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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 17 best writing contests for high school students.

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If you're a writer—fiction, non-fiction, or fanfiction—you can put those skills to work for you. There are tons of writing contests for high school students, which can award everything from medals to cash prizes to scholarships if you win .

Not only will a little extra money, whether cash or scholarships, help you when it comes time to pay for college, but the prestige of a respected reward is also a great thing to include on your college application.

Read on to learn more about what writing contests for high school students there are, how to apply, and what you could win !

Writing Contests With Multiple Categories

Some high school contests accept entries in a variety of formats, including the standard fiction and non-fiction, but also things like screenwriting or visual art. Check out these contests with multiple categories:

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

• Award Amount: $1,000 to $12,500 scholarships
• Deadline: Varies between December and January, depending on your region
• Fee: $10 for single entry, $30 for portfolio

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards celebrate art by students in grades seven through twelve (age 13 or older) on a regional and national scale. These awards have a huge number of categories and styles, including cash prizes or scholarships for some distinguished award winners . Categories include science-fiction and fantasy writing, humor, critical essays, and dramatic scripts, among others.

Deadlines vary by region (but are mostly in December and January), so use Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search to find out when projects are due for your area.

Scholastic partners with other organizations to provide prizes to winners, so what you can win depends on what you enter and what competition level you reach. Gold medal portfolio winners can earn a $12,500 scholarship, and silver medal winners with distinction can earn a $2,000 scholarship , as well as many other options in different categories.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are open to private, public, or home-schooled students attending school in the US, Canada, or American schools in other countries. Students must be in grades seven through twelve to participate. Eligibility varies between regions, so consult Scholastic's Affiliate Partner search tool to figure out what applies to you .

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have a $10 entry fee for individual submissions and $30 for portfolio submissions, which may be waived for students in need . These fees may vary depending on location, so be sure to check your local guidelines .

Ocean Awareness Contest

• Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
• Deadline: June 13, 2023 (submissions open in September)

The Ocean Awareness Contest asks students to consider the future of a coastal or marine species that is under threat from climate change. Submissions are accepted in a variety of art forms, but all must consider the way that climate change impacts ocean life .

Submissions for all categories, including art, creative writing, film, interactive and multimedia, music and dance, and poetry and spoken word are due in June, although the exact date varies slightly each year.

Winners may receive prizes of up to a $1,500 scholarship , depending on which division they fall into and what prize they win.

The contest is open to all international and US students between the ages of 11 and 18.

River of Words

• Award: Publication in the River of Words anthology
• Deadline: January 31, 2023

The River of Words contest asks students to consider watersheds—an area that drains into the same body of water—and how they connect with their local community. Students can explore this concept in art or poetry, with winners being published in the annual River of Words anthology .

Entries in all categories must be submitted by January 31, 2023. 

The River of Words contest is primarily for recognition and publication, as the website doesn't list any prize money . The contest includes specific awards for certain forms, such as poetry, some of which may have additional prizes .

The contest is open to International and US students from kindergarten to grade 12 (ages 5 through 19). Students who have graduated from high school but are not yet in college are also eligible.

Adroit Prizes

• Award Amount: $200 cash award
• Deadline: Typically April of each year

Sponsored by the Adroit Journal, the Adroit Prizes reward high school students and undergraduate students for producing exemplary fiction and poetry. Students may submit up to six poems or three works of prose (totaling 3,500 words) for consideration. Submissions typically open in spring .

Winners receive $200 and (along with runners-up) have their works published in the Adroit Journal . Finalists and runners-up receive a copy of their judge's latest published work.

The contest is open to secondary and undergraduate students, including international students and those who have graduated early . The Adroit Prizes has a non-refundable fee of $15, which can be waived.

YoungArts Competition

• Award Amount: Up to $10,000 cash awards
• Deadline: October 15, 2022; application for 2024 opens June 2023

Open to students in a variety of disciplines, including visual arts, writing, and music, the YoungArts competition asks students to submit a portfolio of work. Additional requirements may apply depending on what artistic discipline you're in .

Winners can receive up to $10,000 in cash as well as professional development help, mentorship, and other educational rewards.

Applicants must be 15- to 18-year-old US citizens or permanent residents (including green card holders) or in grades 10 through 12 at the time of submission . There is a $35 submission fee, which can be waived.

Fiction Writing Contests for High School Students

Many contests with multiple categories accept fiction submissions, so also check out the above contests if you're looking for places to submit original prose.

EngineerGirl Writing Contest

• Award Amount: $100 - $500 cash prize
• Deadline: February 1, 2023

This year's EngineerGirl Writing Contest asks students (though the name of the organization is "EngineerGirl," students of any gender may participate) to submit a piece of writing that shows how female and/or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements. Word counts vary depending on grade level.

At every grade level, first-place winners will receive $500, second-place winners will receive $250, and third-place winners will receive $100 . Winning entries and honorable mentions will also be published on the EngineerGirl website.

Students of any gender from third to 12th grade may submit to this contest. Home-schooled and international students are also eligible.

Nonfiction Contests for High School Students

Like fiction, non-fiction is often also accepted in contests with multiple categories. However, there are quite a few contests accepting only non-fiction essays as well.

The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

• Award Amount: $1,250 to $2,500
• Deadline: April 3, 2023

The American Foreign Services Association sponsors a high school essay contest tasking students with selecting a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe, in 1,500 words or less, how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals in this country/region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years .

One winner will receive $2,500 as well as a Washington D.C. trip and a scholarship to attend Semester at Sea . One runner-up receives $1,250 and a scholarship to attend the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership Conference.

Entries must be from US students in grade nine through 12, including students in the District of Columbia, US territories, or US citizens attending school abroad, including home-schooled students.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest

• Award Amount: $100 - $10,000
• Deadline: January 13, 2023

The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage contest tasks students with writing an essay between 700 and 1,000 words on an act of political courage by a US elected official serving during or after 1917 , inspired by John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage . Each essay should cover the act itself as well as any obstacles or risks the subject faced in achieving their act of courage. Essays must not cover figures previously covered in the contest, and should also not cover John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, or Edward M. Kennedy.

One first-place winner will receive $10,000, one second-place winner will receive $3,000, five finalists will receive $1,000 each, and eight semi-finalists will win $100 each.

The contest is open to students in grades nine through 12 who are residents of the United States attending public, private, parochial, or home schools . Students under the age of 20 in correspondence high school programs or GED programs, as well as students in US territories, Washington D.C., and students studying abroad, are also eligible.

SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

• Award Amount: $300 - $1,000 scholarships
• Deadline: February 19, 2023 (submissions open in November)

The SPJ/JEA high school essay contest , organized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, asks students to  analyze the importance of independent media to our lives (as of now, the official essay topic for spring 2023 is TBD) . Essays should be from 300 to 500 words.

A $1,000 scholarship is given to a first-place winner, $500 to second-place, and $300 to third-place.

The contest is open to public, private, and home-schooled students of the United States in grades 9-12 .

Playwriting Contests for High School Students

For those who love the stage, playwriting contests are a great option. An original play can earn you great rewards thanks to any of these contests!

VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition

• Award: Participation in professional development activities at the Kennedy Center
• Deadline: January 4, 2023 (Application opens in October)

The VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competition asks students with disabilities to submit a ten-minute script exploring their personal experiences, including the disability experience . Scripts may be realistic, fictional, or abstract, and may include plays, screenplays, or musical theater.

All entries are due in January. Scripts may be collaborative or written by individuals, but must include at least one person with a disability as part of the group .

One winner or group of winners will be selected as participants in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Winners will have access to professional assistance in developing their script as well as workshops and networking opportunities.

This contest is open to US and international students in ages 14 to 18 . Groups of up to five members may collaborate on an essay, but at least one of those students must have a disability.

Worldwide Plays Festival Competition

• Award: Professional production in New York
• Deadline: March (official 2023 deadline TBD)

In the Worldwide Plays Festival Competition , students from around the world can submit an eight-minute script for a play set in a part of a neighborhood —specifically, at a convenience store, outside a character's front door, or at a place where people convene. Each play must have roles for three actors, should not have a narrator who isn't also a character, and should not contain set changes.

Entries are due in February. Winners will have their play produced by professionals at an off-Broadway New York theater . Scholarships are also available for winners.

Any student, including US and international, in first through 12th grade may submit work for consideration.

• Award Amount: $50 - $200 cash prize
• Deadline: 2023 deadline TBD (application opens January 2023)

Students may submit a one-act, non-musical play of at least ten pages to YouthPLAYS for consideration . Plays should be appropriate for high school audiences and contain at least two characters, with one or more of those characters being youths in age-appropriate roles. Large casts with multiple female roles are encouraged.

One winner will receive $250, have their play published by YouthPLAYS, and receive a copy of Great Dialog , a program for writing dialog. One runner up will receive $100 and a copy of Great Dialog.

Students must be under the age of 19, and plays must be the work of a single author.

The Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest

• Deadline: Spring of each year

Students in grade 11 may submit a ten-minute play for consideration for the Lewis Center Ten-Minute Play Contest . Plays should be 10 pages long, equivalent to 10 minutes.

One first-prize winner will receive $500, one second-prize winner will receive $250, and one third-prize will receive $100.

All entries must be from students in the 11th grade .

Poetry Writing Contests for High School Students

For those who prefer a little free verse or the constraints of a haiku, there are plenty of poetry-specific contests, too.

Creative Communications Poetry Contest

• Award Amount: $25
• Deadline: December

Students in ninth grade or below may submit any poem of 21 lines or less (not counting spaces between stanzas) for consideration in the Creative Communications Poetry Contest .

Students may win $25, a free book, and school supplies for their teacher .

Public, private, or home-schooled US students (including those in detention centers) in kindergarten through ninth grade may enter.

Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize

• Award Amount: $500-$1500
• Deadline: November 

Students in 11th grade may submit up to three poems for consideration in the Leonard L. Milberg '53 High School Poetry Prize . Submissions are due in November .

One first-prize winner will receive $1500, one second-prize winner will receive $750, and a third-prize winner will receive $500. Poems may be published on arts.princeton.edu. All entrants must be in the 11th grade.

Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

• Award Amount: $500 - $5,000 renewable scholarship, $350 cash prize
• Deadline: October 31, 2022

Women poets who are sophomores or juniors in high school may submit two poems for consideration for the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest .

One first-place winner will receive a $350 cash prize, publication in and ten copies of Cargoes , Hollins' student magazine, as well as a renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 for Hollins and free tuition and housing for the Hollinsummer creative writing program. One second-place winner will receive publication in and two copies of Cargoes, a renewable scholarship to Hollins of up to $1,000, and a $500 scholarship to attend Hollinsummer.

Applicants must be female students in their sophomore or junior year of high school .

What's Next?

If you're looking for more money opportunities for college , there are plenty of scholarships out there— including some pretty weird ones .

For those who've been buffing up their test scores , there are tons of scholarships , some in the thousands of dollars.

If you're tired of writing essays and applying for scholarships, consider some of these colleges that offer complete financial aid packages .

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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The Best Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024

Help your students take their writing to the next level.

When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are a challenging and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience— a real panel of judges —and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of the best student writing contests, and there’s something for everyone. Prepare highly motivated kids in need of an authentic writing mentor, and watch the words flow.

1.  The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

With a wide range of categories—from critical essays to science fiction and fantasy—The Scholastic Awards are a mainstay of student contests. Each category has its own rules and word counts, so be sure to check out the options  before you decide which one is best for your students.

How To Enter

Students in grades 7-12, ages 13 and up, may begin submitting work in September by uploading to an online account at Scholastic and connecting to their local region. There are entry fees, but those can be waived for students in need.

2.  YoungArts National Arts Competition

This ends soon, but if you have students who are ready to submit, it’s worth it. YoungArts offers a national competition in the categories of creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word. Student winners may receive awards of up to $10,000 as well as the chance to participate in artistic development with leaders in their fields.

YoungArts accepts submissions in each category through October 13. Students submit their work online and pay a $35 fee (there is a fee waiver option).

3. National Youth Foundation Programs

Each year, awards are given for Student Book Scholars, Amazing Women, and the “I Matter” Poetry & Art competition. This is a great chance for kids to express themselves with joy and strength.

The rules, prizes, and deadlines vary, so check out the website for more info.

4.  American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

If you’re looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, DC.

Students fill out a registration form online, and a teacher or sponsor is required. The deadline to enter is the first week of April.

5.  John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

This annual contest invites students to write about a political official’s act of political courage that occurred after Kennedy’s birth in 1917. The winner receives $10,000, and 16 runners-up also receive a variety of cash prizes.

Students may submit a 700- to 1,000-word essay through January 12. The essay must feature more than five sources and a full bibliography.

6. Bennington Young Writers Awards

Bennington College offers competitions in three categories: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), and nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). First-place winners receive $500. Grab a poster for your classroom here .

The contest runs from September 1 to November 1. The website links to a student registration form.

7. The Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest

Looking for student writing contests for budding playwrights? This exclusive competition, which is open only to high school juniors, is judged by the theater faculty of Princeton University. Students submit short plays in an effort to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. ( Note: Only open to 11th graders. )

Students submit one 10-page play script online or by mail. The deadline is the end of March. Contest details will be published in early 2024.

8. Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding work by student writers in 11th grade. Prizes range from $100 to $500.

Students in 11th grade can submit their poetry. Contest details will be published this fall.

9. The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

This contest is also a wonderful writing challenge, and the New York Times includes lots of resources and models for students to be able to do their best work. They’ve even made a classroom poster !

Submissions need to be made electronically by November 1.

10.  Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

The deadline for this contest is the end of October. Sponsored by Hollins University, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest awards prizes for the best poems submitted by young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Prizes include cash and scholarships. Winners are chosen by students and faculty members in the creative writing program at Hollins.

Students may submit either one or two poems using the online form.

11.  The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is open to high school sophomores and juniors, and the winner receives a full scholarship to a  Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop .

Submissions for the prize are accepted electronically from November 1 through November 30.

12. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

High school students can win up to $1,000 and publication by entering an essay on a topic specified by the Jane Austen Society related to a Jane Austen novel.

Details for the 2024 contest will be announced in November. Essay length is from six to eight pages, not including works cited.

13. Rattle Young Poets Anthology

Open to students from 15 to 18 years old who are interested in publication and exposure over monetary awards.

Teachers may choose five students for whom to submit up to four poems each on their behalf. The deadline is November 15.

14. The Black River Chapbook Competition

This is a chance for new and emerging writers to gain publication in their own professionally published chapbook, as well as $500 and free copies of the book.

There is an $18 entry fee, and submissions are made online.

15. YouthPlays New Voices

For students under 18, the YouthPlays one-act competition is designed for young writers to create new works for the stage. Winners receive cash awards and publication.

Scroll all the way down their web page for information on the contest, which accepts non-musical plays between 10 and 40 minutes long, submitted electronically. Entries open each year in January.

16. The Ocean Awareness Contest

The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest, Tell Your Climate Story , encourages students to write their own unique climate story. They are asking for creative expressions of students’ personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about climate change. Students are eligible for a wide range of monetary prizes up to $1,000.

Students from 11 to 18 years old may submit work in the categories of art, creative writing, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive media and multimedia, or music and dance, accompanied by a reflection. The deadline is June 13.

17. EngineerGirl Annual Essay Contest

Each year, EngineerGirl sponsors an essay contest with topics centered on the impact of engineering on the world, and students can win up to $500 in prize money. This contest is a nice bridge between ELA and STEM and great for teachers interested in incorporating an interdisciplinary project into their curriculum. The new contest asks for pieces describing the life cycle of an everyday object. Check out these tips for integrating the content into your classroom .

Students submit their work electronically by February 1. Check out the full list of rules and requirements here .

18. NCTE Student Writing Awards

The National Council of Teachers of English offers several student writing awards, including Achievement Awards in Writing (for 10th- and 11th-grade students), Promising Young Writers (for 8th-grade students), and an award to recognize Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines.

Deadlines range from October 28 to February 15. Check out NCTE.org for more details.

19. See Us, Support Us Art Contest

Children of incarcerated parents can submit artwork, poetry, photos, videos, and more. Submissions are free and the website has a great collection of past winners.

Students can submit their entries via social media or email by October 25.

20. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose

The Adroit Journal, an education-minded nonprofit publication, awards annual prizes for poetry and prose to exceptional high school and college students. Adroit charges an entry fee but also provides a form for financial assistance.

Sign up at the website for updates for the next round of submissions.

21. National PTA Reflections Awards

The National PTA offers a variety of awards, including one for literature, in their annual Reflections Contest. Students of all ages can submit entries on the specified topic to their local PTA Reflections program. From there, winners move to the local area, state, and national levels. National-level awards include an $800 prize and a trip to the National PTA Convention.

This program requires submitting to PTAs who participate in the program. Check your school’s PTA for their deadlines.

22. World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, as well as those in home-study programs. The $500 prize is based on an essay that addresses one of this year’s two prompts.

Students can submit entries via email or regular mail before May 1.

23. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

The National Society of High School Scholars awards three $2,000 scholarships for both poetry and fiction. They accept poetry, short stories, and graphic novel writing.

Apply online by October 31.

Whether you let your students blog, start a podcast or video channel, or enter student writing contests, giving them an authentic audience for their work is always a powerful classroom choice.

If you like this list of student writing contests and want more articles like it, subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted!

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15 Writing Competitions for High School Students

Whichever field you’re passionate about, being able to write well can help you make an impact. Be it in research, for a college application, in an assignment, or simply to express yourself, writing is essential to communicating your thoughts. The ability to write well can set you apart! This is why every year, organizations around the world host competitions to celebrate this skill in students. Participating in and doing well at these competitions does more than just make your college application look good - several writing competitions also offer the chance to win cash prizes and scholarships to summer programs! Writing contests often offer multiple levels of recognition, so you do not have to be the top winner to earn a title that will recognize your work and look good on applications! In this article, we bring to you 15 writing contests that offer high school students the chance to showcase their talent, and exercise their creativity through writing.

Here are 15 Writing Competitions for High School Students:

1. National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards

The National Council of Teachers of English hosts these awards every year to encourage high school students who write. Students submit one themed essay based on a specified prompt and one composition in any genre of their choice which displays their best work. A certificate and a letter are given to students who are assessed to have exceptional writing skills. Their names can be seen on the NCTE website as well. Juniors in high school who have been nominated by their English department are eligible to compete.

2. National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

This contest accepts entries in a variety of genres, including critical essays, dramatic screenplays, flash fiction, personal essays, and short stories, and begins regionally and advances to the national level.

Regional competitions are held by local organizations, and the winners are sent to the national level for consideration. There is a $5 per entry or $20 per portfolio submission charge, however it can be waived for those who apply and meet the criteria for financial aid.

Students get Honorable Mentions, Silver or Gold Keys, or Nominations for the American Visions and Voices Medals at the regional level. Gold and Silver Medals, as well as the American Visions and Voices Medal, which acts as a "Best in Show" award for each region, are awarded to regional Gold Key winners. National award winners are invited to Carnegie Hall in New York City for a National Ceremony and Celebration. At the national level, there are various sponsored monetary rewards that vary by genre and sponsor, and certain National Medal winners will also be picked for college scholarships or summer programs.

Students in grades 7 through 12 in the United States are able to participate.

3. Princeton University Contests

Princeton University hosts two contests for high school juniors. One is a poetry contest judged by members of the Princeton University Creative Writing faculty. The other is a Ten-Minute Play Contest judged by members of the Princeton University Program in Theater faculty. Each contest has a first place prize of $500, second place prize of $250, and third place prize of $100.

