’s work. In the high school division, you produce a 6 to 8-page essay in MLA format, built around close reading and detailed analysis of the text. The current prompt focuses on male characters across Austen’s novels, asking you to examine their roles, relationships, and development within the story. You are expected to use direct quotations and build your argument from the text itself, rather than relying on general opinions. Submissions are judged anonymously, which means your writing is evaluated purely on its quality. By the end, you produce a polished, research-style piece of writing.
4. National Science Bowl (NSB)
Location: Regional competitions nationwide; National Finals in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Regional competitions: January – March | National Finals: April 30 – May 4
Deadline: Regional registration opens October 6; deadlines vary by region
Eligibility: High school students in teams of four, one alternate, and one teacher-coach; teams register through their local regional competition
The National Science Bowl is one of the largest academic competitions in the country, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and now in its 35th year. Teams of four students go head-to-head in a buzzer-style question-and-answer format covering physics, biology, chemistry, Earth science, energy, and mathematics. It starts at the regional level, and the team that wins each region earns an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Finals in Washington, D.C. The national rounds are longer and harder, with two 10-minute halves per match and a noticeably steeper difficulty curve than regionals. The national event also includes science seminars, hands-on activities, and sightseeing around D.C.
5. U.S. Physics Team
Location: Online; Training Camp at the University of Maryland, College Park
Cost: $75/school + $15.50/student
Program Dates: F=ma Exam: February 12 | USAPhO Exam: April 10 | Training Camp: May 30 – June 9
Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently attending a U.S. school; must be located within the U.S. to sit the exams; must not exceed age 20 by June 30 of the competition year
The U.S. Physics Team Program is a national competition pathway that selects students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad. You begin with the F=ma exam, a 75-minute multiple-choice test focused on mechanics and problem solving under time pressure. High scorers advance to the USAPhO, a free-response exam where you solve longer problems across topics like electromagnetism, waves, and thermodynamics with full written solutions. The top students are then invited to a 10-day residential training camp at the University of Maryland, where they work with coaches on advanced physics problems. Your performance there determines final team selection. By the end, only a small group is chosen to compete internationally.
6. USA Biology Olympiad (USABO)
Location: Online (Open Exam and Semifinal Exam); National Finals held in person
Cost: $125 school registration fee; individual students register through their school
Program Dates: Open Exam: February | Semifinal Exam: March | National Finals: Summer | International Biology Olympiad: July 12–19
Deadline: November 8
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents; students must be registered through a USABO-registered school with a teacher willing to administer the exam
The USA Biology Olympiad is the national biology competition for high school students run by the Center for Excellence in Education. The competition moves in stages: all registered students sit the Open Exam first, the top scorers advance to the Semifinal Exam, and the top 20 semifinalists are invited to the National Finals. National Finals is a residential program where you’ll work through advanced biological concepts and hands-on laboratory practicals. From the National Finals, four students are selected to represent the United States at the International Biology Olympiad.
7. National History Day (NHD)
Location: Starts at the school level; advances through regional and affiliate (state) contests; National Contest held at the University of Maryland, College Park
Cost: Free to enter; check with your local affiliate for any regional contest fees
Program Dates: School and regional contests run throughout the academic year; National Contest: June
Deadline: Varies by affiliate and local contest.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12; Junior Division (grades 6–8) and Senior Division (grades 9–12); open to students at public, private, parochial, charter, and homeschools; no discrimination based on race, sex, religion, physical ability, economic status, or sexual orientation
National History Day is a research competition where you choose a historical topic, connect it to the annual theme, and present your work in formats like a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. You spend most of your time researching primary and secondary sources, building an argument, and shaping how you present it. The project develops over multiple rounds, so you revise and improve your work after feedback at each level. You usually begin at the school level, then move through regional and state contests if selected. Top entries from each state advance to the national contest at the University of Maryland, where thousands of students compete. Projects are judged mainly on historical quality, including research depth, argument, and connection to the theme, along with how clearly you present your work. By the end, you produce a full research project that reflects both content and presentation.
8. AAPT PhysicsBowl
Location: At your school, under proctored conditions
Cost: Free
Program Dates: March 18 – April 3
Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Any high school student; exam must be taken at a registered school with an approved proctor
The PhysicsBowl is an annual international competition run by the American Association of Physics Teachers, open to high school students worldwide. You’ll sit in a 40-question, 45-minute multiple-choice exam at your own school, and your individual score gets ranked against students in your regional division. The competition is divided into Division I for first-year physics students and Division II for second-year students, so you’re measured against peers at a comparable point in their physics education rather than everyone at once. A school’s team score is the sum of its top five individual scores, so strong individual performances add up to school-level recognition. The exam covers standard high school physics topics, making it one of the more accessible entry points into competitive physics.
9. American Rocketry Challenge (ARC)
Location: Qualifying flights at your local site; National Finals near Washington, D.C.
Cost: $175 per team
Program Dates: Qualification flights: July 15 – March 30 | National Finals: May 16 Deadline: December 6 (registration); March 30 (qualification flight submissions)
Eligibility: Teams of 3–10 students in grades 6–12 from a single school or U.S.-incorporated non-profit youth organization; must be supervised by a school-approved adult.
The American Rocketry Challenge is the world’s largest student rocket competition. The technical goal is precise: build a rocket that carries one large hen egg to exactly 750 feet, stays airborne for between 36 and 39 seconds, and lands safely with the egg unbroken, all within strict constraints on the rocket’s weight, length, and body tube diameter. Each team flies in front of a certified observer from the National Association of Rocketry at least twice, and the combined score from the two best flights determines advancement. The top 100 teams reach the National Finals, where first place earns the team $20,000 and the school $1,000, with prizes running through tenth place. Optional side competitions like the Mission Debriefing Challenge and the Rocket Reels Challenge each carry their own separate prize tracks.
10. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Finals Week: March 5 – 11 | Public Exhibition: March 8 | Winners Announced: March 10
Deadline: Applications open June 1
Eligibility: Students in their final year of secondary school in the U.S. or its territories, regardless of citizenship; U.S. citizens living abroad also qualify; students at American schools abroad who are not U.S. citizens are not eligible
Regeneron STS is the oldest and most recognized science research competition for high school seniors in the United States. You’ll submit original independent research, a full scientific paper, along with essays about your work and interests, and the top 300 applicants are named Scholars, each receiving recognition for themselves and their school. Forty of those scholars are then selected as finalists and flown to Washington, D.C. for finals week, where they present their research publicly, meet with working scientists and government leaders, and compete for a share of $3.1 million in prizes. The competition has a long track record: alumni have gone on to earn thirteen Nobel Prizes.
11. Stevens Physics Olympiad
Location: Babbio Center, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
Cost: Free
Program Dates: May 30
Deadline: Pre-registration required
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The Stevens Physics Olympiad is a free, in-person competition held on campus where you sit for a two and a half hour exam built around challenging physics problems. You work through around 10 to 20 questions that cover a wide range of topics, including mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, optics, waves, quantum physics, and even astronomy. The problems are designed to push your understanding, so you are expected to apply concepts across topics rather than rely on memorized formulas. The exam format is focused and intense, with most of your time spent thinking through multi-step problems. By the end, you get a clearer sense of your strengths and gaps in physics.
12. National Speech & Debate Tournament (NSDA)
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: June 14 – 19
Deadline: Check the website for the latest qualifying and registration deadlines
Eligibility: High school students who are NSDA members and have qualified through their district tournament; students must hold a Degree of Merit, with at least 25 points in the NSDA honor society
The National Speech & Debate Tournament is the final stage of a year-long competitive circuit where you qualify through local and district rounds to compete at the national level. You can enter events like Lincoln-Douglas, Policy Debate, Public Forum, Congressional Debate, World Schools, or individual speech categories, each with its own format and judging criteria. You spend the season preparing arguments, writing cases, practicing delivery, and competing in multiple rounds before reaching nationals. At the tournament, you debate or perform across several elimination rounds against top qualifiers from across the country. The event brings together thousands of participants, making it one of the most competitive stages in high school debate.
13. American Mathematics Competitions (AMC)
Location: At your registered school or a nearby host institution
Cost: School registration fee applies
Program Dates: AMC 10A and AMC 12A: November 5 | AMC 10B and AMC 12B: November 13 | AMC 8: January (annually)
Deadline: School registration deadlines vary by competition; check the AMC registration page for current cycle deadlines
Eligibility: AMC 8: grades 8 and below, under 15.5 years old | AMC 10: grades 10 and below, under 17.5 years old | AMC 12: grades 12 and below, under 19.5 years old; all U.S.-domestic participants must be enrolled full-time at an accredited school or homeschool in the U.S. or Canada
The American Mathematics Competitions, run by the Mathematical Association of America, are the most widely recognized entry point into competitive math in the United States. The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are each 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice exams taken at your school. The AMC 10 covers algebra, geometry, number theory, and probability up to a 10th-grade level, while the AMC 12 extends to the full high school curriculum, including trigonometry and advanced algebra. What makes the AMC significant beyond the exam itself is that your score determines whether you qualify for the next rounds, the AIME, then the USAMO or USAJMO, and ultimately the pathway to representing the United States at the International Mathematical Olympiad. You’ll register through your school, and you can take both the A and B versions of either exam if your school offers them, giving you two attempts in the same competition cycle.
14. DECA Competitive Events
Location: School level, then regional, state, and International Career Development Conference (ICDC)
Cost: Check the website for membership and conference fees
Program Dates: Competition season runs throughout the school year; ICDC is held annually in the spring
Deadline: Varies by event and chapter. Check with your school’s DECA advisor for local deadlines
Eligibility: High school students who are members of an active DECA chapter at their school
DECA’s competitive events program is where you apply business concepts through different formats across the school year. You can compete in role-plays and case studies, where you are given a business scenario on the spot and have limited time to prepare and present a solution to a judge. In prepared events, you work on a detailed written project and presentation over several months, often building a business plan or research report. There are also online simulations where you manage things like a virtual business or stock portfolio in a competitive setting. Events are grouped into areas like marketing, finance, hospitality, business management, entrepreneurship, and personal finance, so you choose based on your interests. You compete at local and state levels, and strong performers qualify for the International Career Development Conference.
15. AFSA National High School Essay Contest
Location: Online submission; top finalists participate in virtual interviews
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Check the website for the latest information
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 students in the 50 states, DC, U.S. territories, or U.S. citizens/permanent residents abroad; includes public, private, parochial, and homeschool; excludes children of current/former Foreign Service members and past first-place winners.
The AFSA National High School Essay Contest is run by the American Foreign Service Association and asks you to engage directly with a current foreign policy question. The current year’s prompt focuses on U.S. diplomacy and soft power, specifically, how the United States can or cannot maintain global leadership following significant reductions to programs like USAID, Voice of America, Fulbright exchanges, and the Foreign Service itself. You’re asked to take a clear position in 1,000–1,500 words and build a focused, well-researched argument around the role of the U.S. Foreign Service with fewer people and fewer resources. Essays go through several rounds of blind judging, and the top five finalists are invited to virtual interviews where their knowledge of the subject is assessed directly. First place earns a $2,500 cash prize, an educational voyage with Semester at Sea, and a Washington D.C. visit to meet with State Department and AFSA leaders.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source: DECA