Contests

Be sure to check eligibility and rules for homeschool participation in each contest.

• Art
• Computer Science
• English/Language Arts
• Foreign Language
• History/Social Studies
• Math
• Mythology
• Other
• Science/Engineering

• American Academy of Pediatrics Art Contest
  Open to kids in 3rd - 12th grade. Entries must be received by August 1.

• Duct Tape Formalwear for Scholarship
  

• IGES Art Contest
  Sponsored by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Art Contest, this contest is open to 2nd-4th graders. Theme changes each year. Entries due on November 1.

• IGES Earth Day Photo Contest
  Sponsored by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Art Contest, this contest is open to 5th - 8th graders. There is a writing component involved with the photo contest. Entries due in May.

• IGES Thacher Scholars Contest
  Sponsored by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Art Contest, this contest is open to 9th-12th graders. Theme changes each year. Entries due in April.

• National Geographic International Photography Contest for kids
  Open to kids ages 6-14. Pictures must have been taken within the last 3 years. Entries must be received by October 31.

• Youth Wildlife Art Contest
  Sponsored by the National Rifle Association, this contest is open to students in grades 1 through 12 (including home-schooled children). NRA membership is not required. The deadline to enter is November 1.

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• High School Programming
  University of Maryland, College Park sponsors this contest where Maryland contestants participate in a three hour competition which will test their programming skills and problem solving abilities. Each high school is allowed to send one team of four contestants; contestants must be students currently attending that high school. Contests are generally held the second Saturday every March.
  
• US Computing Olympiad

• Student Desktop Publishing Contests
  A list of contests open to students using educational technology. Various deadlines.

• ThinkQuest Web Design Contest
  Homeschoolers may participate but the coach must be employed by an accredited school.
  

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  • Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, 3rd Edition
  • Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius
  • Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML & CSS, 2nd Edition

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• Balticon Young Writers' Contest
  Sci-Fi and Fantasy writing contest for teens living in Maryland. Contestants shall be no younger than 14 and no older than 18 years of age as of May 29 in the contest year and shall reside in, or attend school in Maryland. The deadline for all submissions is March 31, in any given contest year.
  

• Gaithersburg Short Story Contest
  Students write a 1,000 word creative short story that uses one of three starting lines. Entrants must be in high school and live in Maryland, DC, or Virginia. Entries due in February.

• Letters About Literature
  Students write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre-- fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III, grades 9 - 12. See rules for specific age and grade stipulations. Entries due in December.

• National Youths Storytelling Showcase
  The National Youth Storytelling Showcase is a unique opportunity for kids of all ages to participate in storytelling at a local, regional, and national level. Students must be between the ages 7-17. Entries due in February.

• Scripps Howard Spelling Bee
  National competition held in late Spring. Local competition must be sponsored by a local newspaper.

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  • How to Spell Like a Champ
  • Words of Wisdom: Keys to Success in the Scripps National Spelling Bee

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• Young Writers's Contest
  Write an essay that examines the historical debate over the benefits and disadvantages of adopting the First Amendment. The author of the story must be between the ages of 12 and 18 by mid-February. Entries due in February.

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• Exploratory Latin Exam
  Exam must be given by April 1.

• National German Exam
  Given annually to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year high school German students.

• National French Contest
  A written contest for students of French in grades 1 - 12.

• National Spanish Exam
  An exam administered in March for grades 6 -12.

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History/Social Studies Contests

• Academic WorldQuest
  A competition played with 4-person teams who answer rounds of questions about current affairs, world leaders, geography, recent history, flags, international organizations, countries, regions, the world economy, culture, religion, and more. Competitions held in April.

• Being An American
  Students write an essay about the Constitution. Must be enrolled in high school and between the ages of 13 -19. Entries due by mid-December.

• Doors to Diplomacy
  Challenge begins in October

• First Freedom Essay Contest
  Essays due by December.

• Heroines in History Essay Contest
  Submissions due in March.

• If I Were Mayor
  Maryland 4th graders write a 275-word essay on what they would do if the were mayor. The 2011 theme is Working Together Works. Entries due April 1.

• History Day
  Long term research projects due in April.

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  • Creating Award-Winning History Fair Projects: The Complete Handbook for Teachers, Parents, and Students
  • Social Studies Fair Projects and Research Activities: A Comprehensive Guide for Students and Teachers (IP (Nashville, Tenn.))

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• Holocaust Remembrance Project
  An essay contest for high school students under the age of 19.

• Maryland Colonial Society Essay Contest
  Sponsored by the Maryland Archives, high school students research a write an essay on a yearly theme. Entries due in March.

• National Peace Essay Contest
  Essays due by February.

• National Geography Bee
  School level Bee must be completed in early January in order to qualify for the State level.
  