4. The Bennington Young Writers Awards

This tournament is open to students in grades 10 through 12, and the judging panel includes faculty and students from Bennington College. Seven Pulitzer Prize winners, three US poet laureates, and a slew of New York Times bestsellers are among the college's graduates. Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction are all acceptable forms of submission (personal and academic essays). Each category's first-place winner receives $500, while second-place winners receive $250.

5. YoungArts

In 1981, the National YoungArts Foundation was established with the goal of identifying and supporting the next generation of artists in the artistic, literary, and performing arts. Each year, thousands of students apply, and the winners are selected to attend weeklong programs in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. Students participate in workshops with master artists as part of these programs. A $35 application fee is required, however cost exemptions are available for those who qualify. Honorable Mentions from each region are asked to attend regional workshops. Finalists are invited to National YoungArts Week, where they will have the opportunity to meet with the judges and compete for cash prizes of up to $10,000. Finalists are also eligible for a nomination as a US Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Students in grades 10th to 12th are eligible to apply.

6. AFSA's National High School Essay Contest

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) collaborate to host this annual contest, which aims to "engage high school students in learning and writing about issues of peace and conflict, encouraging appreciation for diplomacy's role in building partnerships that can advance peacebuilding and protect national security." One winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize, an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., and a full scholarship to the Semester at Sea Program for one semester upon admission at an accredited university. One runner-up will receive a cash reward of $1,250 as well as a full scholarship to the National Student Leadership Conference's International Diplomacy Program. Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate if they are in grades nine through twelve in the USA.

7. We the Students Essay Contest by Bill of Rights Institute

This essay contest, sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute, encourages students to think critically and creatively about people's rights and how they affect society. One grand prize winner will earn $5,000 in addition to a Constitutional Academy scholarship. Six runners-up will each receive $1,250, and eight honorable mentions will each receive $500. Citizens or legal residents of the United States between the ages of 14 and 19 are eligible.

8. Profile in Courage Essay Contest by JFK Presidential Library

This competition is based on JFK's book Profiles in Courage, which told the tales of eight U.S. senators who showed political courage by standing up for a larger good while sacrificing their careers in the process. Entrants must describe and analyze an act of political courage in the form of a similar profile for the competition. The first-place reward is $20,000 in this competition. Twenty-five smaller cash prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000 are also available.

The competition is open to high school students in the United States in grades nine through twelve.

9. VFW Voice of Democracy

Our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program, which began in 1947, gives high school students the opportunity to express themselves through a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Nearly 64,500 school kids from grades 9 to 12 from across the country join each year, for a chance to earn a piece of the more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives provided via the program. All student entries must be submitted to a local VFW Post that is supporting the event. Students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to compete. 10. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

This contest, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, urges students to consider the role of the press in American society. Essays should be between 300 and 500 words long.

The first-place winner receives a $1,000 scholarship, second-place receives $500, and third-place receives $300. The competition is accessible to students in grades 9 through 12 in the United States. The registration fee for the competition is $5.

11. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

High school students can win up to $1,000 by entering an essay on a specified topic related to Jane Austen novels. In addition, each winner will receive a year of membership to the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) and a collection of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen's novels. The winning pieces appear on the JASNA website as well. The theme of the 2022 Essay Contest is based on Jane Austen's first published novel, Sense & Sensibility. Students from all around the world are welcome to enter, however all contributions must be written in English.

12. Engineer Girl Annual Essay Contest

Engineer Girl hosts an essay contest every year that focuses on the impact of engineering on the world. Prize money of up to $500 is available to students. This competition is a great way to combine English language writing with STEM research. Students can send in their submissions via the internet. The contest is open to individual girls and boys in the following three competition categories: Elementary School students (grades 3-5), Middle School students (grades 6-8), or High School students (grades 9-12). The word limit for submissions varies depending on the grade level.

13. Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder / Sense of the Wild Contest

Entries for this writing contest must be submitted by a team, consisting of at least two people, representing different generations (for example, a student and a teacher or a teenager and her grandmother). Submission categories include poetry and essays, along with optional photographic elements. Annual topics for the contest are tied to nature. Winners receive a certificate from the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance, and have their winning entry posted on the RCLA website.

14. World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international competition open to students enrolled in grades K–12. Winners receive $500 and a one year membership in the World History Association. Each competitor submits an essay that addresses the issue: "In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?"

15. John Locke Essay Competition

The John Locke Essay Competition is hosted by the John Locke Institute, a non-profit educational organization based in Oxford, United Kingdom. The John Locke Institute promotes young people to develop the qualities that make great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis, and persuasive style. Senior professors from the University of Oxford assess the submissions. The judges select their favourite essay from each subject group, as well as an overall "best essay" from all seven subjects.

Bonus entry: Atlas Shrugged novel Essay Contest

The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose a prompt and write an 800-1,600 word essay in English. First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25 finalists: $100; 50 semifinalists: $50. Entry is free!

Learn the art of academic writing with the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you are interested in a selective, structured research program, consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers. The program pairs you with a full-time researcher to develop your own independent research project, in any discipline of your choice. Last year over 1500 students applied to 500 slots in the research program! You can find the application form here.

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May we please add our writing contest? Details below. Thank you! Name? Atlas Shrugged novel Essay Contest

What is it about? The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose a prompt and write a 800-1,600 word essay in English. First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25 finalists: $100; 50 semifinalists: $50. Please visit the website to apply: https://aynrand.org/students/essay-contests/atlas-shrugged/ Who is eligible to apply? All students globally. What are the guidelines? Choose a prompt and write a 800-1,600 word essay in English. What’s the prize? First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25…

• Student Life

90+ Best Writing Competitions for High School Students

Do you like to write, or do you have something to say about an issue or topic that you’re interested in? If so, you need to check out our huge list of 90+ writing competitions for high school students! With so many competitions in different genres, we’re sure there’s one that’s “write” for you!

The 4 main types of writing competitions for high school students.

There are plenty of writing contests out there for young writers to enter! The most popular types of writing competitions for high school students generally fall into four categories:

Creative Writing (Multiple Genres). These contests usually have several different categories of competition, which can include fiction, flash fiction, creative non-fiction, graphic novels , and poetry . Fiction categories often require traditional short stories, whereas flash fiction categories ask for very (very!) short stories. Creative non-fiction categories usually require an essay on a personal or academic topic. Poetry typically includes any written form.

Playwriting/Screenwriting. These contests require high school students to write short plays (such as one-act plays or 10-minute plays) or scripts for film/video . Entries that stand out have original characters and storylines that are engaging and well-written.

Poetry.  While creative writing contests often have a division for poetry (as we noted above), there are also many writing competitions for high school students dedicated exclusively to poetry.  There are even some high school writing competitions that focus on specific types of poetry such as spoken word/slam poetry, haiku, and sonnet . Students are asked to submit either a single poem or a collection of their work.

Themed or Prompt-Based Writing Competitions. Some competitions ask students to write about a specific theme or respond to a specific question or prompt. typically in an essay format, but occasionally in a poetry or creative writing format. These writing competitions for high school students cover a range of themes, such as economics, environmental issues, heritage, history, problem-solving, science, and social justice .

Why Should You Enter Writing Competitions for High School Students?

There are many ways that entering writing competitions for high school students can help you move forward in school and life:

Recognition. Winning or placing in writing competitions for high school students can give you a sense of accomplishment and highlight your talent.

Feedback. Some writing competitions for high school students will give you feedback, which can help you improve your writing skills and learn more about the kind of writing that interests you.

Challenge. A high school writing competition is a great way to challenge yourself creatively and try new forms and styles of writing.

Exposure.  By participating in writing competitions for high school students, you have the chance to get your work seen by others, either through publication or other writing-related opportunities.

Community. Writing competitions for high school students can connect you with teachers and professional writers who share your interest in writing and can serve as mentors and references.

College Applications and Resumes. Winning or placing in writing competitions for high school students is a great addition to college applications and resumes. It shows that you have talent and dedication and can help you stand out in the crowd of other students requesting acceptance to competitive colleges and internships.

Prizes!  Most writing competitions for high school students offer great prizes like cash (who doesn’t like cash?), scholarships, mentorship, publication opportunities, free attendance at writing workshops and retreats, and books or gift cards.

Creative Writing Competitions for High School Students 2023

1. adroit prizes for poetry and prose.

The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose is an annual international writing competition for high school students (and college students). Two winners are selected each year, one for poetry and one for prose. Each student may enter up to 5 submissions. Poetry submissions can have up to six poems (maximum of ten pages single-spaced), while prose submissions can include up to three works of fiction or creative nonfiction (combined word limit of 3,500 words). Winners will receive $200 and have their work featured in the Adroit Journal, with runners-up and finalists also receiving recognition. There is a non-refundable submission fee of $15, but financial assistance is available upon request.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: All Poetry and Prose
• Cost: Fee to Participate, Fee Waiver Available

2. Ann Arbor District Library: “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest 

The Ann Arbor District Library “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest is open only to Michigan students in grades 6-12. The contest offers three competition categories – Poetry, Flash Fiction, and Short Story. Entries are judged at three different grade levels: Grades 6-8, Grades 9 & 10, and Grades 11 & 12. The top three writers in each age group will receive cash prizes, with 1st Place winning $100, 2nd Place winning $75, and 3rd Place winning $50. Young Adult authors will serve as judges for the contest. The contest is growing annually and is a statewide event.

• Geographic Eligibility: Michigan
• Grades: 6-12
• Focus: Fiction (Flash Fiction and Short Story) and Poetry (all written forms)

3. Alabama Writers’ Forum: High School Literary Arts Awards Competition

The Alabama Writers’ Forum High School Literary Arts Awards Competition is open to Alabama high school students in grades 9-12. Leading authors and Alabama educators serve as judges for the competition. There are several categories for individual competition including Creative Nonfiction (Long Essay and Short Essay), Fiction, Poetry, and Senior Portfolios. Prizes range from $25 to $500, and there are also certificates of merit and judges’ special recognition awards.

• Geographic Eligibility: Alabama
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction (Long Essay and Short Essay), Fiction, Poetry (all written forms), Senior Portfolios

4. Audobon Canyon Ranch: Annual Last House Writing Contest 

The Annual Last House Writing Contest invites youth ages 13-17 to submit an original, unpublished essay or short story on a changing theme with a maximum of 500 words for children and youth (8-17 years old) and 750 words for adults. There is no entry fee for children and youth, and a fee of $40 for adults. Prizes include a $500 grand prize, gift certificates, and certificates for first, second, and third place in each age category, as well as publication in Audubon Canyon Ranch publications.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Ages: 8-17 and adults
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction (Short Essay), Fiction (Short Story)

5. Bennington College: Young Writers Awards

The Bennington College Young Writers Awards is an international, annual writing competition for high school students in grades 9-12. Students may enter in one of the following categories: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), or nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). All entries must be original work and sponsored by a high school teacher. First-place winners in each category are awarded a prize of $1,000; second-place winners receive $500; third-place winners receive $250. Young Writers Award finalists and winners are also eligible for significant undergraduate scholarships at Bennington.

• Focus: Fiction (short story), Creative Nonfiction (personal or academic essay), Playwriting (one-act play), Poetry (all written forms)

6. Brooklyn Public Library: Teen Writing Contest & Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize 

The Brooklyn Public Library Teen Writing Contest accepts all types of poetry and prose submissions from New York City teen writers in grades 6-12. Winners are awarded the Ned Vizzini Teen Writing Prize, with cash awards ($500; $250), and their pieces will be published in the Teen Writing Journal distributed by the Brooklyn Public Library. The top winners also are honored at a reception where they can showcase their work and meet published young adult authors who will provide their advice and experiences.

• Geographic Eligibility: New York City
• Focus: All Prose and Poetry

7. Columbia College Chicago: The Young Authors Writing Competition

The Columbia College Chicago: The Young Authors Writing Competition is a national writing competition for high school students (grades 9-12) in three categories: creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Students may enter up to two works in each category of Creative Nonfiction and Fiction. In the Poetry category, students may enter up to two files, and each of them can have 1-5 poems. Each individual entry has a limit of ten pages. The winners receive cash prizes and online publication.

• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry (all written forms)

8. Chicago Literary Hall of Fame: Randall Albers Young Writers Award

The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame: Randall Albers Young Writers Award is a writing competition for high school students (grades 9–12) in the Chicago area focused on fiction and nonfiction. Prizes are: the 1st Place-$500; 2nd Place-$250; 3rd Place-$150; and 4th Place-$100. Each winner also receives a writing consultation with one of the editors for DePaul’s Blue Book: Best American High School Writing , and their winning pieces may be eligible for inclusion in the publication. The winner and finalists will be listed on the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame website and will have the opportunity to read from their entries during an awards ceremony.

• Geographic Eligibility: Illinois (Chicago)
• Focus: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction

9. Columbus State University: The Carson McCullers Literary Awards

The Carson McCullers Literary Awards is a competition for Georgia and Alabama high school students in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, expository essay, playwriting, and screenwriting.  There are cash prizes for winners in each category as follows: $300 for first place in each category, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place.

• Geographic Eligibility: Alabama, Georgia
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Expository Essay, Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry (all written forms), Screenwriting

10. Interlochen Center for the Arts: Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Scholarship Competition

The Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Scholarship Competition is for students in grades 8-11. Students must submit five to seven samples of original work representing at least two of the following genres: poetry, fiction, personal essay/memoir, screenwriting, playwriting, hybrid genre, experimental/unclassifiable writing, and comics. The winner receives a full-tuition scholarship to Interlochen Arts Academy. Past winners of the Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Competition Scholarship have gone on to win other prestigious awards, attend top universities, and publish books and features in respected publications. Many have become Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

• Grades: 8-11
• Focus: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry (all written forms), Playwriting, Screenwriting

11. Interlochen Review – Arts, Writing, Playwriting and Songwriting Submissions

The Interlochen Review is an online literary journal produced by the creative writing students of Interlochen Arts Academy. High school writers, singer-songwriters, and artists (grades 9-12 or high school postgraduate year) from around the world are invited to submit their work. The competition is looking for a diverse range of voices and welcomes work that exhibits passion, skill, and an innovative approach to the craft. For the writing categories, students may submit up to 6 pieces total in the following categories: (1) Fiction (under 5,000 words, includes flash fiction); (2) Poetry (includes long-form poems and prose poetry); (3) Nonfiction (under 5,000 words – includes lyric essays and flash essays); (4) Hybrid (includes film essay/poem, photo essay, new media writing, performance documentation, mixed-media experiments, etc.); (5) Songwriting – (students must provide audio along with their lyrics); and (6) Scripts/Screenplays (below 40 pages). Selected entries will be published in the Interlochen Review.

• Geographic Eligibility:  International
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry (all written forms), Songwriting, Screenplay

12. KET Education Young Writers Contest 

The KET Education Young Writers Contest is for Kentucky students in grades K-12. The contest has four categories: Illustrated Story, Graphic Novel, Poetry, and Short Story, and the entries are judged by KET judges and partners such as Western Kentucky University and Bellarmine University. Prizes are awarded at different grade levels within each category, with the first-place winners receiving $100 Amazon gift cards, second-place winners receiving $50 Amazon gift cards, and third-place winners receiving $25 Amazon gift cards.

• Geographic Eligibility: Kentucky
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Graphic Novel, Illustrated Story, Short Story, Poetry (all written forms)

13. Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation: Bluefire “$1000 for 1000 Words” Fiction Writing Contest

The  Bluefire “$1000 for 1000 Words” Fiction Writing Contest is open to students in grades 6 through 12 worldwide. Students are required to submit an outstanding short fiction piece of exactly 1000 words. A cash prize of $1000 is awarded to the best submission in each of the middle school and high school grades. Also, one winner is chosen from each grade level for a $100 cash prize, and those selected for publication in the journal receive a $50 cash prize.

• Focus: Fiction

14. One Teen Story Teen Writing Contest

The One Teen Story Teen Writing Contest asks writers aged 13-19 to submit their original unpublished short stories (fiction). The story can be of any genre, as long as it features interesting teen characters and has a beginning, middle, and end. The winning stories will be published in One Teen Story magazine and the winners will receive $500 and 25 copies of the magazine featuring their work. Honorable mentions will be chosen in three age categories and announced on the website and social media. Stories should be between 2,000 to 4,500 words and must be the writer’s original work.

• Ages: 13-19
• Focus: Fiction (Short Story)

15. Penguin Random House: Creative Writing Awards

The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards recognize high school seniors who show exceptional talent in original poetry, fiction/drama, memoir/personal essay, and spoken-word compositions. The Maya Angelou Award for Spoken Word, Amanda Gorman Award for Poetry, Fiction/Drama, and Michelle Obama Award for Memoir each come with a $10,000 prize. Additionally, 75 Honorable Mention recipients will receive a “Creativity Kit” gift from Penguin Random House. The awards are open to all public high school seniors in the US who plan to enroll in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the fall of the competition year. The program is highly competitive, with only the first 1,000 applications being considered. The Creative Writing Awards have a proven track record of empowering and celebrating hundreds of young writers each year, and past recipients have gone on to become professional and award-winning authors.

• Focus: Fiction/Drama, Memoir/Personal Essay, Poetry (including Spoken Word)

16. Polyphony Literary Magazine Writing Contests

Polyphony Lit accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction from high school students worldwide (ages 14-18) for publication in their annual volume and/or for their seasonal writing contests. Submissions for Volume 19 are accepted from November 1, 2021, to April 30, 2023, and submissions for the seasonal contests are accepted on different schedules. The editorial team consists of more than 150 high school students from around the world, and every submission is read and evaluated. Submissions are free for the annual volume and some seasonal contests, while others cost $5. Winners receive the Polyphony Lit Writing Award, get published in the annual volume, receive a full scholarship for Polyphony’s editor training course, and are eligible for the Claudia Ann Seaman Awards. Seasonal contests include the Latin Heritage Contest, the Fall Contest, the Black History Month Contest; the Winter Contest, the Pride Month Contes, and the Summer Contest.

• Ages: 14-18
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Some free, some $5

17. Rider University: Annual High School Writing Contest

The Rider University Annual High School Writing Contest accepts submissions of Creative Nonfiction (essay), Fiction (short story), and Poetry.  Submissions require teacher nominations, and each teacher may nominate up to five pieces of student work. Prizes: 1st – $100, 2nd – $50, 3rd – $25.  All Finalists receive a Certificate of Honorable Mention. All Winners are considered for publication in Venture, Rider’s literary magazine.

• Focus: Creative Nonfiction (essay), Fiction (short story), Poetry (all written forms)

18. Ringling College of Art and Design: Storytellers of Tomorrow Writing Contest 

The Ringling College of Art and Design Storytellers of Tomorrow Writing Contest is a writing competition for high school students, who are invited to submit unpublished, original stories in English up to 2,000 words in length. Categories include Fiction (Short Story and Flash Fiction), Genre Fiction (fantasy, mystery, science fiction, and thriller), and Nonfiction (Autobiographical essays, personal essays, creative nonfiction, story-based travel writing, nature writing, science writing, and/or biography). All winners will receive cash prizes and a Ringling College Creative Writing T-shirt. The top winner in each category will also have a 1:1 consultation with a literary agent or editor and their work to be published in Shift, the college’s Creative Writing Program’s literary arts journal. Also, one student will be selected as a Judges’ Award recipient and will receive a scholarship to attend Ringling College’s 2023 summer Pre-College program.

• Focus: Fiction (Short Story, Flash Fiction), Genre Fiction (Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller), Nonfiction (Essay, Memoir, Creative Nonfiction, Story-Based Travel Writing, Nature Writing, Science Writing, Biography)

19. Roadrunner Review: High School Writing Contest

The Roadrunner Review High School Writing Contest is open to high school students worldwide, and submissions are accepted in any genre but are limited to one entry. Prose entries must be no longer than 1000 words, and poetry entries may include up to three poems. The winning entry will be published in the Summer issue of The Roadrunner Review, and honorable mentions will be acknowledged in a blog post. The contest is free to enter, and the winner is chosen by The Roadrunner Review staff. The prize is $100.

