Contests for Homeschoolers

Science Olympiad
Deadline: Dec 31, 2024 (Annual contest)
The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions. The competitions follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. Teams start each fall.
(Previous winners)

Optimist International Oratorical Contest
Deadline: Dec 31, 2024 (Annual contest)
The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to speak to the world. Topic for the 2023-2024 school year is: "How to Change the World with Optimism". Contest is eligible to students under the age of 19 who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent and who are educated in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean. The deadline to enter is determined by the sponsoring Optimist Club. All Club-level contests are typically held by late March.
(No information found about previous winners.)

Poetry Out Loud
Deadline: Dec 31, 2024 (Annual contest)
Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history and contemporary life. A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud® provides free lesson plans and other educational materials to teachers and organizers, including an online anthology of 1,200 classic and contemporary poems. The program starts at the local level with a school or participating organization. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals. Awards and placements are determined solely by judges’ scores based on the Poetry Out Loud Evaluation Criteria. Poetry Out Loud takes place in all 50 states, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Homeschooled students may participate by competing in a competition at a local school (at the school’s discretion) or with other local homeschooled students.
(No information found about previous winners.)

Math Contests - Homeschool Division
Deadline: Dec 31, 2024 (Annual contest)
The goal of the competition is to encourage students' interest in math, to inspire students to excel in math, and to convey the message to young students: It is COOL to be good at math! The contest is for students in grades 2, 3, 4 and 5. Any teacher from a public school or a private school is welcome to register their students. Open to Homeschool students in grades 2 - 8.
(No information found about previous winners.)

Creative Communication Poetry Contests
Deadline: Dec 31, 2024 (Annual contest)
Enter the poetry contests and get published. Entries must be students in 9th grade or lower living in the United States. Three poetry contests a year.
(Previous winners)

Team America Rocketry Challenge
Deadline: Dec 01, 2024 (Annual contest)
The American Rocketry Challenge is the world's largest student rocket contest and a key piece of the aerospace and defense industry's strategy to build a stronger U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), the contest was created in the fall of 2002 as a one-time celebration of the Centennial of Flight, but by popular demand became an annual program. Registration begins annually in September.
(No information found about previous winners.)

Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
Deadline: Oct 31, 2024 (Annual contest)
Each year the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation awards 250 scholarships valued from $4,000 to $20,000 to high school seniors. "Coca-Cola" Scholarships are awarded based on character, personal merit and commitment. Merit is demonstrated through leadership in school, civic and extracurricular activities, academic achievement, and motivation to serve and succeed. Applications are accepted Aug 1 - Oct 31 of the senior year in high school.
(No information found about previous winners.)

VFW Youth Scholarships
Deadline: Oct 31, 2024 (Annual contest)
The Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. The VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest fives middle school students a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
(No information found about previous winners.)

Good Life Award Writing Contest
Deadline: Oct 03, 2024 (Annual contest)
Writing contest for grades 7-9. A contest for students to share ideas about living a life that is fun, purposeful, and happy. Honoring the life of Dottie Yeck, a champion of children, who believed that one is never too young to have an impact on the world. Entrants must live or attend school in Montgomery County, Ohio. Contest open in September annually. Deadline is October annually.
(Previous winners)

Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar Contest
Deadline: Mar 03, 2024 (Annual contest)
The Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar Contest is a state-wide poster and literature competition. The purpose of the contest is to encourage local students to learn about bird conservation. K-12 students (public, private or home-schooled) residing in or adjacent to the North Slope Borough and the following National Wildlife Refuges: Yukon Delta, Togiak, Izembek, Alaska Maritime, Alaska Peninsula/Becharof, Selawik, Innoko, Tetlin, Kodiak, Koyukuk/Nowitna. 2024 Theme Tunes from Trees to Tundra.
(Previous winners)

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program
Deadline: Mar 01, 2024 (Annual contest)
An educational arts and science program teaching students grades K - 12 the importance of conservation, waterfowl and wetlands. State art contests are held annually from February to April. Submit your Junior Duck Stamp entry to your state contest by the state's deadline. All entries must be postmarked by March 15, except: California, Maryland and South Dakota (entries postmarked by February 1) Massachusetts (entries postmarked by February 15), Idaho, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia (entries postmarked by March 1).
(No information found about previous winners.)

ExploraVision
Deadline: Feb 07, 2024 (Annual contest)
ExploraVision is a science competition that encourages K-12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving. ExploraVision is designed for K - 12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels. The competition is open to students enrolled in public, private or home school in the United States and Canada. Project deadline is February 7.
(No information found about previous winners.)

Association of Women in Math Essay Contest
Deadline: Feb 01, 2024 (Annual contest)
Biographies of Contemporary Women in Mathmatics. Open to students Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, and College Undergraduates. Opens annually in January. Submission Period. December 1 - February 1 through MathPrograms.org.
(Previous winners)

2024 Neuroscience for Kids Poetry Contest
Deadline: Feb 01, 2024 (Annual contest)
The Neuroscience for Kids Drawing Contest open! Only one entry per person. Use either the PDF or WORD versions of the official entry form (copies of the form are acceptable) to enter a picture on the topic for your age group. Drawings must be done by hand using pencils, pens, markers, and/or crayons. Feel free to use words in your drawings. Be creative!
(No information found about previous winners.)

Engineer Girl Writing Contest
Deadline: Feb 01, 2024 (Annual contest)
Every year, the EngineerGirl website sponsors a contest dealing with engineering and its impact on our world. The topic and detailed instructions for the contest are posted in the fall with a deadline for submissions early the following year. Winners are announced in the spring. There are three basic rules. 1. Your main character must be female. 2. Your main character must use engineering design principles to solve a problem - she cannot use or rely on magic or supernatural powers. 3. Your story must be under the word limit for your grade level. Elementary (grades 3-5): 800 words. Middle School (grades 6-8): 1100 words. High School (grades 9-12): 1500 words. All stories must be original work. Any evidence of plagiarism will immediately disqualify an entry. Submit your essay via the Online Submission Form by February 1, 2024 at 11:59pm EST.
(No information found about previous winners.)

C-SPAN StudentCam
Deadline: Jan 19, 2024 (Annual contest)
StudentCam is C-SPAN's annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation. This year students in grades 6-12 are asked to create a short (5-6 minute) video documentary on a topic related to the competition theme, "If you were a newly elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?" Deadline for entry is January 19, 2024
(Previous winners)

Profiles in Courage Essay Contest
Deadline: Jan 12, 2024 (Annual contest)
The annual John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest invites high school students from across the nation to write an original essay about an elected official who has demonstrated political courage. The contest is a companion program of the Profile in Courage Award, named for President Kennedy's 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage, which recounts the stories of eight senators, the obstacles they faced, and the special valor they demonstrated despite the risks. The contest deadline is January 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM (EST).
(No information found about previous winners.)

Civil Rights Defense Fund Writing Contest
Deadline: Dec 31, 2023 (Annual contest)
The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund sponsors a scholarly writing contest for grades K-12. The theme for the essay is "What Does The Second Amendment Mean to You?". The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund continues its Yearly Youth Essay Contest celebrating the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Essays will be judged in two categories: Senior (grades 9-12) and Junior (grades 8 and below), with separate cash prizes awarded to the winners in each category. First place cash prizes are $1,000, $600 for second place, $200 for third place, and $100 for fourth place.
(No information found about previous winners.)