Competitions
Browse verified academic, arts, service, and STEM competitions for high-school students.
Stars highlight editor-reviewed programs and award results with documented competitive recognition.
This is a rough guide, not an admissions rating. Opportunities without a star can still be valuable.
AI-assisted research may be used; publication is editor reviewed.
371 verified published opportunities
National Merit Scholar is a named high-school participation pathway published by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, with details that vary by current cycle and local organizer.
National Merit Scholarship Program is an organizer-run high-school competition or award program in academic recognition.
National Park Service Internship is a named high-school participation pathway published by National Park Service; current availability and local rules must be checked.
The National Personal Finance Challenge lets high-school teams apply knowledge of earning income, spending, saving, investing, credit, and risk management. Teams begin with a 30-question online challenge, advance through state finals, and at nationals prepare and present a financial plan for a fictional family before the top 16 enter a quiz bowl. In 2026, 38 finalist teams met June 1 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. National prizes were $2,000 per team member for first, $1,000 for second, $500 for third, and $250 for fourth.
National PTA Reflections is an organizer-run high-school competition or award program in visual arts, music, writing, dance, film.
National Russian Essay Contest is a named high-school participation pathway published by AATSEEL, with details that vary by current cycle and local organizer.
National Science Bee is an organizer-run high-school competition or award program in science, academic quiz.
National Science Bowl is a named high-school participation pathway published by U.S. Department of Energy, with details that vary by current cycle and local organizer.
National Science Bowl Middle School is a named high-school participation pathway published by U.S. Department of Energy, with details that vary by current cycle and local organizer.
National Science Bowl Regional is a named high-school participation pathway published by U.S. Department of Energy, with details that vary by current cycle and local organizer.
National STEM Challenge is an organizer-run high-school competition or award program in science, technology, engineering, mathematics.
National Student Poet is a named high-school participation pathway published by National Student Poets Program, with details that vary by current cycle and local organizer.