• Focus: Poetry (all written forms), Prose (all forms)

20. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a large and prestigious competition for teens in grades 7 – 12 (ages 13 and up) who can apply in 28 categories of art and writing. Entries are first judged at a regional level.  Winners from the regional levels then compete nationally. Writing categories include: Critical Essay, Dramatic Script, Flash Fiction, Journalism, Humor, Novel Writing, Personal Essay & Memoir, and Poetry. Entry fees are $7 per individual entry and $25 per portfolio (but fees may be waived for students with financial need). Prizes include recognition, scholarships, and exhibition/publication.

• Geographic Eligibility:  Regional and National
• Grades: 7-12
• Focus: Critical Essay, Dramatic Script, Flash Fiction, Journalism, Humor, Novel Writing, Personal Essay & Memoir, Poetry (all written forms)

21. South Carolina Department of Education: Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program

The Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program is a competition for twelfth-grade students enrolled in public schools in South Carolina who excel in creative writing, dance, music, theatre, or visual arts. Writing categories for this competition include Creative Writing (journals, diaries, letters, memoirs, essays, poetry, storytelling, speeches, and free writing) and Playwriting (a one-act script with a run time of 8-15 minutes). To be eligible, a student must: (1) be a U.S. citizen; (2) have attended public school in South Carolina for the past two years; and (3) plan to attend a South Carolina college or university.

• Geographic Eligibility:  South Carolina
• Focus: Creative Writing (journals, diaries, letters, memoirs, essays, poetry, storytelling, speeches, and free writing) and Playwriting (a one-act play)

22. The Telling Room Writing Contest

The Writing Contest — The Telling Room is an annual competition that invites youth from all over Maine, ages 10-18, to show off their writing chops! All submissions must be related to the annual theme, and all forms of creative writing are considered, including: poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, and songwriting. The grand prize winner receives a $250 award. The winning piece is published in the Telling Room’s annual spring anthology and also may be published in other publications and media.

• Geographic Eligibility: Maine
• Ages: 10-18
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry (all written forms), Songwriting

23. Thea Foundation Creative Writing and Spoken Word Scholarship Competitions

The Thea Foundation Creative Writing Scholarship Competition and Spoken Word Competition are open to high school seniors enrolled in either public, private, or home schools in Arkansas.  Categories include fictional short story, prose, or poetry.  Winners receive scholarships ranging from $3,000 – $10,000, which are awarded to the student’s institution of choice.

• Geographic Eligibility: Arkansas
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction (short story), Poetry (all written forms and Spoken Word)

24. Walgreens Expressions Challenge: Creative Writing

The Walgreens Expressions Challenge includes a creative writing competition for high school students in the U.S. aged 13-18. The challenge accepts up to 1,000-word short stories, poetry, and essays. Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from topics such as social media, cyberbullying, mental health, gender identity, social justice, and drug abuse. There is also a Spoken Word category that requires video/audio-recorded poetry. Prizes are given for first, second, and third place, with amounts ranging from $1,500 to $2,000. Four $1,000 cash prizes also will be awarded to entries in each category based solely on the number of votes they receive, and four educators will be awarded $1,000 for their support and embrace of the challenge in their classroom.

• Geographic Eligibility:  National
• Grades/Ages: 9-12 and 13-18
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry (all written forms and spoken word)

25. Western Kentucky University English High School Writing Contests

The Western Kentucky University English High School Writing Contests are annual writing contests in literature, composition, and creative writing for Kentucky high school students. The WKU English Department sponsors annual writing contests in literature, composition, and creative writing for Kentucky high school students. Finalists, their teachers, and family participate in a reception and ceremony and winners receive cash prizes: First Place-$150; Second Place-$100; Third Place-$50.

• Geographic Eligibility:  Kentucky
• Focus: Composition, Creative Writing, Literature

26. William Faulkner Literary Competition

The William Faulkner Literary Competition includes a Short Story (Fiction) contest for high school students in Mississippi. The first prize is $250, the second prize is $150, and the third prize is $100, and there is no entry fee. Entries must be original, unpublished, short fiction with up to 10,000 words. Entries must be submitted by an English teacher representing the school, or for home-schooled students, by their parents. Winning entries also will be published on the Faulkner Literary Committee’s official websites.

• Geographic Eligibility: Mississippi

27. Write the World Competitions

Write the World is a non-profit organization that helps young writers aged 13-19 develop writing, critical thinking, reading, and communication skills.  Write the World Competitions are held monthly and rotate through different genres of writing or themes, such as poetry, novel writing, spoken word, creative nonfiction, themed writing, songwriting, food writing, fantasy, sports journalism, flash fiction, and more. The winning entrant receives $100, and the runner-up and best peer reviewer receive $50. The competitions are judged by respected writers from across the globe, and all three winners are featured on the platform.

• Focus: Varies by month, rotates through all genres

28. YoungArts – The National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists: Awards

The YoungArts National Arts Competition is a national competition for young artists in the United States that includes writing as one of its artistic disciplines. The writing category encompasses creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word. To be eligible, applicants must be in grades 10-12 or 15-18 years old on December 1 of the year they are applying and must be a citizen, permanent resident, or legally able to receive taxable income in the United States. Applicants must apply online and pay an application fee or submit fee waiver documentation. Cash awards are given at three levels: Finalist ($1,000 – $10,000): Honorable Mention ($250); Merit ($100). All winners also receive a medallion, a lifetime of creative and professional support, and access to YoungArts Post—a private, online portal for YoungArts artists to connect, share their work, and discover new opportunities. Finalists who attend National YoungArts Week and meet the eligibility requirements are also considered for nomination to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the nation’s highest honor for artistically talented high school seniors.

• Grades/Ages: 10-12 or 15-18
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction (Short Story), Novel, Playwriting, Poetry (all written forms and Spoken Word), Screenwriting

Poetry Writing Competitions for High School Students 2023

Note: many of the competitions in the “creative writing competitions for high school students” and “themed or question-based writing competitions for high school students” above also have a poetry category, so be sure to check those sections as well this section is for competitions that focus exclusively on non-themed/open-topic poetry and spoken word submissions.  , 29. austin poets international presents: youth anthology .

Austin Poets International Presents offers young poets in grades K-12 a chance to be included in its annual youth anthology. Youth Poets who have a poem accepted for the youth anthology receive a free copy of the anthology and are invited to read their poem at the Austin International Poetry Festival.

• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)

30. Gannon University National High School Poetry Contest 

The  Gannon University National High School Poetry Contest is open to students anywhere in the U.S. who are in grades 9-12. Students may submit any accepted form of poetry (including rhyme, free verse, Haiku, etc.) up to a maximum of 40 lines.  Prizes include cash awards, a book, and publication in the Gannon Writing Awards program.

31. Haiku Society of America: Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition

The Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition is for students in grades 7-12. Haiku and senryu are specific types of short-form poetry (typically 3 lines and 17 syllables) that originated in Japan. Six poems are selected each year and awarded a scholarship prize of $100.  The winning haiku/senryu and list of winners are published in the HSA magazine Frogpond and on the HSA website. The high school of each student winner will receive a one-year subscription to Frogpond .

• Focus: Poetry (Haiku and Senryu)

32. Hollins University: The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is for young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school. The First Place winner receives a $350 cash prize; a $20,000 scholarship to Hollins University; publication in Cargoes , the Hollins University award-winning student literary magazine; and free tuition and housing for the Hollins summer creative writing program (for rising 9-12th grade students). The Second Place winners receive a $4,000 scholarship to Hollins University, publication in Cargoes, and a $500 scholarship to apply toward Hollins summer program.

• Grades: 10, 11
• Outreach: Female

33. Kenyon Review: The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is open to high school sophomores and juniors throughout the world. The poems by the winner and two runners-up will be published in the Kenyon Review , and the winner receives a full scholarship to the Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop.

34. Michigan State University Center for Poetry: Richard Benvenuto High School Poetry Competition

The Benvenuto High School Poetry Competition accepts both text and spoken-word submissions from Michigan high school students. The winners receive prizes ranging from $25 to $100 and are invited to Michigan State University for a reading/performance of their winning entries. Optional prompts are provided for inspiration.

• Grades: 9 – 12
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms and spoken word)

35. Poetry Society: The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award

The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award accepts entries from 11-17-year-olds worldwide. The competition is free to enter and poems can be of any length and on any theme. Winners will receive prizes including further mentoring and development opportunities from The Poetry Society, and former winners have gone on to become successful poets.

• Ages: 11-17

36. Princeton Lewis Center: Leonard L Milber ’53 High School Poetry Prize

The Princeton Lewis Center: Leonard L Milber ’53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding work by student writers in the 11th grade in the U.S. or abroad. Contest judges are poets on the Princeton University creative writing faculty. First Prize – $500, Second Prize – $250, Third Prize – $100.

37. Smith College: High School Poetry Prize for Girls

The Smith College Poetry Prize for High School Girls is an annual competition open to female sophomores and juniors in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. The winner receives a $500 prize and the opportunity to read her work at Smith College. Students may submit one poem each with a maximum of 25 lines. The winner and three finalists will read their poems at the judge’s reading and will receive a signed copy of a book of poems by the judge.

• Geographic Eligibility: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont

38. Society of Classical Poets: International High School Poetry Competition

The Society of Classical Poets International High School Poetry Competition is open to all high school students (ages 13-19) from around the world. Poems must contain meter (each line of poetry must have a similar number of syllables). Students may submit up to 3 poems that total 108 lines or less. First Prize is $200 and publication in the Society’s website and The Society of Classical Poets Journal.  There is a $5 submission fee.

• Grades/Ages: 9-12 and 13-19
• Focus: Poetry (written and metered)
• Cost: Fee to Participate

39. Youth Poet Laureate National and Regional Competitions

The National Youth Poet Laureate Competition is a program that identifies powerful youth poets with a history of artistic success, civic and community engagement, social impact, and youth leadership. The competition is open to former local Youth Poet Laureates, aged between 13 and 19, from over 70 partner cities participating in the national network. Four Youth Poet Laureate Regional Ambassadors are chosen, one from each of the 4 regions in the nation, and all nominations are judged using the same rubric. The Regional winners are also finalists for the National Youth Poet Laureate title and will receive various benefits, including an all-expense-paid trip to perform at the National Youth Poet Laureate commencement in May, an artwork/poster featuring their likeness and poetry, and professional development opportunities.  We weren’t able to find a complete list of all the local Youth Poet Laureate Competitions, but it looks like the number of local and state partners is growing every day and they are pretty easy to find doing an internet search. Just enter “youth poet laureate” in your search engine followed by the name of your nearest larger city or your state.

Playwriting/Screen Writing Competitions for High School Students 2023

Note: many of the competitions in the “creative writing competitions for high school students” section above also have a playwriting/screenwriting category, so be sure to check that section as well this section is for competitions that focus exclusively on playwriting/screenwriting.  , 40. baltimore center stage: young playwrights festival.

The Baltimore Center Stage Young Playwrights Festival invites Maryland students in grades K-12 to submit their short plays on a changing annual theme. Six winners are chosen to have their plays produced professionally and to receive mentorship from the Baltimore Center Stage team.

• Geographic Eligibility: Maryland
• Focus: Playwriting

41. Blank Theatre Young Playwright’s Festival

The Blank Theatre Young Playwright’s Festival (YPF) is a nationwide playwrighting competition for young people between the ages of 9 and 19. The 12 winning original plays or musicals (on any subject and of any length) will come to life on stage in a professional production featuring known actors from film, television, and theatre.

• Focus: Playwriting (including Musicals)

42. California Young Playwrights Contest

The California Young Playwrights Contest is an annual statewide by Playwrights Project open to all Californians under the age of 19 as of June 1 of the contest year. All contest entrants who request feedback receive an individualized script evaluation. Finalists are then paired with writing mentors over the summer to further develop their plays and their plays are performed via Zoom. Winning plays, selected from the finalists, are produced live as part of the Playwrights Project’s annual festival of Plays by Young Writers. Winners between the ages of 15-18 will receive a full professional production. Winners aged 14 and under will see their plays performed as rehearsed readings.

• Geographic Eligibility: California
• Ages: 18 and under

43. Capital Repertory Theatre – Collaborative School of the Arts: Young Playwright Contest

The  Collaborative School of the Arts: Young Playwright Contest is for students between the ages of 13 and 19 who live within a 90-mile radius of Albany, New York. Students are asked to submit short plays up to 10 minutes (when acted out) and roughly 10-12 pages in length that include a specific line that changes each year. Winners have their short plays professionally produced on the Capital Repertory Theatre stage.

• Geographic Eligibility: New York (Albany)

44. City Theatre Company: Young Playwrights Contest

City Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights Contest is open to current 7-12th grade students in southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. The play should be a one-act and should ideally be 25 pages or shorter, with no more than 8 characters. The company is looking for plays with unique voices, points of view, and interesting stories. Any subject or theme is welcome. After submitting the play, it is read by at least two theatre professionals, and feedback is given to the playwright.

• Geographic Eligibility: Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia

45. Eugene O’Neill Theater Center: Young Playwrights Festival

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center: Young Playwrights Festival is a national playwriting competition for students between the ages of 12-18 who have written an original short play (10-15 pages).  Students whose plays are selected for the festival work with a creative team composed of National Theater Institute alumni — a director, dramaturg, designer, and actors to develop and stage their script.

• Ages: 12-18

46. Horizon Theatre Company: New South Young Players Festival

The New South Young Playwrights Festival is an annual event hosted by the Horizon Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia, where high school and college students are invited to submit one-act plays for consideration. Selected playwrights participate in a week-long festival that includes workshops, seminars, and rehearsals with professional actors, directors, and playwrights. The festival culminates in a public reading and showcase of the writers’ short plays. In-person participation typically includes housing and travel stipends, and in 2021 and 2022, the festival was held virtually. The festival is open to all subject matters and writing styles, and between 20 and 25 winners are selected each year.

47. Kennedy Center: VSA Playwright Discovery Competition

The Kennedy Center VSA Playwright Discovery Competition invites y oung writers with disabilities, ages 15-18 (or enrolled in high school), to submit a ‘ten-minute script’ of any genre. Scripts may be for plays, musicals, multimedia, video, film, TV, podcasts, or other writing for performance. Entries may be the work of an individual student or a collaboration of two students that includes at least one student with a disability. A panel of theater professionals selects division winners. Multiple winners will receive exclusive access to participate in virtual professional development activities provided by the Kennedy Center. Winners will have the opportunity to work with industry professionals in the further development of their script, as well as participate in networking opportunities.

• Grades/Ages: 9-12 and 15-18
• Focus:  Playwriting/Screenwriting
• Outreach: Disability

48. Philadelphia Young Playwrights Annual Playwriting Festival

Philadelphia Young Playwrights Annual Playwriting Festival is a playwriting competition for young people in grades K-12 or under the age of 19. The festival is open to students from Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, or Delaware, or from any student who has participated in one of the organization’s classes during the current. Monologues and screenplays are not eligible, nor are adaptations of other authors’ works. The winners of the festival will have the opportunity to participate in a rehearsal and play revision process with a creative team of theater artists and may also receive mentorship opportunities with the organization’s staff. First, second, and third-place winners will receive different levels of support and opportunities for development.

• Geographic Eligibility: Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, or Delaware
• Grades/Ages: K-12 and under 19
• Focus:  Playwriting

49. PlayGround Young Playwrights Contest

The PlayGround Young Playwrights Contest is for students in grades 9-12 who attend high school in one of the nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. The contest requires students to write an original 10-minute play. The top four playwrights receive a professional staged reading of their play at the PlayGround Festival of New Works at Potrero Stage.

• Geographic Eligibility: San Francisco Bay Area
• Grades/Ages: 9-12

50. Princeton University – Lewis Center: Ten-Minute Play Contest

The Princeton University – Lewis Center: Ten-Minute Play Contest is an annual playwriting contest for students in the eleventh grade in the U.S. (or the international equivalent of the eleventh grade). Each year the jury consists of members of the Princeton University Program in Theater faculty. Prizes: First Prize – $500, Second Prize – $250, Third Prize – $100.

 51. Syracuse Stage: Young Playwrights Festival

The Syracuse Stage Young Playwrights Festival is a yearly contest for high school students in Central New York organized by Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University’s Department of Drama. The contest invites students to submit original ten-minute plays or other performance pieces in either a traditional 10-minute play format (with up to 4 characters and around 10 pages) or in a non-traditional performance writing category (such as monologues, performance-based storytelling, etc.). Semifinalists attend a workshop where their plays are read and critiqued, and finalists have their plays performed as staged readings by Syracuse University Drama students. Submissions must be 10 pages or less.

• Geographic Eligibility: Central New York

Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival Submission Guidelines – Theatre Odyssey

52. Theatre Odyssey: Annual Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival

The Theatre Odyssey Student Ten-Minute Playwriting Festival is open to legal residents of Florida’s Gulf Coast area who are in grades 9 through 12 or equivalent. Plays should be between 9 and 11 minutes long, have no more than five characters, and be in the genre of comedy, drama, mystery, thriller, or monologue. Originality is important, and plays must not have been previously produced for a paying audience. Up to eight plays will be selected for production, and the best play and runner-up will receive cash scholarships of $1000 and $500, respectively.

• Geographic Eligibility: Florida Gulf Coast (Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter counties)

53. Trinity Rep: Write Here! Write Now – Student Playwriting Competition

The Trinity Rep: Write Here! Write Now! Student Playwriting Competition invites New England high school students in grades 9-12 to submit an original short play (6-10 pages). Winners will participate in a workshop to develop their plays. The staged readings of the winning plays are performed by professional actors, and the winners receive a scholarship towards Trinity Rep’s Young Actors Studio after-school class and 20 free tickets for their school to a Project Discovery student matinee.

• Geographic Eligibility: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

54. Wharton Center for Performing Arts: Young Playwrights Festival

The Wharton Center Annual Young Playwrights Festival invites Michigan high school students to submit a one-act play for a juried competition. 12 semifinalists will be chosen, and from those 12 the jury will select six finalists whose plays will be produced. The six finalists will each receive a $200 cash award and a professional theater mentor to revise their play. The plays are performed at the Fairchild Theatre at Michigan State University. The guidelines include being an original work, with no more than four characters, simple props, costumes, settings, effects, and a maximum length of 12 pages.

55. Writopia Lab’s Worldwide Plays Festival

Writopia Lab’s Worldwide Plays Festival is an annual Off-Broadway festival of one-act plays written by playwrights ages 6 to 18 and produced, designed, directed, and acted by New York City theater professionals. Each year, the festival is themed after different settings that each play must take place in. Plays should be no longer than eight minutes in length.

56. YouthPlays: New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights

The YouthPlays New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights offers cash prizes and representation of the winning play. Plays must be unpublished, non-musical one-acts between 10-40 minutes in length, with two or more characters and a young character in a prominent, age-appropriate role. The author must be 19 years old or younger as of May 1 of the contest year, and each author may submit only one play. The winner receives $250 and publication by YouthPLAYS, while the runner-up receives $100.

• Ages: Under 19

Themed or Question-Based Writing Competitions for High School Students 2023

57. 1455 Literary Arts: Annual Young Poet’s Contest

The 1455 Annual Young Poets Contest awards $500 to a single, unpublished poem of any length and style based on an annually changing theme. The contest is open to young poets aged 13-18. The winner will have the opportunity to read their poem at a reception during the 1455 StoryFest, and the winning and select other poems will be considered for publication in a special annual Young Poets issue of Movable Type, 1455’s e-magazine.

