Challenges & Competitions
Check out these challenges and competitions for gifted students. These programs offer gifted students an edge by exposing them to skills and knowledge beyond the classroom. These unique opportunities give students access to experts in both domain specific fields and peer groups that share their varied and unique interests.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
History Language and Debate Competitions
Math and Computer Science Competitions
Johns Hopkins CTY is a nonprofit committed to developing talents of gifted students in K-12. They strive to serve gifted students and their families through extensive research in the field of talent development. Programs include summer, online, international, and family options.
The New York Times Student Writing Contests
Combine your love of journalism with your competitive spirit in The New York Times student journalism contests. Do you like creating podcasts, writing editorials, story telling, blogging, documenting real-life stories, or responding to current news reports? Students will create and compose for “authentic audiences” and show off their skills. These contests offer students the opportunity to express themselves, boost their confidence, and demonstrate that their voices and ideas really matter.
Click here for a printable copy of the 2020-21 NYT contest calendar.
DOMAIN-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
Destination Imagination
Destination Imagination (DI) is a global educational nonprofit that is committed to stirring the imaginations of the next generation of innovators, leaders, and creative problem solvers. The DI challenges allow students from pre-K through university to become part of a global community of confident creators by participating in unique educational experiences across seven project-based Challenge types–Technical, Scientific, Engineering, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Service Learning, and Early Learning.
The E-Cyber Mission Challenge is a web-based competition focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Teams of three or four students in grades six through nine participate in real -life applications of STEM. The E-Cyber Mission challenge promotes self-discovery and enables students to experience real world problem based learning challenges.
American Mathematics Competitions
The MAA’s American Mathematics Competition program is dedicated to bolstering the mathematical proficiency of its participants. This competition includes both resources and competitions to identify talent, strengthen student’s mathematics skill, and foster a love of mathematics in today’s students.
The Math League competitions are aimed at above-average students in grades four through twelve. Their primary objective is to promote enjoyment of mathematics through contests which will help to enrich student’s mathematical knowledge and skill and engage them in fun age appropriate activities that encourage participants to enjoy a challenge and learn from it through problem-solving discussions.
The MathCounts Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students in grades six through eight to discover their path to success in mathematics. The core belief of the MathCounts Foundation is that middle school students are at a critical age to develop a fear of math. They strive to encourage students to love math through fun activities focused on building problem solving skills and positive attitudes about math so that students can embrace their skills and expand their academic and career opportunities for the future.
Cubes in Space Design Contest – Design & Propose Contests to Launch into Space
The Cubes in Space program is on a mission to help students, aged 11-18, to embrace their curiosity, develop methodical and logical thinking skills, engage in creative problem solving, and experience the satisfaction of learning and supercharging their imaginations and, in turn, solidifying student success rates in the STEAM professional fields.
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is a national video competition for students in grades 5-8 focused on science, problem solving skills, and discovery.
The Science Olympiad is a national science/STEM based competition for students in grades K-12. Competitions are held both in person and online and are designed to showcase new and innovative STEM content.
You Be The Chemist Challenge Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Contest
You Be the Chemist Challenge is a program created by the Chemical Educational Foundation for students in grades K-8. CEF’s You Be the Chemist Challenge aspires to motivate students and strengthen communities to build a better world through the science of chemistry. CEF holds the strong belief that early exposure, as early as five years old, to STEM concepts, is the key to engaging students in learning and ultimately cultivating interests and igniting a passion in chemistry and science related careers.
BEST Robotics Design Competition
BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Robotics Design Competition is a 6 week competition where teams of students in grades 5-8 compete in STEM based challenges. Oral presentations technical writing, educational exhibit design, CAD design, website design and video production are just a few of the areas of focus for this program. BEST prides itself on teaching problem solving through the design and construction phase of the competition. BEST demystifies the STEM industry by inviting local professionals from the industry to serve a vital role as mentors, shepherding the team through the design and construction phase.
The National Robotics Challenge contests are available to students in 6th grade through graduate school. They are passionate about engineering and robotics and want students to experience real world problem solving skills.
The National Robotics League sponsors contests to give students experience in the field of manufacturing. Contestants will join a team and engage in the process of Bot building. Team Bot creations will join in a gladiator-type competition to show off their imaginative designs.
National Robotics League Contest
The National Robotics League sponsors contests to give students experience in the field of manufacturing. Contestants will join a team and engage in the process of Bot building. Team Bot creations will join in a gladiator-type competition to show off their imaginative designs.
Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee
Learn more about the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. E.W. Scripps Company is a passionate sponsor for the yearly spelling competition. It is administered on a not-for-profit basis and its purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. This link offers a wealth of information on the spelling bee as well as helpful study information.
The Kids Philosophy Slam is an annual competition created to encourage students ages K-12 to become creative thinkers and encourage participating in dialogue with other students and adults. It is specifically designed to make philosophy fun and accessible.
C-Span Student Cam Documentary Contest
Students in grades 6-12 can participate in a national video documentary contest hosted by C-Span that encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation.
Creative Communication Poetry Contest
Celebrate young writers by entering the Creative Communication Poetry contest. Students in grades K-9 may enter their writing for a poetry writing competition with the chance to win money and publishing of their winning poem to an anthology.
The National History Bee and Bowl are buzzer-based history quiz competitions for primary and secondary students.
National History Day Competition
National History Day®(NHD) is a non-profit education organization. NHD sponsors a history contest that is based on a yearly historical theme. Students from both middle and high school conduct research based on the annual theme and create a final project in a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website to compete.
National Geographic GEOChallenge
The National Geographic Geo-Challenge empowers young people to learn about issues in their community, engage in critical thinking to identify innovative solutions, and take action as champions for the planet.
National Academic Quiz Tournaments
National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC, hosts a national quiz bowl challenge. NAQT’s writers and editors consistently provide accurate, original, and interesting questions on academic subjects and general knowledge.