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  • The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook: 1,001 Questions & Answers to Help You Win Again and Again!
  • National Geographic Bee Official Study Guide, 3rd edition

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• Patriot's Pen
  The Patriot's Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories. Essays due in November. Theme announced in February.

• Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest
  Open to high school students, including homeschoolers. The preliminary rounds of the contest are held by Chapters and/or State Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution to select one winner from each participating state. In regions (SAR Districts) where no State Society sponsors an entrant, an SAR District entry is permitted. Check for your local state deadline. National deadline is June.

• Stossel in the Classroom
  Students ages 13-18 write a short essay on a political topic. Entries due in February.

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• Math Olympiads
  Monthly, school based contests held November - March. Open to homeschoolers.

• MathCounts
  Local competitions held in February.
• The American Mathematics Competitions
  The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) is dedicated to the goal of strengthening the mathematical capabilities of our nation's youth. Any student 14.5 years of age or younger on the day of the contest, and not enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 or equivalent may compete. Must register by November.

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  • Mathematical Olympiad Challenges
  • First Steps for Math Olympians: Using the American Mathematics Competitions (Problem Books) (MAA Problem Book Series)
  • Competition Math for Middle School
  • Twenty More Problem Solving Skills For Mathcounts Competitions
  • The Contest Problem Book IX (Maa Problem Books) (Bk. 9)

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• Math League's Homeschool Contest
  Math League's Homeschool contests are provided to homeschoolers for a fun, interesting educational opportunity. The Math League has Math Contests for Grades 4 through 8, High School Students, and Algebra 1 students.


• Crazy 4 math Contest
  Describe how you use math in any activity you love to do - a sport, game, craft, hobby, or anything else. Contestants must be under 18 years of age. Entries due in July.
• Stock Market Game



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• Stock Market Game: A Simulation of Stock Market Trading
• Wow The Dow!: The Complete Guide To Teaching Your Kids How To Invest In The Stock Market

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• National Mythology Exam
  Test give in late February

• Medusa Exam
  High school level mythology exam given in April.

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  • D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
  • Voices of the Winds: Native American Legends
  • Tales from Africa (Oxford Myths and Legends)
  • Bulfinch's Greek and Roman Mythology: The Age of Fable (Dover Thrift Editions)

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• Percy Jackson Mythology Bee
  Open to homeschoolers, but strictly for ages 10 - 14. Students compete for a trip to Greece.

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  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians Paperback Boxed Set (Books 1-3)

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• Kids Philosophy Jam
  Kindergartner through 12th graders are asked to write, create poetry, music or artwork regarding a philosophical question posed each year. Homeschoolers and special needs children are encouraged to enter. Deadline is the beginning of February

• Destination Imagination
  Local competitions held in March.

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  • Team Challenges: 170+ Group Activities to Build Cooperation, Communication, and Creativity
  • Destination Imagination - Instant Challenges A, By John Cody

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• Knowledge Master Open Academic Hallmarks

• Davidson Fellows
  A prodigious work in the areas of music, philosophy, math and/or science may be entered. Entries due in February.

• National Marbles Tournament
  Contestants must be between the ages of 7-15 and must have won a locally recognized marbles tournament. Competition is in New Jersey in June.

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• Cybermission
  eCYBERMISSION challenges you to explore how science, math and technology work in your world. Students must be enrolled in either 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th grade at a U.S.-based public or private school, a Entries due in February.

• Engineering Challenge - Maryland Only
  Sponsored by the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the Engineering Society of Baltimore, the Technology Education Association of Maryland and the TIME Center at the Community College of Baltimore County, students from 1st - 12th grade can compete in a variety of long term engineering problem solving contests such as building a maglev train.

• Exploravision
  Designing future inventions.

• The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
  The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)- the world's largest pre-college science competition-provides an opportunity for the best young scientists from around the globe to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge science projects, and compete for over $4 million in awards and scholarships. Any student in grades 9-12 and under the age of 21 is eligible to compete.

• International Young Eco-Hero Awards Program
  The International Young Eco-Hero Awards recognizes and rewards the successful individual environmental initiatives of young people aged 8-16. Entries due in February

• National Arbor Day Poster Contest
  

• National Science Bowl
  Middle and high school teams participate in regional competitions between January - March before qualifying for the National competition in D.C during April or May.

• Optimus Prime Spin-Off Contest
  Students in elementary, middle and high school categories make a short You Tube video about a NASA technology. Video entries due mid-January.

• Team America Rocketry Contest
  Final fly off competition in May.

• TOYChallenge
  At least half the team must be girls. Register by February.

• Young Naturalist Awards
  Students in grades 7-12 plan, conduct, and write an essay about a self-selected research question. Pre-college work can be submitted but only if the research was conducted independently. Entries must be received by the Smithonsonian's Museum of Natural History between December and March.

• Craftsman/NSTA Young Inventors Awards
  Entries must be received by March.

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