• Ages: 13-18

58. Harvard Crimson: Global Essay Competition

The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) is an international online writing competition for high school students aged 13-18 who are interested in writing. Participants select one of three prompts from creative, argumentative, or journalistic tracks to write a 500-word essay. The top five essays from each region of the world are invited to the global final round where four global winners per track are chosen. The competition is hosted by The Harvard Crimson and Crimson Education, and winners receive prizes such as internships with The Harvard Crimson and having their work featured on the Official HCGEC Website. The competition costs US$15 to register.

• Focus: Creative, Persuasive, or Journalistic Essay

59. New York Times Learning Network: Student Contests

The New York Times Learning Network: Student Contests invites middle and high school students ages 13-19 to participate in a range of themed writing contests throughout the year. Past contests have included the Editorial Contest, the STEM Writing Contest, the Review Contest, and the Narrative Writing Contest. Each contest has its own unique requirements and prizes, and they are open to students in different grade levels.

• Grades: 6-12 and 13-19
• Focus: Creative Writing, Essay

60. Stossel In the Classroom Essay Contest

Stossel in the Classroom is an essay contest for students in grades 5-12 (ages 10-18) residing in North America, Hawaii, or a U.S. military address. Students can choose from three topics and submit their essays directly or have them submitted by a teacher or parent. Essays must be between 500-1,000 words and meet the eligibility requirements. The contest period is from September 1 to March 31. There are two competition divisions: High School and Middle School, and prizes range from $50-$2,500.

• Grades/Ages: 5-12 and 10-18
• Focus: Essay

61. Youth Communication: Teen Writing Contest

The Youth Communication: Teen Writing Contest takes place every three months. Youth Communication highlights five recent articles from YouthCOMM, and participants are asked to write a response to the author of a story, expressing how they related to the story, what lessons they learned, or other ways the story impacted them. Each contest awards three winners with prizes of $150 (1st prize), $75 (2nd prize), and $50 (3rd prize), and winning letters are published on the contest’s website. To be eligible for entry, participants must be between the ages of 14 and 19 and letters should be no more than 300 words.

• Ages: 14-19

Americanism-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

62. fleet reserve association: americanism essay contest.

The Fleet Reserve Association Americanism Essay Contest is open to all U.S. students in grades 7 through 12, including those who are home-schooled.  Students are invited to submit a 350-word essay on a specific topic related to Americanism through an FRA member or local FRA branch. (Check the website to fund your local FRA branch.) Local winners compete at the regional level, and regional winners compete for national prizes. The grand national winner receives $1,500, and other winners receive $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place, along with a plaque and certificate of recognition.

63. Veterans of Foreign Wars: Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Competition

The VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Competition is an annual audio-essay program for high school students. The competition offers students the opportunity to express their views on democratic and patriotic themes. Over 25,000 students from 9th to 12th grade participate in the program each year, with more than $1.3 million in scholarships and incentives awarded. The top winner receives a $35,000 scholarship, and other national scholarships range from $1,000 to $21,000. Applicants must read the rules and eligibility requirements and submit their essays to their local VFW Post.

Economics-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

64. harvard international economics essay contest.

The Harvard International Economics Essay Contest is a writing competition for high school students sponsored by the Harvard Undergraduate Economics Association (HUEA) and Harvard College Economics Review (HCER). Students must construct a convincing argument using economic theory and real-world examples and choose one of four prompts to write about within a strict limit of 1500 words. Winning essays will be published in the Harvard Economics Review, and the top three winners will be published online, with a further 20 receiving honors of “Highly Commended.” The reading fee for each essay submission is $20 (which can be waived for students with financial need).

Environment-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

65. bowseat ocean awareness contest.

The Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest is an opportunity for young people aged 11-18 to learn about environmental issues by creating art and expressing their views creatively, becoming advocates for positive change. Submissions should respond to the annual theme and can take many forms, including poetry/spoken word, and creative writing.  Students aged 11-14 are eligible for the Junior division, and those aged 15-18 are eligible for the Senior division. Each category is judged separately, with Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners in each category, and cash prizes ranging from $100 – $1,500. Additionally, the We All Rise Prize sponsors ten $750 awards each in the Junior and Senior Divisions to students in the US who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Latine and demonstrate notable artistic achievement in their chosen category, as part of Bow Seat’s efforts to engage more youth of color in environmental advocacy.

• Ages: 11-18
• Focus: Creative Writing, Poetry (including Spoken Word)
• Outreach: Black, Hispanic and Latino/x

66. California Coastal Commission: K-12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest

The California Coastal Commission: K-12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who are residents of California. Students are invited to submit their “California coastal” or ocean-themed poetry and art. Winners receive a $100 gift card to an art supply store or bookstore (teachers of winning students will be rewarded with a prize as well). Poetry may be submitted in English or Spanish and can be submitted both online and through mail.

• Focus: Poetry (all forms)

67. Pulitzer Center: Fighting Words Poetry Contest

The Fighting Words Poetry Contest is a competition that invites K-12 students from around the world to use poetry as a means of responding to current events and underreported stories. Students read one of the stories reported by the Pulitzer Center and then write poems that make connections between those stories and their local and personal contexts. Poems must include lines from the reported stories. Students are free to write in any language and may submit multilingual poems. The first-place winner will receive $300 and their poem will be published on the Pulitzer Center website. The second-place winner will receive $200, and the third-place winner will receive $100, with both of their poems also published on the Pulitzer Center website. Finalists will receive $75 each, and their poems will also be published on the website.

68. Saint Mary’s College of California – Center for Environmental Literacy : River of Words Contest 

The River of Words Contest is an international youth poetry and art contest that encourages students between the ages of 5 and 19 to use creative expression to translate their observations of the physical world they live in. The goal of the competition is to connect young people with their watersheds, and the environments they live in, through art and poetry that shows a real connection to the world around them. The contest is open to K-12 students and offers 4 Grand Prizes for the poetry category, one of which is specifically for students in grades 9-12. The winner receives a cash prize and will be published in the annual River of Words anthology. There are also other specific prizes: one International Grand Prize for either art or poetry, which is awarded to one entry across all age categories; the Monkey’s Raincoat Prize for haiku poem(s); the On Writing award for poems that approach the nature of writing; the One Square Block prize for poems that examine the interaction between the manmade and natural world; and the Shasta Bioregion Award for outstanding entries from Northern California. The number of entries awarded these prizes is up to the discretion of the judges but is typically 1-3 per prize category.  Finalists also may be published alongside the winners, depending on the number and quality of submissions.

• Grades/Ages: K-12 and 5-19

Government & Politics-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

69. american foreign service association: national high school essay contest.

The American Foreign Service Association: National High School Essay Contest is a writing competition for high school students (grades 9 – 12) in the U.S., who are invited to write an essay of between 1,000-1,500 words on a changing topic related to U.S. diplomacy. The winner receives: (1) $2500; (2) an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. from anywhere in the U.S. including (his/her/their parents); and (3) an all-expense paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea. The runner-up receives $1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program. Student registration forms must have a teacher or sponsor’s name.

70. National Center for State Courts: Civics Education Essay Contest

The National Center for State Court’s Civics Education Essay Contest allows students in grades 3-12 to demonstrate their understanding of the U.S. government and its importance. The contest is held annually by the National Center for State Courts in recognition of Law Day. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a public, private, or home school program in the United States and have permission from a parent, guardian, or teacher over 18. Elementary and middle school students should write essays of no more than 100 words, while high school students should limit their essays to 250 words. Nine winners will receive cash prizes totaling $3,000 and the publication of their essays on the NCSC website.

• Grades: 3-12

Heritage-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

71. optimum/suddenlink hispanic heritage essay contest.

The Optimum/Suddenlink Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest asks students to submit an essay of 500 words on a changing theme related to Hispanic heritage. This contest is open to students in grades 6-12 who live in areas serviced by Optimum and Suddenlink (check the website).  There are separate prizes for middle and high school categories, and grand prize finalists will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

• Geographic Eligibility: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
• Outreach: Hispanic and Latino/x

72. Polyphony Lit Latin Heritage Contest

The Polyphony Lit Latin Heritage Contest is an annual writing contest for high school students (or equivalent, aged 14-18) worldwide focused on Latin heritage. Submissions of poetry may be up to 80 lines, and fiction and creative non-fiction submissions must be 1,800 words or fewer, double-spaced. Winners are: (1) awarded the Polyphony Lit Writing Award (no cash value); (2) published in the journal; (3) offered full scholarship for Polyphony’s editor training course; and (4) eligible for the Claudia Ann Seaman Awards ($200).

• Grades/Ages: 9-12 and 14-18
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry

73. National Genealogical Society: Rubincam Youth Writing Competition

The National Genealogical Society Rubincam Youth Writing Competition invites students to submit a narrative essay in a biographical format about a principal individual, either male or female, who may be a biological or adoptive relative, a foster parent, or a guardian. The submission should contain 750 to 1200 words and four to five written pages and should demonstrate the student’s basic understanding of various genealogical records. Two awards are given annually: one in the junior category (grades 6-8) and one in the senior category (grades 9-12).  The award winner receives a cash prize ($250 – junior/$500 senior), a plaque, and a one-year NGS membership (non-print). Presentation details of the winning submission may appear in NGS Magazine.

74. State of Florida Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest

The State of Florida Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest is an essay contest (500 words or less) on a changing theme related to Hispanic heritage sponsored by the Governor of Florida. Students in grades 4-12 who attend a Florida school (public, charter, private, home, or virtual) can enter. Six winners are selected: two elementary school students (grades 4–5), two middle school students (grades 6–8), and two high school students (grades 9–12). Each winner receives a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship and a $100 gift card for school supplies.

• Geographic Eligibility: Florida
• Grades: 4-12

History-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

75. concord review.

The Concord Review offers high school students the opportunity to publish their historical research and gain recognition throughout the academic year. Outstanding submissions may even receive the Emerson Prize, an award named after essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. The entry fee ($70) includes a year-long subscription to The Concord Review. The average length of accepted essays is 8,000 words.

76. Chapman University: Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest

The Chapman University Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest invites participating schools to submit a total of three entries (one entry per student) related to the Holocaust and a changing prompt in any combination of the following categories: art, film, poetry, or prose. Students will be eligible to win a first-prize award of $400 or second prize of $200 in each category. Educators and schools will also be eligible to win a first prize of $200 or a second prize of $100 each. First-place student winners in the United States, their parents/guardians, and teachers are invited to participate in an expense-paid study trip to visit the Holocaust Museum LA, the Museum of Tolerance, the Japanese American National Museum, and other sites in Los Angeles, as well as to meet with members of The 1939 Society, a community of Holocaust survivors, descendants, and friends.

77. National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR): George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is open to all US Citizens and Legal Resident high school students (grades 9-12) interested in the American Revolution. The essay must be 800-1,200 words and focus on an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. The contest is conducted in three phases: the local chapter, state-level society, and national phases. Prizes range from $6,000 for first place to $500 for fifth place. The winning essay will be published in the SAR Magazine and on the SAR or State Knight Essay Contest webpage.

78. National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR): Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest

The Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest is open to all high school students in public, parochial, private, or home schools in grades 9-12. Participants must write an original oration of 5-6 minutes on an event, personality, or document related to the Revolutionary War. The oration will be judged based on composition, delivery, historical accuracy, and relevance to the 250th anniversary. The contest begins at the local chapter level, with opportunities to advance to state and national levels. Prizes range from $8,000 for first place to $200 for non-finalist national contestants. Interested applicants should contact their local SAR chapter for further details on local and state deadlines.

• Focus: Essay and Oration

79. World History Association: World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is open to students in grades K-12 from public, private, and home-study programs worldwide. The essay should address one of the provided topics, relating it to personal experience and world history. The winner will receive a $500 prize and a one-year membership to the World History Association. Essays will be checked for plagiarism and should be approximately 1,000 words in length. Past winners may not compete in the same category again.

Journalism-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

80. society of professional journalists and the journalism education association high school essay contest.

The Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association High School Essay Contest invites U.S. students in grades 9 – 12 to write a 300-500 essay on a particular topic related to journalism. National winners receive scholarship awards and their essays are published on the website. First Place: $1,000 scholarship; Second Place: $500 scholarship; Third Place: $300 scholarship. There is a fee of $5 to enter.

Law-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

81. harvard undergraduate law review: fall essay contest.

The Harvard Undergraduate Law Review Fall Essay Contest is an international essay competition (750-1000 words) for high school students (grades 9-12) on a changing theme related to the law. The essay should focus on a law, case, aspect of the legal system, the intersection between law and another discipline, etc. in an argumentative and analytical format. All winning pieces will be published on the HULR website and featured on its social media. In addition, the winners will receive gift cards and a book prize.

Problem-Solving-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

 82. future problem solving program international: scenario writing competition.

Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is a dynamic international program involving thousands of students annually from around the world from different age groups: Junior Division (grades 4-6), Middle Division (grades 7-9), and Senior Division (grades 10-12).  FPSPI provides a curriculum and competitive opportunities for students to learn critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The Scenario Writing component is one of six competitive components of the FPSPI competition. In the Scenario Writing competition, students create a short story (1500 words or less) that is set at least 20 years in the future that revolves around one of FPSPI’s four annual global problem/challenge topics. The first step in participating in this competition is to find your local state affiliate (there is a list on the website). Then you need to find a coach to register you and receive materials. Coaches can be a parent, other experienced FPSer/mentors, or a teacher. Materials are provided to enhance the learning process and provide support and feedback. Everyone starts with practice topics and preliminary project deadlines to support learning through feedback/assessment. After the practice topics, competitive topics are offered for regional/state or national finals which can qualify students for the International Conference. At the International Conference, students will get a chance to compete and collaborate with over 2,000 other problem solvers from all over the globe! There is a fee to participate in this program.

• Focus: Creative Writing (Short Story)

83. Goi Peace Foundation

The Goi Peace Foundation International Essay Contest for Young People is an annual competition with the aim of promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. Essays must be 700 words or less in English, French, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese, and must be submitted online. Participants compete in one of two age categories: Children (ages up to 14) or Youth (ages 15 – 25) The awards include certificates, gifts, and cash prizes of up to 100,000 yen (approx. US$740).

• Ages: Up to 25

84. UNESCO Clubs Worldwide Youth Multimedia Competition

The UNESCO Clubs Worldwide Youth Multimedia Competition invites young people in three age categories (Juniors – ages 10-14;  Youth – ages 15-19; and Young Adults – ages 20-24) to answer a specific question (that changes each year) related to solving a pressing world problem. One of the ways that participants can answer the question is through a 500-700 written essay. The three finalists in each age group will receive an official plaque engraved with their name and a certificate. They also will have an invitation to UNESCO’s Builders of the Universe Camp in Maryland (USA). The invitation will include a scholarship for the fee for the camp, food, accommodations, and transport to and from the airport. In addition, the top 9 winners will be recognized and showcased in global events during the year and publicized on the UNESCO website.

• Ages: 10-24

Science-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

85. american society of human genetics: annual dna day essay contest.

The American Society of Human Genetics Annual DNA Day Essay Contest invites students in grades 9-12 worldwide to write an essay of up to 750 words that examines and questions a specific topic related to genetics. Essays must be well-reasoned arguments that demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of scientific concepts associated with the essay question. The ASHG publishes the winning essays on its website, and the winners receive cash prizes: First Place ($1,000), Second Place ($600), Third Place ($400), and Honorable Mention (10 prizes of $100).

86. Association for Women in Mathematics + Math for America: Student Essay Contest

The Association for Women in Mathematics and Math for America Essay Contest aims to increase awareness of women’s contributions to the mathematical sciences. Students (in three categories: grades 6-8, 9-12, and undergraduates) are invited to write a biographical essay of 500-1000 words based on an interview with a woman currently working or retired from a mathematical sciences career. The AWM website provides resources on potential women to interview. The winners (including honorable mentions) receive a monetary prize, membership in the Association for Women in Mathematics, a certificate, and their name and affiliation published in the Newsletter for the AWM.  In addition, all of the essays are published online, and the Grand Prize winner‘s essay is published in the AWM Newsletter.

• Grades: 6-12 and college

87. Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science: Building the Modern M.D. High School Competition

The Building the Modern M.D. Competition encourages young people who are interested in medicine to think about the subject of healthcare in a broader social context. The competition is open to current high school students who choose a topic in healthcare related to one of eight humanities categories and explore it by reading scholarly journal publications. (The eight humanities categories are: anthropology, the arts, economics, gender, government, history, philosophy, and religion. Examples of how these topics relate to healthcare could include: the use of music in psychotherapy (arts) or Medicare / Medicaid policy (economics or government)). Participants then write a 2000-3000-word review article summarizing their findings. Winners are chosen in each category, and their articles will be published in a special issue of the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science. Honorable mention awards will be given to applicants who presented strong papers that were ultimately not chosen to be published. The competition webpage has training materials that guide students through the competition, including choosing topics, getting sources, reading various types of scientific literature, and writing their papers.

88. EngineerGirl Writing Contest

The EngineerGirl Essay Contest asks students to write an essay on an annual topic dealing with engineering and its impact on the world. The contest is open to individual students in the following three competition categories: Elementary School Students (grades 3–5), Middle School Students (grades 6–8), or High School Students (grades 9–12). Judges include professionals from various engineering fields. Essays are judged on how well written and persuasive they are, as well as how well they demonstrate engineering’s positive and essential role in society, and why engineering needs unique and diverse perspectives from people from a wide range of backgrounds. 1st place wins $500, 2nd place wins $250, and 3rd place wins $100. Winning entries (including honorable mentions) are published on the EngineerGirl website.

89. Naval Horizons Essay Contest

The Naval Horizons Essay Contest is a STEM-related essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps open to legal residents of the United States (U.S.) who are registered students in grades 9 – 12 and attending public, private, or home school in the U.S. (including U.S. territories or possessions and schools operated by the U.S. for the children of American personnel overseas). To participate, students first learn about Naval STEM challenges and our scientists and engineers by watching a series of videos. Students then write an essay (500 – 1,500 words) explaining how the Navy’s research and people inspire them. Judges select up to 5,000 winners. All winners receive a $200 cash prize. Exceptional essays are highlighted on a Naval STEM web page and are designated Naval Horizons Highest Honors.

Social-Justice-Themed Writing Competitions for High School Students

90. National Youth Foundation: I Matter Poetry Contest

The National Youth Foundation: I Matter Poetry Contest (started by a teen!) invites U.S. and international students in grades K – 12 to submit a work of poetry that educates the world about why Black Lives Matter. The top prize is $500 and the winning entry will be posted on the NYF social media pages.

91. Pulitzer Center: Local Letters for Global Change

Pulitzer Center: Local Letters for Global Change is a letter-writing contest for K-12 students worldwide hosted by the Pulitzer Center. Students are required to write a one-page letter to a local elected representative, citing a Pulitzer Center news story that highlights a global issue they want to be prioritized. The letter should also propose a solution and explain how it relates to their local community. Letters can be written in English or Spanish and will be judged separately in high school, middle school, and elementary categories. Three first-place winners will receive $100 for their classrooms, and their letters, photos, and bios will be published on the Pulitzer Center website. Finalists will also have their letters, photos, and bios published on the website.

Want to See More? Check Out the Lateenz  Teen Resources  catalog of High School  Internships ,  Programs ,  Competitions,  and  Scholarships

This is just a small sample of the many competitions you can find in our database. And, even if you’re not interested in competing, there are many programs and internships that offer more great opportunities in journalism, writing, and other areas! Be sure to check them out!

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• February 24, 2023

10 Writing Competitions for High School Students in 2023-2024

Are you a high school student who likes to write here are ten writing competitions for high school students in 2023-2024..

Are you an aspiring novelist, a hobby writer, or a burgeoning poet? Have you tried your hand at nonfiction essays or playwriting? If so, you might be a great candidate for a national, regional, or state writing competition for high school students. Although specifics of each competition vary widely, these are usually great opportunities to showcase your talents, win some scholarship money, and buff up your writer’s resume. You might even get the chance to publish your work in a major journal or literary magazine or gain a mentor.

Here are ten writing competitions with deadlines during the 2023-2024 school year that you can start preparing yourself for right now. While most of these competitions are only for U.S. citizens, some are open to international students as well. Check each competition’s webpage for more information.

YoungArts Competitions for High School Students

Genres: Classical Music, Dance, Design Arts, Film, Jazz, Photography, Theater, Visual

Arts, Voice, Writing

Award: Up to $10,000 and national recognition

Eligibility: US citizens and permanent resident/green card recipients in grades 10-12 or

15-18 years of age on December 1, 2023

Fee: $35 (waivers available)

Deadline: October 15, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST

YoungArts is one of the most prestigious artistic competitions in the country, encompassing a wide variety of disciplines and forms. Through this competition, the National YoungArts Foundation identifies the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts, and provides them with creative and professional development opportunities throughout their careers.

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Genres: Nonfiction, Novel, Play or Script, Poetry, Short Story, Spoken Word

Award: Up to $12,500 and national, state, and/or regional recognition

Eligibility: Grade 7-12 or 13+ years old

Fee: $7 per individual, $25 per portfolio (waivers available)

Deadline: December 2023/January 2024 (depends on region)

The Awards give students opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. All entries are considered for Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Voices Nominee, and American Visions Nominee awards. These are presented to students along with celebration ceremonies and exhibitions in each region.

The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

Genres: Nonfiction

Award: Up to $2,500 and an all-expense paid educational voyage courtesy of

Semester at Sea; runner-up received $1,250 and a full scholarship to attend

the International Diplomacy Program of the National Student Leadership

Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 9-12 whose parents are not in the Foreign Service

Deadline: April 3, 2023

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)’s National High School Essay Contest encourages students to think about how and why the United States engages globally to build peace, and about the role that diplomacy plays in advancing U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

This year, students are asked to explore a topic that touches upon this important history and sheds light on how vital it is for America to have a robust professional corps focused on diplomacy, development, and peace in the national interest.

VFW Voice of Democracy

Award: Up to $35,000 in scholarships

Eligibility: U.S. Citizens in grades 9-12

Deadline: October 31, 2023 (TBD)

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regard to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 64,500 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. All student entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post.

Bennington Young Writers Awards

Genres: Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry

Award: Up to $1,000 and potential scholarships at Bennington College up to $60,00

Eligibility: U.S. and international students in grades 9-12

Deadline: November 1, 2023 (TBD)

Bennington launched the Young Writers Awards to promote excellence in writing at the high school level. All entries must be original work reviewed, approved, and sponsored by a high school teacher. Winners’ works will be published on Bennington’s website.

Atlas Shrugged – Essay Contest

Award: First prize: $10,000; 3 second prizes: $2,000; 5 third prizes: $1,000; 25

finalists: $100; 50 semifinalists: $50

Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students

Deadline: November 6, 2023

The Atlas Shrugged novel essay contest is open to all students globally. Atlas Shrugged is a heroic mystery novel written by Ayn Rand. Choose a prompt and write an 800-1,600 word essay. The Ayn Rand Insititute holds two other contests covering Rand’s work with deadlines in Spring 2023.

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

Genres: Poetry

Award: Scholarships to Young Writers Workshop, publication

Eligibility: Grades 10 & 11

Deadline: November 1-30, 2023 (TBD)

Hosted annually by the Kenyon Review, the Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize was created in 2007 to recognize outstanding young poets. The Kenyon Review also hosts a Short Fiction and Short Nonfiction competition yearly for a wide variety of authors.

Center for Environmental Literacy — River of Words

Award: Recognition and publication

Eligibility: Grades K-12 and/or ages 5-19

Deadline: December 2023/February 2024 (TBD)

River of Words® (ROW) is a program of The Center for Environmental Literacy and a part of the Kalmanovitz School of Education. Acknowledged pioneers in the field of place-based education, River of Words has been inspiring educators and their students for over twenty-five years with an innovative blend of science and the arts. This free, annual, international youth poetry and art contest — the largest in the world — inspires children ages 5 to 19 to translate their observations into creative expression.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Award: Up to $10,000

Eligibility: U.S. citizens in grades 9-12

Deadline: January 2024 (TBD)

The Profile in Courage Essay Contest challenges students to write an original and creative essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage . This is a great fit for any student interested in government, politics, or history.

The Concord Review

Genres: Nonfiction, historical research

Award: Publication and potential to win The Emerson Prize

Eligibility: Work completed while you were a high school student

Deadline: Rolling basis

The Concord Review was founded in March 1987 to recognize and publish exemplary history essays by high school students in the English-speaking world. Although this is not a traditional writing competition, it offers students the opportunity to publish their historical research and gain recognition throughout the academic year. Outstanding submissions may even receive the Emerson Prize, an award named after essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. The entry fee is steeper than most, but it comes with a year-long subscription to The Concord Review.

What are you waiting for? Polish your submissions and share your work today!

If you’re looking for help editing your scholarship applications or general college admissions consulting , don’t hesitate to set up a free consultation today.

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English & Creative Writing Competitions for High School Students

Updated: 11 hours ago

Writing is an essential skill that plays a crucial role in students' academic and professional success. Writing contests are a great way to focus on a topic that excites you, organize your thoughts, showcase your research and creativity, join a community, and gain recognition.  Essays exercise your communication and critical thinking skills, and a student’s essay reveals much about their confidence, brain power, social skills, and commitment. There’s a reason why universities require personal statements. However, with so many writing competitions available, it can be challenging for students to know which ones are worth entering. Here is a list of prestigious writing competitions that offer high school students the chance to showcase their talent, and exercise their creativity through writing.

National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Focus:  The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is one of the most prestigious art and writing competitions for middle and high school students. High school students can submit creative works across 28 different categories, including short stories, personal essays, poetry, and screenplays. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards recognize students both locally and nationally with awards, exhibitions, publications, and scholarships. National Medalists are eligible to win scholarships up to $12,500. 

Eligibility:  Grade 7-12 students

Deadline:  December-January

2. National Council of Teachers of English Essay Competition

Focus:  The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) hosts the annual Achievement Awards in Writing, recognizing high school sophomores and juniors for the best student writing. Students can submit a personal narrative, fictional story, informative or persuasive essay, series of poems, photo essay, or graphic novel/narrative.

Eligibility:  Grade 10 and 11 students

Deadline:  February 15

3. Princeton University Contests

Focus:  Princeton University hosts two contests for high school juniors. One is a poetry contest judged by members of the Princeton University Creative Writing faculty. The other is a Ten-Minute Play Contest judged by members of the Princeton University Program in Theater faculty. Each contest has a first-place prize of $500, second-place prize of $250, and third-place prize of $100.

Eligibility:  Grade 11 students

Deadline:  Poetry - Late November

      Play - April 1

4. Bennington Young Writers Awards

Focus:  Bennington College has an impressive history of literary alumni, including three U.S. poet laureates, twelve Pulitzer Prize winners, four MacArthur Geniuses, two of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, and countless New York Times  bestsellers. The Young Writers Awards were created to continue this legacy, promote writing excellence, and recognize talented high school writers. High school students are encouraged to submit to poetry, fiction, and nonfiction categories.

Eligibility:  Grades 9-12 students

Deadline:  November 1

5. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

Focus:  The Jane Austen Society Essay Contest is an annual competition that invites high school and college students to submit their essays on Jane Austen's novels and their impact on literature and society. The contest is organized by the Jane Austen Society of North America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works. The contest is open to students from all over the world, and the winners receive cash prizes and a one-year membership in the Jane Austen Society. The contest aims to encourage young writers to engage with Austen's timeless themes and to inspire the next generation of Austen scholars and enthusiasts.

Deadline:  June 1

6. John Locke Essay Competition

Focus:  This contest gives you a chance to refine your skills in argumentation (e.g., independent insights, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis, and rhetoric) and have your work assessed by experts. You can choose from 1 of 3 challenging questions posed in 7 different categories (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law) in the form of a 2,000-word (max) essay. There’s also a junior category for students who are under age 15 (i.e., 14 or younger).

Eligibility:  Senior category - Ages 15-17

       Junior category - Ages 14 and under

Deadline:  June 30

7. Immerse Education Essay Competition

Focus:  The Immerse Education Essay Competition allows students to submit essay responses to a question of their choice relating to a subject of interest. There are over twenty questions to choose from. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study at a world-leading university of their choosing. Outstanding runners-up also receive partial scholarships.

Eligibility:  Students aged 13-18

Deadline:  September 12th

8. Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

Focus:  You can give up to 3 writings at a time, with a 9,000-word limit across the pieces. For poetry, you can submit 6 at a time, with no word count limit. Winning entries will be featured in the Adroit Journal. And their authors will receive a cash prize of $200.

Deadline:  May 1

9. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

Focus:  Awards will be presented to students with the top submissions in the two categories below :

Poetry : Students may submit their original poetry in any style, from formal verse to free verse to experimental. The poem should be formatted as you wish it to appear in publication.

Fiction : Students may submit a piece of short fiction, which must be no more than 5,000 words and should not be single-spaced. The entry may be any genre of the student’s choice, including graphic novel or story.

10. Ayn Rand Essay Competition

Focus:   These contests encourage students to seriously engage with Rand’s ideas through reflection on her profound and influential novels. Students who participate will need to read the book they have selected carefully, grapple with its complex themes, and push the boundaries of their writing ability. By doing so, we hope students will better appreciate Rand’s literary works and develop a curiosity for the philosophy underlying them.

Eligibility:  Grades 6-12 students

Deadline:  End May-Mid June depending on the book chosen

11. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Focus:  The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an annual writing competition for high school students around the world. The contest is organized by the World History Association, an organization dedicated to promoting the study of world history. Participants are asked to submit an essay on a given topic related to world history, and the winners are selected based on the quality of their writing and their historical analysis. The competition aims to encourage students to think critically about historical events and their impact on the world today. The winners receive a cash prize, and a certificate of recognition, and their essays are published on the World History Association's website. The competition provides young writers with an opportunity to showcase their research and writing skills while also promoting the importance of studying world history.

Eligibility:  Grade K-12 students

To understand which of these programs is ideal for you, speak to your mentors at OnCourse who will be able to make the most effective recommendations while keeping in mind your interests, your current academic standing, and your resume. If you are not enrolled with OnCourse , reach out to set up a consultation meeting  to understand more about our mentoring programs for students from Grade 8 to Grade 12.

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Creative Writing Opportunities for High School Students

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If you’re a high school student interested in creative writing, you may or may not have a number of broad extracurricular options to pursue during the school year, depending on your school. You might be a part of your school’s literary magazine, or participate in creative writing workshops. Maybe you are lucky enough to attend a school with dedicated creative writing classes or poetry electives.

But what if your school doesn’t seem to offer much for students who want to pursue creative writing? Or what if you don’t even know where to begin looking? How can you keep your momentum headed towards your goal or otherwise use your time productively if you passionate about creative writing?

There are many activities available to high school students who enjoy creative writing. Some might be available through your school, but many are out there waiting for you to pursue them independently.

In this post, we’ll outline how you can take the initiative to pursue multiple creative writing opportunities both in and out of school. Keep reading to learn more about what opportunities are out there for high school-aged creative writers.

Why Pursue Creative Writing?

There are many reasons to pursue extracurriculars in general. They can serve to strengthen your academic profile, they allow you to pursue interests not otherwise available through traditional classwork, and they can provide valuable, real-world experience.

Creative writing is an extracurricular that is closely tied with your academic coursework in English and Language Arts and in fact is probably a partial requirement of at least some of your English classes. Pursuing it further exemplifies your commitment to the craft and gives you some insight into writing as a possible career path.

It might be easy to think of creative writing as nothing more than a hobby, but in reality many careers exist in which strong writing skills are coveted. By pursuing creative writing, you become well equipped for a career as not only an author or poet, but also in many other fields. We’ll discuss these more in depth at the end of this post.

Opportunities to Pursue Creative Writing

Literary magazine:.

This is the most obvious and most common way to study and produce creative writing in a formal setting at school. Many schools already have a literary magazine established and likely have regular meetings and a faculty adviser equipped to lend insight and advice.

You can usually join your school’s literary magazine at the beginning of a new school year, though you may also be able to join mid-year in some circumstances. Contact the editor or faculty advisor if you want to become involved. Over time you may even be able to take on a leadership role yourself. To learn more about the importance of this, check out CollegeVine’s Your Resume, Revamped: Securing Leadership Positions and Perfecting Your Extracurricular Profile . 

Another way to be involved with the literary magazine, even if you aren’t a part of its team, is to become a regular contributor. This isn’t always easy; some schools have highly competitive literary magazines or only produce one printed edition per year. If this is the case at your school, don’t get discouraged. Submit your best work, learn from feedback, and keep trying.

If your school does not have a literary magazine, you might consider starting one. Begin by talking to other students who have expressed interest in creative writing. Once you have a strong group of interested students, approach a member of your school’s faculty who would make a good adviser.

Your faculty adviser should be someone who has worked closely with you in the past and has some level of expertise in creative writing. Be clear what sort of commitment you are asking for from this person. You may need him or her to be present at every meeting, or you might simply need his or her signature and sporadic stamp of approval. Also remember that you will have some associated costs so having a faculty adviser who can help with fundraising could be important.

Literary magazines provide students interested in creative writing with some general insights into a formal writing publication, a glimpse at the process for submitting work and receiving feedback, and the opportunity to have their writing published for all to see.

Creative Writing Club:

If your school does not have a literary magazine or you are interested in pursuing creative writing in a less formal setting, a creative writing club might be a good bet for you.

These clubs generally operate as regular writing workshops during which students respond to prompts or practice free-writing, and then share their work and offer feedback to others. It is often similar to the submissions approval process at a literary magazine without the stress of possible rejection.

In addition, a creative writing club does not generally produce a publication, though some might print a collection of work at the end of the school year. Again, this differs from the traditional literary magazine because work is selected by the author rather than submitted for acceptance or rejection.

If your school does not have a creative writing club, it is easy to start one. Because there is no associated publication as in the case of a literary magazine, the process is generally less formal. You could meet before or after school and sometimes you don’t even need a faculty adviser; you just need a teacher who’s willing to share classroom space outside of school hours.

Alternatively, you could form a writing club that is completely independent of your school by meeting at the library or a friend’s house. Simply gather creative writing exercises from books or online searches and then gather on a regular basis to respond to them, share work, and offer constructive criticism.

A creative writing club can also be an important accountability tool for students who are working on independent creative writing projects. If you’re writing a longer piece or even a novel, or working on a collection of poetry, meeting regularly with like-minded writers can help to keep you on track and provide outside feedback that might otherwise be unavailable.

Creative Writing Tutor:

If creative writing is your passion and you want to share it with others, you might consider becoming a creative writing tutor for younger students.

Contact a local elementary school and ask if you might be able to volunteer. If so, arrive prepared to lead a small writer’s workshop. Bring any handouts you might need and practice your oral presentation ahead of time. If you need some inspiration for activities, check out the Creative Writing for Children page at PBS parents or the Story Starters page at Scholastic . These kid-friendly writing prompts are sure to inspire even the youngest authors.

If you can’t find a volunteer position at an elementary school, you could try reaching out to other local organizations. Girl or boy scout troops, community centers, or the local library are all possibilities.

Leading a creative writing group for younger students is a great way to hone your own thinking about creative writing, to practice your teaching and leadership skills, and to give back to your community.

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Writing Contests:

If you’re looking for more direction for your writing, and the idea of fame and fortune intrigues you, you should consider entering some writing contests. There are many to choose from, and most offer either cash prizes or scholarship money. Some are also quite prestigious.

For a list of some of the most respected writing contests open to high schoolers, check out The CollegeVine Ultimate Guide to High School Writing Contests .

Summer Programs:

As is now the case for most extracurriculars, there are many strong summer programs to choose from if you’d like to pursue creative writing during your school break. These programs can be competitive to get into and you will usually be required to submit a writing portfolio as a part of your application.

Programs such as these also strengthen your college application and reinforce your commitment to writing. A few of the strongest are:

• Interlochen
• Kenyon Review Young Writer’s Workshop
• California State Summer School for the Arts (Primarily for California residents, but a small number of non-residents are accepted each year.)

Many of these programs have scholarships available, so if finances are a concern, be sure to research a few options before ruling anything out.

In addition, many colleges offer summer programs in creative writing as well. These are usually similar in format to any of the aforementioned summer programs, with the added bonus of allowing you to build connections at colleges or universities that you might wish to attend. 

See if any schools on your list of potential colleges or universities offer summer programs and look into attending those. Otherwise, consider one of the following, which are known for their high quality instruction:

• Duke Young Writer’s Camp
• Carleton College Summer Writing Program
• Stanford Summer Institutes
• Lewis and Clark Fir Acres Workshop
• University of Iowa Young Writer’s Studio

Start a Blog

If you find that you are writing often but have nowhere to showcase your work or have trouble holding yourself accountable for producing work on a regular basis, starting your own blog might be a good fit. A blog is a great way to share your writing on a public platform, it can act as an informal portfolio of your work, and it helps to hold you accountable to a larger audience.

Many blogs are easily set up and hosted for free on websites such as WordPress , Blogger , LiveJournal , or Weebly . Share a link to your blog on your social media accounts or send out a group email to let friends and family know about it. As is the case any time you add to your online presence, be sure to discuss your plans with a parent or guardian ahead of time. 

Get Published Elsewhere

A blog isn’t the only platform for publishing your work. Many magazines and periodicals accept submissions from high school students. A long list of publications reviewing high school submissions can be found in the NewPages Young Authors’ Guide . 

You can also check with local publications like newspapers, smaller regional magazines, or even blogs you follow that might accept a guest post.

There are a myriad of ways to get your work to a bigger audience, and if that’s something you’re interested in doing, don’t be shy about asking or even sending unsolicited submissions. All it takes is one person to take a chance on you before you can call yourself a published author.

Career Aspirations for the Creative Writer

It’s easy to think of creative writing as the entry point to becoming a novelist or poet. You might even think that these are your only long-term career options should you choose to pursue creative writing seriously.

This is definitely not the case. Many, many career paths incorporate writing, and while you may not be writing fictional works the entire time, that does not mean that you won’t be incorporating your background in creative writing. All strong writing benefits from creativity.

Writers are especially valued in the fields of:

• Advertising
• American Literature
• Digital Media
• Educational and Instructional Technology
• Media Studies
• Public Relations
• Radio and Television
• Sports Communications
• Technical and Business Writing
• Webpage and Multimedia Design    

Remember, pursuing creative writing doesn’t necessarily mean you have to write a novel or publish a collection of poetry. Writers have valuable skills that can be applied broadly depending on their others skills and interests.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, story writing competitions for high school students: where to find them.

I love creative writing and want to enter some story writing competitions. Does anyone know of any contests for high school students and how to find information about them?

Certainly! Creative writing competitions are a fantastic way to showcase your talents, explore your interests, and potentially even earn awards or recognition. There are several nationwide contests and platforms that cater to high school students. Here are a few to consider:

1. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: One of the most prestigious contests for students in grades 7-12, with multiple categories including short story, poetry, flash fiction, and more. More information can be found at their website: https://www.artandwriting.org/

2. YoungArts: A competition for artists aged 15-18, including writers. They accept submissions for short stories, creative nonfiction, and more. You can learn about submitting your work at https://www.youngarts.org/apply

3. New Voices Young Writers Competition: Open to students aged 11-18, this international competition accepts short stories and poetry. More information can be found at https://www.newvoicesyoungwriters.com/

4. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose: Organized by The Adroit Journal, the competition focuses on poetry and prose written by high school and undergraduate students. Find more information at https://theadroitjournal.org/adroit-prizes/

Apart from these, you can also check out your school’s literary magazine or writing club, which might have information about local or regional competitions. In addition, your local library might also host writing contests or know of nearby opportunities. Keep an eye out for announcements at your school, as contests might be promoted through bulletin boards or school newsletters.

Finally, it's a good idea to stay updated with websites such as CollegeVine, as they occasionally share opportunities for high school students, including writing contests and other extracurricular opportunities. Good luck, and happy writing!

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Craft or Commodity? The ‘Paradox’ of High School Creative Writing Competitions

One story of his — which went on to win a national award for flash fiction — begins as a dispassionate description of household events, but turns by the end into a heart-wrenching account of a child dealing with the aftermath of his parents’ divorce. In writing it, Heiser-Cerrato says he was inspired by the struggles of friends who had experienced divorce.

He also wrote it to enter into national creative writing competitions.

In other disciplines, high schoolers compete in elite programs that can serve as pipelines to top colleges. Students interested in STEM fields often strive to qualify for the International Science and Engineering Fair, while those hoping to go into law and politics can apply for the U.S. Senate Youth Program or compete in the national championships for speech and debate.

For students like Heiser-Cerrato, a number of creative writing contests now serve as a similar path to elite college admissions.

Heiser-Cerrato, who won multiple national awards for his prose and poetry, submitted creative writing portfolios to Harvard, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania, and he’s sure his creative writing is what propelled him to Harvard.

“It was my main hook,” he says.

Competitions like YoungArts and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have skyrocketed in selectivity and prestige over the past few decades, becoming a quantifiable way for colleges to identify rising literary stars. The winners of top competitions disproportionately go on to attend elite universities.

However, selecting the nation’s top storytellers is more complicated than selecting its top scientists. Competitions can’t score poems in the same objective way they score students in a Math Olympiad. Instead, who wins these competitions often comes down to taste. Several former high school creative writers say that specific styles and topic areas disproportionately win national writing competitions. Top competitions, they say, incentivize writers to dredge up traumatic experiences or commodify their cultural backgrounds.

By propelling winners to elite colleges and empowering them to pursue writing, these competitions can change the course of students’ lives. But the pressure to win can also stunt young writers’ growth and complicate their relationship with their craft and themselves.

Creative writing contests aim to promote self expression and foster a new generation of artists. But does turning creative writing into a competition for admissions erode its artistic purpose?

‘The Most Important Experiences of My Life’

H eiser-Cerrato went to a “sports high school” where it was difficult for him to receive the mentorship he needed to improve his writing or find a creative community. With so few fellow writers at his high school, he had no way to judge his talent beyond the confines of his English classes.

Creative writing competitions were founded for students like Heiser-Cerrato. Even a century ago, Maurice Robinson — the founder of Scholastic — was surprised at the gap that existed in recognizing students interested in the arts. In 1923, he hosted the first national Scholastic Art and Writing Competition.

By the 2000s, Scholastic no longer had a monopoly on creative writing competitions. YoungArts was founded in 1981, and the Foyle Young Poets Competition held its inaugural competition in 1998. After the Adroit Journal and Bennington College launched their annual creative writing competitions in the 2010s, competing in multiple creative writing competitions became common practice for aspiring poets and novelists.

When students started finding out about competitions through the internet, competitions like Scholastic doubled in size. The Covid-19 pandemic drove submissions to competitions like Foyle Young Poets up even more. Last year, the Scholastic awards received more than 300,000 entries, up from the 200,000 some entries received in 2005.

Collectively, these contests now receive more than 315,000 creative writing entries a year in categories like poetry, prose, and even spoken word. Students submit individual works of writing, or in some cases portfolios, to be judged by selection panels often consisting of professors and past winners. They are assessed on criteria like “originality, technical skill, and personal voice or vision.”

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards boasts an impressive list of alumni who have gone on to win the highest literary prizes in their fields. Past winners include lauded writers Stephen King, Sylvia Plath, Joyce Carol Oates, and Amanda S. Gorman ’20.

Hoping to perhaps join this illustrious group, Heiser-Cerrato began applying to competitions his sophomore year. Spurred on by his high school English teacher — who incorporated contest submissions into assignments — Heiser-Cerrato felt the concrete nature of competition deadlines helped hold him accountable.

“When you’re trying to do something creative and you have no feedback loop or deadline, you can get very off track and not develop,” he says. “I never would have done that if there wasn’t a contest to submit to, because then there was no opportunity to get feedback.”

While Heiser-Cerrato went on to win some of Scholastic’s top honors — a National Silver Medal and Silver Medal with Distinction for his senior portfolio — even some who fare less well appreciate the feedback competitions provide.

“I think a lot of people are very cautious to give negative feedback to younger writers,” says Colby A. Meeks ’25, a former poetry editor of the Harvard Advocate. “I think getting rejections from certain contests and losing certain competitions did help me grow as a writer insofar as tempering an ego that I think young writers can very easily get from English teachers.”

Heiser-Cerrato views his experience with the Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program — a program that pairs high schoolers with established writers — as “pretty instrumental to my growth.” After applying during his senior year, Heiser-Cerrato met bi-weekly with his mentor, discussing works of other authors and workshopping two stories of his own.

Similarly, when Darius Atefat-Peckham ’23, then a student at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, won a National Silver Medal in the Scholastic competition, he became eligible to apply to the National Students Poet Program. From a pool of finalists submitting more than 23,000 works, Atefat-Peckham was selected as one of five National Student Poets.

“It led me to probably the most important experiences of my life. As a National Student Poet, I got to travel the Midwest and teach workshops to high schoolers and middle schoolers,” he says. “That pretty much set me on my trajectory for wanting to be a teacher someday, wanting to apply myself in the ways that I would need in order to get to a prestigious institution.”

‘If You’re Going to Apply to Harvard…’

W hen Daniel T. Liu ’27 opened his Harvard application portal, he knew exactly why he’d gotten in.

“My application to college was almost solely based on writing,” Liu says.

In high school, along with serving on the editorial staff of multiple literary magazines and attending creative writing summer camps, Liu won dozens of contests — including becoming a YoungArts winner and a 2022 Foyle Young Poet of the Year.

“I actually read my admissions file, and they did mention camps that they know, summer camps like Iowa and Kenyon, which are big teen writing summer programs,” says Liu. “They pointed that out.”

According to The Crimson’s analysis of publicly available data and interviews with multiple students, there is a clear link between high school creative writing contest success and enrollment at highly selective colleges.

From 2019 to 2022, among students with publicly available educational history who won Scholastic’s Gold Medal Portfolio — the competition’s highest award — just over 50 percent enrolled in Ivy League universities or Stanford. Fifteen percent more received writing scholarships or enrolled at creative writing focused colleges.

From 2015 to 2020, 55 percent of the students who won first, second, or third place in the Bennington Young Writers Awards for fiction or poetry enrolled in Ivy League universities or Stanford.

As Atefat-Peckham reflects back on his college application, he knows his creative writing successes were essential in complementing his standardized test scores. While he was proud of his ACT score, he did not believe it would have been enough to distinguish him from other qualified applicants.

Since 2018, three recipients of YoungArts’ top-paying scholarship — the $50,000 Lin Arison Excellence in Writing Award — have matriculated to Harvard. Other winners attended Brown, Swarthmore, and Wesleyan. Recent recipients include Stella Lei ’26, Rhodes Scholar-Elect Isabella B. Cho ’24, and Liu.

Creative writing competitions’ prominence in the college admissions process comes during the most competitive college application environment ever. Harvard’s Class of 2025 received a record-high number 57,435 applicants, leading to the lowest admissions rate in College history.

Eleanor V. Wikstrom ’24, a YoungArts winner and Rhodes Scholar-elect, described YoungArts as “super cool” in allowing her to meet other artists. She also recognized the importance of her participation for college applications.

“I can’t lie: If you think that you’re going to apply to Harvard, it’s very helpful to have some kind of national accolade,” she says.

The ‘Paradox’ of Competitive Art

I n 2021, an anonymously written document accusing student poet Rona Wang of plagiarism made waves in the competitive creative writing community. Wang — who had won awards from MIT and the University of Chicago, was affiliated with Simon & Schuster, and had published a book of short stories — was accused of copying ten works written by other student poets.

According to Liu, this behavior isn’t unprecedented. Several years ago, Liu explains, an “infamous” scandal erupted in the high school creative writing world when a student plagiarized Isabella Cho’s poetry and entered it into competitions.

Liu says more students are beginning to apply to writing competitions out of a desire to have awards on their resume, rather than because of a genuine interest in creative writing.

While creative writing contests can provide valuable opportunities for feedback and mentorship, several students look back on their time in the competitive creative writing circuit with ambivalence. The pressure to write in service of a contest — writing to win, not just to create — can pressure writers to commodify their identities and cash in on their painful experiences, turning a creative outlet into a path to admissions or quest for outside validation.

Liu says he regrets that creative writing competitions are becoming a pipeline to elite college admissions. He’s worried competitions like Scholastic and YoungArts are becoming too similar to programs like the International Science and Engineering Fair.

“Math, science, all these competitions, they all have some aspect of prestige to them,” says Liu. “What makes it so difficult in that regard is that writing isn’t math. It requires a level of personal dedication to that craft.”

“It kind of sucks because a lot of artistic practice should come out of personal will,” says Liu. “To compete in art is paradoxical, right?”

Sara Saylor, who won a gold portfolio prize for her writing, told the New York Times in 2005 that “the awards came to mean too much to me after a while.”

“Whenever Scholastic admissions time rolled around, we began to get very competitive and more concerned about winning the contest than we should have,” she says.

Indeed, students at elite creative high schools like the Interlochen Center for the Arts are pushed by teachers to enter competitions. Hannah W. Duane ’25, who attended the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts as part of the creative writing department, was required to submit to three creative writing competitions every six weeks.

(These competitions are dominated by schools like Duane’s. In 2019, 23 Interlochen students received national Scholastic awards for their creative writing — a distinction typically awarded to less than 1 percent of entries.)

Though Liu wasn’t required to submit to contests, he felt a different kind of obligation. Liu says writing competitions pushed him to write almost exclusively about his heritage, keeping him from exploring other narratives.

“From the start, I applied with a lot of cultural pieces, like pieces about my family history,” says Liu. “Those were the ones that won. And so it built me into a cycle where I was only writing about these areas — heritage.”

Liu’s experience wasn’t uncommon. When looking at other winning pieces, he noticed a similar trend.

“The competitions — Scholastic, YoungArts, those two big ones — definitely prioritize writing about your heritage,” says Liu. “Part of the reason behind that is for a lot of the students, that’s a very unique aspect of them.”

“In a hyper-competitive environment, what you can write better than anyone else is what’s gonna make you stand out,” he adds.

In an emailed statement, YoungArts Vice President Lauren Slone wrote that YoungArts winners in writing “must demonstrate a sense of inventiveness, show attention to the complexities and technical aspects of language, and have a clear, original, and distinct point of view.”

Chris Wisniewski ’01, Executive Director of the nonprofit that oversees Scholastic, wrote in an email that the competition has been “welcoming to works across many styles, subjects, and points of view” and does not give “implicit or explicit guidance” to jurors or competitors about the content or style of winning pieces. He added that “on the national level, each piece of writing undergoes at least three separate readings from jurors to diversify the views on its adherence to the program’s original and sole criteria.”

Ryan H. Doan-Nguyen ’25, who received a Scholastic Gold Key and won the New York Times’s Found Poem Contest, notes another way young writers try to distinguish themselves.

“Students feel compelled to embellish or to write about really painful things,” says Doan-Nguyen, a Crimson News Editor. “It does tend to be really heavy hitting topics that make the page.”

According to him and multiple others, the creative writing circuit pushes students to expose deeply personal, sometimes traumatic experiences for academic points. (Students make similar claims about the college admissions process .)

Doan-Nguyen was hesitant to publicly open up about vulnerable experiences, so he shied away from writing about traumatic memories of his own. But he fears this reluctance held him back.

“Maybe that’s why I did not win more contests,” he says. “I was always too afraid to be so vulnerable and raw.”

Duane recalls the competitions being dominated by sobering personal narratives: often stories about authors’ experiences with racism, abuse, or sexual assault. However, her school worked to insulate its students from the pressure to sensationalize.

“The constant refrain we would hear is, ‘Writing is not your therapy. Get that elsewhere,’” she says.

Liu says writing contests not only changed his content — they also pushed him and other competitors to write in the specific style of past winners. He says many successful pieces were reminiscent of the poet and novelist Ocean Vuong.

Writers would cut their lines off at odd places “to give the illusion of mystery when there’s no real thought behind it besides, ‘Hey, it should look like this because it looks pretty like this,’” says Liu. He also recalls writers, especially young poets, using “a lot of language of violence.” Liu worries this overreliance on stylistic imitation can stunt young writers’ growth.

He questions whether the existence of creative writing competitions is helping young writers at all.

“If writing is supposed to be a practice of self-reflection, you’re not doing those things when you plagiarize. You’re not doing those things when you submit just a draft of someone else’s style,” says Liu. “It doesn’t align with what it should be as an artistic practice.”

‘I Will Always Be Writing’

S ince coming to Harvard, Heiser-Cerrato has begun writing for a very different purpose. He joined the Harvard Lampoon, a semi-secret Sorrento Square social organization that used to occasionally publish a so-called humor magazine.

With the structure and pressure of creative writing competitions behind them, he and other past winners are taking their writing in new directions.

“My high school writing was very sentimental and very focused on trying to be profound,” Heiser-Cerrato says. “But here, I’ve been more interested in the entertainment side of things.”

When writing for competitions, Heiser-Cerrato says it was difficult for him to define his goals. But for the Lampoon, he says he just wants to make others laugh. There, Heiser-Cerrato has finally found the sense of community he lacked in high school.

Meeks joined the Harvard Advocate, where he critiques poetry instead of writing it. In high school, Meeks appreciated competitions as an avenue through which to receive feedback on his writing. Now, he works to give those who submit work to the Advocate similar guidance.

“Often, submitting to a literary magazine feels like you’re sending something into a void,” Meeks says. “And I really wanted as much as possible, as much as it was manageable timewise, to make sure that people were getting some feedback.”

Like Meeks, Wikstrom and Doan-Nguyen are also members of campus publications. Wikstrom is the former editorial chair of The Crimson, and Doan-Nguyen is a Crimson News and Magazine Editor.

Wikstrom, who was the Vice Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland in high school for her spoken word poetry, says she loved spoken word poetry in high school because of its capacity to spark action. At Harvard, she saw The Crimson’s Editorial Board as another way to speak out about important issues.

“It’s a really interesting middle ground for creative writing, because you do have the commitment to factual accuracy,” she says. “But you also have more leeway than perhaps news to be injecting your personal voice. And also that urgency of, ‘I feel very strongly about this. And other people should feel strongly about this, too.’”

Unlike Heiser-Cerrato, Atefat-Peckham wasn’t drawn to any existing organization on campus. Though he attended Interlochen and succeeded in highly selective contests while in high school, Atefat-Peckham disagreed with the cutthroat, commodifying incentive structure and believed campus literary organizations like the Advocate and Lampoon were too selective.

When Atefat-Peckham returned to campus after the pandemic, he helped form the Harvard Creative Writing Collective, a non-competitive home for creative writing on campus.

Liu is a member of the Creative Writing Collective and the Advocate. But most of his writing at Harvard has been independent. Instead of writing for competitions, Liu says he’s transitioned to writing for himself.

And though Doan-Nguyen is not sure what he wants to do after college, he — along with Liu, Meeks, Heiser-Cerrato, Wikstrom, and Duane — is sure writing will play a role in it.

“It’s a big part of my life and always has been, and I think it’s made me see so much about the work that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise if I didn’t put my pen to paper,” says Doan-Nguyen.

“I know that no matter what I end up doing, whether that’s going to law school or journalism or just doing nonprofit work, I will always be writing. Writing and writing and writing.”

Correction: February 13, 2024

A previous version of this article included a misleading quote attributed to Ryan Doan-Nguyen.

— Magazine writer Cam N. Srivastava can be reached at [email protected] .

— Associate Magazine Editor Adelaide E. Parker can be reached at [email protected] .

As college admissions criteria evolve, applicants must showcase more than just academics. Engaging in diverse extracurriculars develops transferable skills and highlights passions. Writing competitions, in particular, distinguish applicants by demonstrating intelligence and creativity and help boost your student profile. Additionally, participating in these competitions refines essay writing skills, crucial for crafting compelling personal statements in college applications.

2024 Writing Competitions for Middle and High School Students

Gain insights on the John Locke Essay Competition. Learn expert tips for crafting standout essays in philosophy, politics, and history.

Some high school students dream of writing for a living, perhaps pursuing an English major in college, or even attending a creative writing MFA program later on. For other students, creative writing can be useful for school assignments, in English and other subjects, and also for preparing their Common App essays . In a less goal-oriented sense, daily freewriting in a journal can be a healthy life practice for many high schoolers. Not sure where to start? Continue reading for 100 creative writing prompts for middle school and high school students. These middle/high school writing prompts offer inspiration for getting started with writing in a number of genres and styles.

Click here to view the 35 Best Colleges for Creative Writing .

What are Creative Writing Prompts?

Similar to how an academic essay prompt provides a jumping-off point for forming and organizing an argument, creative writing prompts are points of initiation for writing a story, poem, or creative essay. Prompts can be useful for writers of all ages, helping many to get past writer’s block and just start (often one of the most difficult parts of a writing process).

Writing prompts come in a variety of forms. Sometimes they are phrases used to begin sentences. Other times they are questions, more like academic essay prompts Writing prompts can also involve objects such as photographs, or activities such as walking. Below, you will find high school writing prompts that use memories, objects, senses (smell/taste/touch), abstract ideas , and even songs as jumping-off points for creative writing. These prompts can be used to write in a variety of forms, from short stories to creative essays, to poems.

How to use Creative Writing Prompts

Before we get started with the list, are a few tips when using creative writing prompts:

Experiment with different formats : Prose is great, but there’s no need to limit yourself to full sentences, at least at first. A piece of creative writing can begin with a poem, or a dialogue, or even a list. You can always bring it back to prose later if needed.

Interpret the prompt broadly : The point of a creative writing prompt is not to answer it “correctly” or “precisely.” You might begin with the prompt, but then your ideas could take you in a completely different direction. The words in the prompt also don’t need to open your poem or essay, but could appear somewhere in the middle.

Switch up/pile up the prompts : Try using two or three prompts and combine them, or weave between them. Perhaps choose a main prompt, and a different “sub-prompt.” For example, your main prompt might be “write about being in transit from one place to another,” and within that prompt, you might use the prompt to “describe a physical sensation,” and/or one the dialogue prompts.  This could be a fun way to find complexity as you write.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Students (Continued)

Write first, edit later : While you’re first getting started with a prompt, leave the typos and bad grammar. Obsessing over details can take away from your flow of thoughts. You will inevitably make many fixes when you go back through to edit.

Write consistently : It often becomes easier to write when it’s a practice , rather than a once-in-a-while kind of activity. For some, it’s useful to write daily. Others find time to write every few days, or every weekend. Sometimes, a word-count goal can help (100 words a day, 2,000 words a month, etc.). If you set a goal, make sure it’s realistic. Start small and build from there, rather than starting with an unachievable goal and quickly giving up.

100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School Teens

Here are some prompts for getting started with your creative writing. These are organized by method, rather than genre, so they can inspire writing in a variety of forms. Pick and choose the ones that work best for you, and enjoy!

Prompts using memories

• Begin each sentence or group of sentences with the phrase, “I remember…”
• Describe a family ritual.
• Choose an event in your life, and write about it from the perspective of someone else who was there.
• Pick a pathway you take on a regular basis (to school, or to a friend’s house). Describe five landmarks that you remember from this pathway.
• Write about your house or apartment using a memory from each room.
• Write an imaginary history of the previous people who lived in your house or apartment.
• Write about an ancestor based on stories you’ve heard from relatives.
• What’s your earliest memory?
• Who was your first friend?
• Write a letter to someone you haven’t seen since childhood.
• Write about yourself now from the perspective of yourself twenty, or eighty, years from now.
• Write about the best month of the year.
• Write about the worst day of the year.
• Rant about something that has always annoyed you.
• Write about the hottest or coldest day you can remember.
• Visualize a fleeting moment in your life and as though it’s a photograph, and time yourself 5 minutes to write every detail you can remember about the scene.
• Draw out a timeline of your life so far. Then choose three years to write about, as though you were writing for a history book.
• Write about a historical event in the first person, as though you remember it.
• Write about a memory of being in transit from one place to another.

Objects and photographs as creative writing prompts

• Describe the first object you see in the room. What importance does it have in your life? What memories do you have with this object? What might it symbolize?
• Pick up an object, and spend some time holding it/examining it. Write about how it looks, feels, and smells. Write about the material that it’s made from.
• Choose a favorite family photograph. What could someone know just by looking at the photograph? What’s secretly happening in the photograph?
• Choose a photograph and tell the story of this photograph from the perspective of someone or something in it.
• Write about a color by describing three objects that are that color.
• Tell the story of a piece of trash.
• Tell the story of a pair of shoes.
• Tell the story of your oldest piece of clothing.

Senses and observations as creative writing prompts

• Describe a sound you hear in the room or outside. Choose the first sound you notice. What are its qualities? It’s rhythms? What other sounds does it remind you of?
• Describe a physical sensation you feel right now, in as much detail as possible.
• Listen to a conversation and write down a phrase that you hear someone say. Start a free-write with this phrase.
• Write about a food by describing its qualities, but don’t say what it is.
• Describe a flavor (salty, sweet, bitter, etc.) to someone who has never tasted it before.
• Narrate your day through tastes you tasted.
• Narrate your day through sounds you heard.
• Narrate your day through physical sensations you felt.
• Describe in detail the physical process of doing an action you consider simple or mundane, like walking or lying down or chopping vegetables.
• Write about the sensation of doing an action you consider physically demanding or tiring, like running or lifting heavy boxes.
• Describe something that gives you goosebumps.
• Write a story that involves drinking a cold glass of water on a hot day.
• Write a story that involves entering a warm house from a cold snowy day.
• Describe someone’s facial features in as much detail as possible.

Songs, books, and other art

• Choose a song quote, write it down, and free-write from there.
• Choose a song, and write a story in which that song is playing in the car.
• Choose a song, and write to the rhythm of that song.
• Choose a character from a book, and describe an event in your life from the perspective of that character.
• Go to a library and write down 10 book titles that catch your eye. Free-write for 5 minutes beginning with each one.
• Go to a library and open to random book pages, and write down 5 sentences that catch your attention. Use those sentences as prompts and free-write for 5-minutes with each.
• Choose a piece of abstract artwork. Jot down 10 words that come to mind from the painting or drawing, and free-write for 2 minutes based on each word.
• Find a picture of a dramatic Renaissance painting online. Tell a story about what’s going on in the painting that has nothing to do with what the artist intended.
• Write about your day in five acts, like a Shakespearean play. If your day were a play, what would be the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution?
• Narrate a complicated book or film plot using only short sentences.
• Read a short poem. Then write a poem that could be a “sister” or “cousin” of that poem.

Abstract ideas as creative writing prompts

• Write about an experience that demonstrates an abstract idea, such as “love” or “home” or “freedom” or “loss” without ever using the word itself.
• Write a list of ways to say “hello” without actually saying “hello.”
• Write a list of ways to say “I love you” without actually saying “I love you.”
• Do you believe in ghosts? Describe a ghost.
• Invent a mode of time travel.
• Glass half-full/half-empty: Write about an event or situation with a positive outlook. Then write about it with a miserable outlook.
• Free-write beginning with “my religion is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with organized religion as you’d like).
• Free-write beginning with “my gender is…” (what comes next can have as much or as little to do with common ideas of gender as you’d like).
• Write about a person or character that is “good” and one that is “evil.” Then write about the “evil” in the good character and the “good” in the evil character.
• Write like you’re telling a secret.
• Describe a moment of beauty you witnessed. What makes something beautiful?

Prompts for playing with narrative and character

• Begin writing with the phrase, “It all started when…”
• Tell a story from the middle of the most dramatic part.
• Write a story that begins with the ending.
• Begin a story but give it 5 possible endings.
• Write a list of ways to dramatically quit a terrible job.
• Write about a character breaking a social rule or ritual (i.e., walking backwards, sitting on the floor of a restaurant, wearing a ballgown to the grocery store). What are the ramifications?
• You are sent to the principal’s office. Justify your bad behavior.
• Re-write a well-known fairytale but set it in your school.
• Write your own version of the TV show trope where someone gets stuck in an elevator with a stranger, or a secret love interest, or a nemesis.
• Imagine a day where you said everything you were thinking, and write about it.
• Write about a scenario in which you have too much of a good thing.
• Write about a scenario in which money can buy happiness.
• Invent a bank or museum heist.
• Invent a superhero, including an origin story.
• Write using the form of the scientific method (question, hypothesis, test, analyze data conclusion).
• Write using the form of a recipe.

Middle School & High School Creative writing prompts for playing with fact vs. fiction

• Write something you know for sure is true, and then, “but maybe it isn’t.” Then explain why that thing may not be true.
• Write a statement and contradict that statement. Then do it again.
• Draft an email with an outlandish excuse as to why you didn’t do your homework or why you need an extension.
• Write about your morning routine, and make it sound extravagant/luxurious (even if it isn’t).
• You’ve just won an award for doing a very mundane and simple task. Write your acceptance speech.
• Write about a non-athletic event as though it were a sports game.
• Write about the most complicated way to complete a simple task.
• Write a brief history of your life, and exaggerate everything.
• Write about your day, but lie about some things.
• Tell the story of your birth.
• Choose a historical event and write an alternative outcome.
• Write about a day in the life of a famous person in history.
• Read an instructional manual, and change three instructions to include some kind of magical or otherwise impossible element.

Prompts for starting with dialogue

• Write a texting conversation between two friends who haven’t spoken in years.
• Write a texting conversation between two friends who speak every day and know each other better than anyone.
• Watch two people on the street having a conversation, and imagine the conversation they’re having. Write it down.
• Write an overheard conversation behind a closed door that you shouldn’t be listening to.
• Write a conversation between two characters arguing about contradicting memories of what happened.
• You have a difficult decision to make. Write a conversation about it with yourself.
• Write a conversation with a total lack of communication.
• Write a job interview gone badly.

Final Thoughts – Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School & High School 

Hopefully you have found several of these creative writing prompts helpful. Remember that when writing creatively, especially on your own, you can mix, match, and change prompts. For more on writing for high school students, check out the following articles:

• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• 160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics
• 150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
• Good Transition Words for Essays
• High School Success

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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Winners of first-ever CWU College in the High School Writing Contest are announced

April 17, 2024

• University Relations

A group of Cle Elum-Roslyn High School students have been recognized for their work on the inaugural CWU College in the High School Writing Contest, as part of the 2024 Manastash literary journal project.

The panel of judges was in search of prose, poetry, and artwork centered around the 2024 journal theme “Humanity vs. Machine (AI).” The winners, listed below, will be featured in the upcoming issue of the journal, Vol. 34.

Manastash  is a student-led literary magazine edited and published by CWU English Department students. The first issue of Manastash — the longest-running print journal at the university —came out in 1990, and an annual collection of student literature has been published ever since.

The journal publishes poems, short stories, creative non-fiction and artworks produced around a certain theme specific to each issue. The program also features two practicum courses taught by English faculty — one for the editing and sequencing during winter quarter, and one for layout and design during spring quarter.

The Manastash  literary journal is open to all CWU students. CWU English faculty provide mentorship to the students, who make all the creative and editorial decisions. Past issues can be viewed on manastash.org   and purchased at Wildcat Shop .

For the recently completed College in the High School Writing Contest, judges recognized the following works from a highly competitive pool of submissions:

•••••••

POETRY (co-winners)

"glue" by Monica Leers  

• Judges : "glue" demonstrated careful attention to language with assonance, consonance, repetition of phrases, internal and end rhymes, and the building of tension with questions. This poem's message articulated the anxiety of our times.

"Man-Made Clockwork" by Addison Green  

• Judges:  Green’s poem deftly plays with the field of the page and through juxtaposition of technical language with the language of feeling, sends a warning for the future.

"In Desperation For Survival" by Afroditi Zervou

• Judges : Zervou’s short story operates successfully on many levels, displaying impressive character development while also maintaining an engaging plot — a notable achievement in craft and language.

"AI Conflict" by Sadie Melhorn ( pictured above )

• Judges : Melhorn’s artistic interpretation of the theme vividly portrays the complex interplay between humans and machines. The striking image, with its lines and hues, beautifully enhances the multifaceted aspects of our future.

 •••••••

About the Winners

• Monica Leers  is a senior at Cle Elum-Roslyn High School.
• Addison Green  is a sophomore at Cle Elum-Roslyn High School, currently enrolled in the CiHS program for English 102 and Mathematics 152. She's been a lover of the arts since birth and spends most of her time hanging out with dogs. In the future, she hopes to study anthropology and history.
• Afroditi Zervou  is a sophomore at Cle Elum-Roslyn High School. She is taking English 101 and 102 and enjoys writing novels and sketching in her free time. She is a first-generation immigrant from Greece and has been able to speak four languages since elementary school.
• Sadie Melhorn  is a senior at Cle Elum-Roslyn High School who is involved in Key Club and ASB. In her free time, she is the voice of students while being a student representative on her school board. Sadie is passionate about making a difference for those around her.

CWU Health Sciences to showcase student achievement, opportunities

by Rune Torgersen

Passion for performance sends CWU Music standout to Italy and beyond

• [email protected]

Additional Resources

• Campus Notices

School Reading List

Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK

Home » Competitions for Children » Children’s Writing Competitions

Children’s Writing Competitions

Young writer’s competitions for children and teens aged 5-18

Please read our list of writing competitions for children. The contests are checked and updated each month . We are happy to feature writing challenges open to primary-age children, secondary-age pupils, and young adults in the UK. If you would like your competition featured here, please contact us . We are happy to feature competitions with at least one month remaining before the closing date. We have also compiled a list of recommended creative writing manuals and writing workshop activity guides suitable for use with KS1, KS2, KS3, and KS4 at the bottom of this page.

New competitions are listed at the top of each month. Past and annual competitions are listed below .

Writing competitions for children and teens

Please note – many previously annual competitions were or are being affected by the recession, lockdown, COVID or cost of living crisis. This is beyond our control.

Closing date in April

• The Guardian newspaper is running a Young Country Diary  writing competition open to 8-14-year-olds based in the UK. Six winners will be published in the Guardian and to enter students need to write a 200-250 word article about ‘a recent encounter they’ve had with nature’. Full details can be found on the competition webpage.
• Pitch Magazine is running a Young Sports Journalist competition . Students aged 14-24 can enter an article of 400-600 words in response to the question prompts on the website. There are four age group categories: 14-15, 16-17, 18-19 and 20-21 and there’s a £50 prize and work experience opportunity for each winning entry.
• Tadpole Press is running a worldwide 100-word writing contest open to writers of all ages. 100 words can be submitted in any genre. There is an entry fee for this competition and there’s a cash prize for 1st place and writing coaching and editing packages for the 2nd and 3rd places. The deadline is 30th April.
• Reading Zone offers a Create a Picture Book competition that’s open to 4-18-year-olds in three age group categories: 4-7; 7-11 and 11+. Prizes include £200 of books.
• Author of Tomorrow – run by the Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, the Author of Tomorrow prize aims to find adventure writers of the future. Young people under 21 can submit entries between 1500 and 5000 words (under 500 words for primary-aged pupils). The prizes are £1000 for the 16-21 age group, £100 and £150 in book tokens for the 12-15 age group, and £100 and £150 in book tokens for the 11 and under age group.
• The Day ‘ Young Journalist Awards ” are open to anyone under 19 (under 10 and 11-18)  and entrants can submit a written article, a video clip, an audio piece, photography, an illustration or a graphic in any one of 12 subject categories. Full details including how to enter are on the competition website.

Closing date in May

• The Poetry of Science Competition – Can you write a ‘ terrific scientific poem ‘? Each entrant can enter one poem of up to 150 words. There are three age group categories: 5-7, 8-11 and 12-16. For schools, there’s a downloadable poster for classrooms here . Winners will be invited to Oxford to attend a celebration event and perform their poems.
• Never Such Innocence – The 2024 theme is “How does war affect people’s lives?” , and to enter children and teens can ‘ using poetry, art, speech and song’ . There are four age group categories (9-11;  11-14;  14-16;  & 16-18) and full details are on the competition website.
• The D.H. Lawrence Children’s Prize: Writing Competition is open to students aged 11 and under and 12-16, who can enter up to 500 words on the theme of “The Four Seasons”. Prizes include Kindles and book tokens.
• Bournemouth Writing Festival is running an international students competition, with the theme of “ On Bournemouth Beach “. It’s open to international students aged 16+ whose first language is not English.
• War Through Children’s Eyes is open to children aged 7-17 and aims to “ raise awareness of the impact of wars and violent conflicts on the communities caught up in them, and particularly on the most vulnerable members of those communities: their children “. Entries of up to 1000 words are invited, there are vouchers for the top three entries and full details are available on the website.
• The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is open to young people under the age of 19. The competition features a starter paragraph and invites entrants to write under 1000 words to continue the story.

Closing date in June

• The Wells Festival of Literature offers young poets aged 16-25 the opportunity to enter poems of up to 35 lines on any subject for the annual Young Poets Competition. All entries must be in English .
• Celebration Day writing competition – entrants are invited to write 250 words (primary) or 500 words (secondary) to tell the story of an inspirational person they know. There are five age categories: 5-7; 8-10; 11-13; 14-16; 17-18 & teachers. Full details and resources are available on the competition website and the Celebration Day website.
• The Orwell Youth Prize – for secondary students aged 12-18, entries can be in any form, up to 1000 words. This year’s task is to respond to this title: “The Future We Want”.
• Cambridge University and SATIPS handwriting competition .

Closing date in July

• The Laurie Lee Prize for Writing offers a young person’s category for those who either live in Gloucestershire or were born in Gloucestershire.  16–20-year-olds  can enter up to 2500 words or up to 125 lines of poetry on “a nature or conservation theme”. There are more details on the competition website.
• The Young Wild Writer competition , run by Hen Harrier Action invites children aged 6-8, 9-12 and 13-16 to enter stories, poems, articles, prose or letters of up to 500 words on the theme of animal survival . Prizes include book vouchers and an online author visit to the winning child’s school. Full details, including a downloadable poster, are on the competition website.
• The Hampshire Young Poets competition is open to any young person aged 4-7; 8-11 or 12-16 “ who lives or studies in Hampshire “. Entrants can submit up to 14 lines of poetry on the theme of ‘ home ’. Full details are on the competition website.
• Foyle Young Poets competition – for 11-17-year-olds, the competition welcomes “poems on any theme and any length”.
• Stephen Spender Trust poetry in translation prize – the challenge is to translate a poem from any language into English. There are three categories for young people: U18, U16, and U14. The top prize is £1000.
• Ledbury Under 18’s poetry competition . Two categories – 11 and under and 12-17 request poems of no more than 40 lines in length. There are cash prizes or book tokens for the winners.
• HG Wells short story competition.

Closing date in August

• Overgrowth Magazine is running an Undergrowth competition open to 16-19-year-olds who can submit 500 words of writing, or artwork, in any form “ about nature and our relationship to it .” Full details and ideas are on the competition webpage.
• Goldsmiths University of London is running a series of competitions for 16-18-year-olds who are invited to a short story, a piece of journalism with a historical angle, or a piece about identity and culture. The Young Writer, Young Columnist, and Young Anthropologist competitions close on 2nd August.
• Cinemagic Young Filmmaker – open to films on any subject from young filmmakers aged under 25. The prizes include winning films being screened in cinemas.
• Young Muslim Writers Award – open to UK children and teens in KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4 who can submit a short story or poetry – and in KS3 and KS4, this is extended to also include journalism, screenplays, and play scripts. Full details are on the website.

Closing date in September

• The annual OxBright Essay Competition invites 15-18-year-olds to submit an essay of up to 3,800 characters (around 500 words). Details of the theme and subject requirements are on the competition website.
• Atom Learning’s Young Author Award offers 7-9-year-olds and 10-11-year-olds the chance to win a trip to Disneyland Paris. Children can enter fiction stories of up to 500 words inspired by the theme “If I were in charge for a day…” There’s also a free creative writing activity pack to download.
• C.A.B.B Publishing is running a short story competition for children. Full details are available on their website.
• The Betty Haigh Shakespeare Prize – is open to “any sixth-form student of English Literature”. There are two options, both with detailed entry criteria which can be viewed on the competition website.

Closing date in October

• ‘If Dylan met Thomas Hardy’ is the title of a new competition hosted by the Dylan Thomas Society and the Thomas Hardy Society. Writers aged 11+ can submit a play of up to 15 minutes in length for up to four cast members. The best three plays entered will be performed at the Dylan Thomas Theatre.
• The Yorkshire Festival of Story Children’s Story Competition invites short stories from UK children aged 7-12.
• Royal Geographical Society School Essay Competition – an annual competition, run in association with the Financial Times, for 16-19-year-olds, with a closing date in October.
• The Young Walter Scott Prize is dedicated to historical fiction, defined as “in a time before you were born”, and this competition has two age categories: 11-15 and 16-19. Entries can be prose, poetry, drama, fictional letters, or reportage. The closing date is the end of October.
• The Solstice Prize For Young Writers , organised by Writing East Midlands, invites children and teens aged 7-17 to write ‘ imaginative short stories (up to 500 words) and p rovocative poems (up to 40 lines)’. The competition offers cash prizes and an anthology of the best entries. There are three age categories: 7-11, 12-14 and 15-17.
• Saugus Halloween story writing contest.

Closing date in November

• BBC 500 words short story competition for children –  with two age group categories, 5-7-year-olds and 7-11-year-olds.
• The WILD WORDS National Eco-Poetry Project is open to young people aged 18 and under in the UK, who are asked to “imagine co-writing a poem with a tree, river, or even the weather” . Poem entries should be a maximum of one side of A4. Full details are on the competition website.
• Poetry Together Competition – children under 18 in the UK are invited to enter poems of no more than 14 lines on a theme detailed on the competition website, and choose a poem on any theme to learn by heart. There are two age group categories and full details are available on the competition website.
• The East Riding Festival of Words runs an annual poetry competition. Entries of up to 45 lines are open to children aged 4-10 and 11-16 and there are cash prizes for the winners.
• The Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest is a worldwide competition open to writers of all ages. There’s an entry fee for this one, with cash prizes and writing development packages on offer for the winners. The deadline is November 30th.
• Wenlock Olympian Society Short Story Competition – open to students aged 16+ who are invited to write a story on any theme of up to 2500 words. Full entry details are on the Wenlock website.
• One Teen Story – story submission site for teenagers. The deadline is 27th November.
• The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize for writers aged 18-25 invites entries of 1000-1500 words on a Franklin quote which changes each year. The deadline is 30th November.

Closing date in December

• Love Letters to London , run by the London Society, offers children aged 11 and under and 12-18 year-olds the opportunity to win cash prizes by entering prose (fiction, essays, and reportage) or poetry that celebrates ‘our wonderful, fantastic, infuriating city’. Full details, including this year’s theme, can be found on the competition website.
• Into Film awards will hopefully return in 2024. See also the ‘Film of the Month’ competition and the extensive resources to encourage school film clubs.

Closing date in January

• This Page is Printed offers an under-18s competition with cash prizes for entries of up to one page of A4 ‘in any genre: prose, poetry, script’. Judges will be looking for ‘something that dares to be different.’
• The Young Cartoonist Awards have an under-18 category where children and teens can enter ‘pocket (gag) cartoons, political cartoons and short strip cartoons.’
• The Cheshire Prize for Literature invites primary and secondary-aged students to enter short stories, poetry, children’s literature and scriptwriting. To qualify, entrants ‘must live or have lived, work or have worked, studied or have studied in Cheshire, Wirral, Warrington or Halton.’
• The Royal Mint Museum short story competition – will return in January 2024.
• The Japan Society runs the World Children’s Haiku Contest . Students aged 15 and under can enter a haiku on A4 or letter-sized paper on the theme of “family”, accompanied by hand-drawn artwork on the same page. Full details are available on the competition website.
• The Immerse Essay Competition offers teens aged 13-18 the opportunity to write an essay choosing from a range of topics including architecture, science, law, international relations, medicine, economics, creative writing and many more. There are two age groups: 13-15 and 16-18. The deadline is 4th January.
• North Eastern University London is running an essay competition for students in year 12. Pupils can submit up to 1,500 words, choosing from a range of set essay titles that span a broad range of topics including humanities, philosophy, social issues, the law and creative writing. There are cash prizes for the top three entries.
• The Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project Essay Contest is an international competition open to children in two age group categories: years 6-9 and years 10-13. There are cash prizes for the top three entries and honourable mentions in each category. Full entry details are available on this information poster . All submissions must be submitted by 15th January.
• The Herne Hill Lit Fest is running a “Stepping into Stories” competition for children aged 4-7, 8-11 and 12+. The theme is “ bouncing back “. Entries can be written stories, drawings, comic strips, poetry, raps, or digital animations. There are book token prizes for the winners.
• Bournemouth Young Writers prize – open to children in years 3&4, and years 5&6 and stories can be “ about anything you like “. Prizes include £150 worth of books.
• Rotary Club International Young Writer competition.

Closing date in February

• The Philosophy Garden is running a ‘Write a Script’ competition. Open to 11-18-year-olds in full-time education who live in the UK, students are invited to write a script for a short explainer video ‘ to explore how people with different beliefs and values can deal with disagreement and come to a decision or solve a problem together .’ Full details can be found on the competition webpage.
• The Elmbridge Literary Competition is open to children under 18 (free) in four age group categories: 5-7; 8-11; 11-13 and 14-18. The theme for 2024 is “Fame”. Short stories or poems can be entered. Full entry details and requirements can be viewed on the competition website.
• Perse Research’s Year 9 Aristotelian Award is open to students in Year 9 or equivalent. The award exists to “ promote the independent study skills in Year 9 pupils while simultaneously providing an avenue to explore super-curricular interests in the arts, humanities and sciences. ” Entrants are invited to write an 800-1500 word essay choosing a title from a choice of topics and essay titles spanning arts, humanities and the sciences.
• The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition – annual – open to all children of school age, including school and college pupils, home-educated children and entries from young people’s community organisations. There are three age categories: 5-10; 11-14 and 15-18. The 2024 theme is “ Being Part of a Group “.
• Bright Light Education Creative Writing Competition for children aged 7-13. This annual competition returns in 2023 and is open to all children in the UK, with three age categories – 7-9, 9-11 and 11-13. Entries need to be a 500-word story (full criteria on the website) inspired by Joseph Coelho’s advice on the website.  Closes on February 28th.
• The Royal Society of Literature invites students aged 13-18 to write up to 500 words about “ the writer from the past that most inspires them “. Prizes for the “ History is in the Making ” competition include book tokens for both entrants and the school.
• The Hugo Young Award – held in memory of Guardian political columnist Hugo Young, this competition encourages “fresh voices” aged 16-18 and 19-25 from UK state schools to pen political opinion pieces. Highly recommended for students studying A-level politics, sociology or looking towards a career in journalism.
• Voices – a writing competition, run by the charity Coram Voice, which is open to children and young people who are in or have experience with the care system.
• Christopher Tower Poetry Prize – open to young adults aged 16-18.

Closing date in March

• Young Science Writer of the Year Award – run by the Association of British Science Writers, this award is open to UK pupils aged 14-16 in non-selective state schools. Students can submit up to 800 words “on any subject in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics.”
• Humanimal Trust Creative Awards – children and teens aged 7-18 can share their creative skills on the theme of ‘ Time to Connect ‘ in four age group categories: 7-9; 10-11; 12-15 & 16+. Full details are on the competition website.
• Young Songwriter 2024 – “ The world’s leading songwriting competition for young aspiring songwriters, aged 8-18 “. Children are invited to enter up to five songs. There are three age group categories for UK children and teens: 8-12; 13-15 & 16-18. Full details are on the Song Academy website.
• The BBC Young Reporter Competition is open to children and teens aged 11-18 who “want to report on a story or issue which is important to their life or the world around them”.
• Young Financial Journalist Competition – open to secondary students aged 14-15, 15-15, 16-17 and 18-19. “We are seeking well-argued articles from students aged 14–19”.
• Fitzwilliam College Cambridge is running a series of essay competitions aimed at pupils in their penultimate year of education before university – i.e. Year 12, S5 or Y13 (Northern Ireland). Entries (written in English) are welcome from around the world. With six categories: Ancient World and Classics, Archaeology, History, Land Economy, Medieval World, and Architecture; this competition is highly recommended for 6th formers and could provide useful evidence for university applications, a starting point for an EPQ project, or a talking point for an admissions interview. The deadline is 3rd March.
• The BBC Young Writer’s Award – is open to 14-18-year-olds who can submit a piece of original fiction of up to 1000 words. Highly recommended.
• The Portico Sadie Massey Awards feature two competitions open to children. There’s the KS2, KS3, KS4, and KS5 Young Readers Competition (write a book review – any genre – on any subject) and the Young Writers competition, open to pupils in KS3,4&5 (write a story based in the North of England.)
• The Girton College Humanities Writing Competition – open to Year 12 students in the UK, the writing task is based on five objects in the college’s antiquities museum.
• The Royal Mint runs an annual competition for primary school pupils aged 8-11 who can enter short stories of up to 500 words. Prizes include books for the school library. For this year’s theme and entry details, see the competition website.
• The Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge is open to children aged 7-11 from across Salford and Greater Manchester. “ Pupils can draw on all aspects of writing for performance “, and enter writing of up to 500 words including poetry and stories or up to three minutes of playscript.
• The ISA Handwriting Competition is open to children in years 1, 2, 3-4 & 5-6 in ISA member schools, “to showcase their handwriting skills”.

Undated or open

• The Scottish Book Trust runs monthly mini-sage 50-word story writing competitions for children aged 5-11 and 12-18, with a different theme each month.
• Wordhound runs a monthly creative writing challenge for children aged 12 and under, who can send in 300-word stories “of funny, weird or otherwise unique writing” on a different subject each month.
• Kids’ Poetry Club runs a variety of competitions for primary and secondary-aged children, with a new theme announced every few months.
• The Young Poets Network runs regular writing challenges and competitions, which can be viewed on their website.
• BBC Today Student Journalism Awards – annual. this competition features a variety of journalism categories, including journalism (any medium), broadcasting, visual and photojournalism, criticism, publication, and programme. Entrants must be over 18 and in full-time UK higher education. The prizes include places on highly coveted BBC Journalism Trainee Schemes (paid positions).
• BBC Writers Room is inviting speculative screenplay submissions of at least 30 pages from young scriptwriters aged 16+ in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
• Blue Things Zine invites young writers aged 13+ to write articles and stories under 1500 words for consideration for publication.
• Scholastic We Are Writers – not a competition per-se, but lots of ideas for literacy and writing projects with the aim of getting your pupils published. Ideal for fundraisers or whole-school writing initiatives.
• Inkhead short story competition and writing clubs.
• Amnesty International has a series of online resources – ‘ Words That Burn ‘ – to inspire teenagers to write about human rights, equality and discrimination.
• National Literacy Trust competitions page.
• Readers’ Digest Competitions . – including a 100-word story competition for children.
• The Guild of Food Writers Write It – Young Food Writer of the Year – is open to children up to 18 in three age categories.
• Live Canon: Children’s Poetry Competition – for young people aged 5-18.
• For a non-competitive option, the John Muir Award offers schools an opportunity to “encourage people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places.” Through an award scheme, pupils can create a dossier of experiences, challenges and presentations to demonstrate how they have discovered a wild place, explored it, done something to conserve it and shared their experience. A good option for larger groups, classes and year groups, this award requires teacher input and planning. Suitable for year 4 through to secondary-aged pupils.
• The First Story Young Writers Festival offers pupils a day-long online festival with workshops, resources, interviews with writers, showcases for young writers, resources and CPD for teachers. This is a fantastic resource to inspire children to write for publication and would make a great starting point for pupils considering entering writing competitions. ( Note the festival is not running a competition of its own ).

Resources for creative writing in schools and at home

• Hoo’s Writing Corner – an exciting creative writing website for primary-aged children. The website includes writing prompts and exercises, and the monthly subscription magazine includes story construction ideas and spelling worksheets.
• Below is a collection of books recommended to inspire children to write – whether it be creative writing, nonfiction, or poetry.

Help! We Need a Story by James Harris

Write Like a Ninja: An essential toolkit for every young writer by Andrew Jennings

500 Words: A collection of short stories that reflect on the Black Lives Matter movement

Descriptosaurus by Alison Wilcox

How to Write your Best Story Ever! by Christopher Edge

How to Write Poems by Joseph Coelho

Just Imagine by James Carter

Spilling Ink – A Young Writer’s Handbook by Ellen Potter & Anne Mazer

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

For more competition ideas, have a look at our public speaking and debating contests.

Browse our list of Children’s Book Publishers in the UK

Peruse our list of magazines for children and teens

Why not have a look at our suggested reading lists for children aged 3-16?

Books for EYFS & Reception Books for Year 1 Books for Year 2 Books for Year 3 Books for Year 4 Books for Year 5 Books for Year 6 Books for Year 7 Books for Year 8 Books for Year 9 Books for Year 10 Books for Year 11 Books for 6th formers

Please respect copyright and don’t copy or reproduce our reviews. Thanks .

About Tom Tolkien

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Contests & Awards

The english department confers four awards annually . while most of them are internal, two are external., english department creative writing contests.

• Show Arthur Paulson Award for Poetry Content
• Show Ole E. Rolvaag Award for Fiction Content
• Show Award for Creative Nonfiction Prose Content

This award honors the memory of Professor Arthur Paulson, a long-time teacher of creative writing at St. Olaf.   The award consists of a cash prize of $150.  Please limit to 3 poems.

This award honors the memory of st. olaf’s greatest writer, ole rolvaag.  the award consists of a cash prize of $150.  submissions may consist of one or two short stories or part of a novel, 3,000 total word count., this award, sponsored by the english department, consists of a $150 cash prize for a work of creative nonfiction prose.  submissions may consist of one or two essays up 3,000 total word count., ready to submit your application, this year’s deadline is april 15, 2024.

SUBMIT PROPOSAL

Important details

All submissions should be typed in a standard 12-point font; prose should be double-spaced. the author’s name should not appear on the manuscript..

External Submissions

ACM Nick Adams Short Story Contest

Each year, ACM sponsors the  Nick Adams Short Story Contest  to celebrate the creativity and talent of student writers at ACM colleges and to highlight the excellent creative writing programs across the consortium.

AWP Intro Journals Project

The Intro Journals Project is a literary competition for the discovery and publication of the best new works by students currently enrolled in  AWP member programs . Program directors are invited to nominate student work, and winners will be selected for publication in participating literary journals:  Colorado Review, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Iron Horse Literary Review, Mid-American Review, Puerto del Sol, Quarterly West, Reed Magazine,  and  Tampa Review .

Archive — Honors and Awards

Honors and Awards, 2021-2022 Honors and Awards, 2020-2021 Honors and Awards, 2019-2020 Honors and Awards, 2018-19 Honors and Awards, 2017-18 Honors and Awards, 2016-17 Honors and Awards, 2015-16 Honors and Awards, 2014-15 Honors and Awards, 2013-14 Honors and Awards, 2012-13

Honors and Awards, 2011-12 Honors and Awards, 2010-11 Honors and Awards, 2009-10 Honors and Awards, 2008-09 Honors and Awards, 2007-08 Honors and Awards  2006-07 Honors and Awards, 2006-07 Honors and Awards, 2005-06 Honors and Awards, 2004-05

Creative Writing Awards, 2004 Creative Writing Awards, 2005 Creative Writing Awards, 2006 Creative Writing Awards, 2007

Avon School District 4-1

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Gymnasium №1520 named after Kaptsov

Description of Gymnasium №1520 named after Kaptsov

• Location: Moscow, Russia
• Students age: 7 to 18 years old
• Forms of study: full-time, part-time
• Adapted programs
• Stages of education: primary, basic, secondary.

The gymnasium has two buildings, the first of which was opened in 1892. Since 2015, a school with in-depth study of a foreign language has been operating. Gymnasium 1520 ranks 1st in the Presnensky District, 10th in the Central Administrative District and 24th in Moscow in the ranking of successful USE.

Programs and prices, tuition fees in Gymnasium №1520 named after Kaptsov

Primary education (7-11 years old) consists of the study of basic subjects. An adapted program for children with mental retardation is also being implemented, where school specialists - a speech therapist, social teacher and psychologist - help students.

Basic education (11-15 years old): basic subjects and preparatory classes for passing the OGE. For students in grades 7-9, it is possible to complete the program under the "Mathematical Vertical" project, where the emphasis in the study makes on mathematics.

Secondary education (16-18 years old): a program consisting of basic subjects and in-depth study of the disciplines selected for passing the exam. Education in grades 10-11 is possible in universal and academic areas.

Accommodation, meals, prices

The school provides paid and discounted meals. Students of grades 1-4 and some social categories of children eat free of charge.

Students can pay for meals using the student's electronic card "Passage and Meals", by which parents can also track the child's attendance at school.

Academic groups are fed according to an individual schedule, at any break, each student can use the buffet service.

Activities Gymnasium №1520 named after Kaptsov

After school hours, gymnasium students can attend school circles and sections organized in several directions:

• Technical courses - study of computer and information technology, programming, robotics:
• Layout and modeling of objects
• Engineering graphics.
• Physical culture and sports activities:
• Table / tennis
• Gymnastics.
• Natural science education - in-depth study of basic scientific subjects (mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, etc.), zoology based on design and research activities
• Socio-pedagogical orientation - circles on the topics:
• Languages (Russian, English, German, French, Chinese)
• Fundamentals of Social Science
• Intellectual development
• Moscow studies.
• Artistic orientation - classes on:
• Fine arts (painting, graphics, etc.)
• The basics of theatrical, musical art
• Dance and vocal directions
• Playing musical instruments.

Also gymnasium students participate in:

• Writing practical research papers on topics of basic subjects
• Visiting museums, theaters, attractions, etc.
• Regular school and city events
• Sports competitions, creative contests
• Subject Olympiads
• Conferences, projects
• Volunteer school movement.
• Profile classes
• Active extracurricular activities, additional education
• Cooperation with universities.

Facilities and equipment at Gymnasium №1520 named after Kaptsov

In two buildings of the gymnasium for a comfortable and effective learning, equipped with:

• Study rooms
• Practical laboratories
• Classrooms of additional education (classrooms of music and fine arts, workshops, etc.)
• Dance and assembly halls
• Libraries with reading spaces
• Sports halls and grounds on the territory of the buildings.

The classrooms use interactive and chalk boards, projectors, video and audio systems. In the library, students can use printers, scanners and MFPs.

Admission dates and extra charges

The academic year is divided into trimesters for grades 1-9:.

• September 1-November 13
• November 23-February 19
• March 1 - May 21/31.

Pupils of grades 10-11 go through the program in half-years:

• September 1-December 30
• January 11 - May 21/31.
• October 5-11
• November 16-22
• December 31-January 10
• February 22-28
• April 5-11.

Schoolchildren attend classes five days a week, development classes are held on Saturday. Lessons begin at 8:30, each lasting 45 minutes (35 minutes in the first half of the year for first grades).

Cooperation with universities

Gymnasium No. 1520 cooperates with such universities as:

• Moscow State University (biological, law faculties)
• Higher School of Economics
• Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
• Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Russian Academy of Sciences
• Russian State Social University
• State Institute of the Russian Language. A.S. Pushkin
• Moscow City Pedagogical University
• Moscow State University of Psychology and Education
• Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry. N.S. Kurnakov of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Institutes and universities provide high school students with the opportunity to practice, to participate in lectures and conferences, to  give an advantage when entering after graduation.

Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol

Admission to the school takes place only through registration on the Moscow Public Services Portal. On the site you need to submit an application and wait for an invitation to an educational organization for further admission.

Scholarships Gymnasium №1520 named after Kaptsov

Gymnasium students, their parents, teachers and friends of the school are annually awarded with commemorative tokens for academic success, Olympiad, sports, creative movements and assistance in the extracurricular development plan.

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Residence permits, citizenship and other services.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision

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Embassy of India School (Kendriya Vidyalaya), Moscow, Russia

भारतीय राजदूतावास स्कूल (केंद्रीय विद्यालय), मास्को, रूस.

Embassy of India School (KV) Moscow is a vibrant educational institution in Moscow catering to the educational needs of the wards of the Embassy of India personnel and community of Indian origin. The Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Pavan Kapoor is the Patron of the School. Ms. Gina Uika, Deputy Chief of Mission, is the Chairperson of the School Management Committee. The main objective of the School is to impart quality education of an international standard, together with developing the holistic personality of the child, to face the challenging needs of the ever changing society. Established in the year 1987, today the school has a strength of a little over 270 students with classes I to XII and has Science and Commerce streams. The school is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (C.B.S.E), New Delhi and follows the curriculum framed by NCERT, New Delhi, India.

• Announcements
• Admission Notice for Class II to IX (Session 2024-25)
• Application form for admission for the session 2024-25
• Registration form to get registered for admission for the session 2024-25.
• Advertisement for admission to class -I for the session 2024-25
• Registration of Firms for the Session 2023-24 & 2024-25 (English & Russian). Last Date for Submitting the Expression of Interest for the services of Security Personnel is 15.02.2024 upto 02:00PM
• DATE SHEET FOR SESSION ENDING EXAMINATION FOR CLASSES VI TO IX AND XI
• DATE SHEET FOR PERIOD TEST 2 FOR CLASSES I TO IX AND XI
• Split-up syllabus Oct 2023-Mar 2024 for Primary Section Classes
• SPLIT-UP SYLLABUS XII 2023-24
• SPLIT-UP SYLLABUS XI 2023-24
• SPLIT-UP SYLLABUS CLASS X 2023-24
• SPLIT-UP SYLLABUS IX 2023-24
• Be Safe in Cyber World (for Teachers) Guidelines by CIET, NCERT
• Be Safe in Cyber World (for Students) Guidelines by CIET, NCERT
• Basics of Cyber Safety & Security Guidelines by CIET, NCERT
• Cyber Safety & Security(for Parents) Guidelines by CIET, NCERT
• A Handbook for Adolescents/Students on Cyber Security by MHA, Govt of India
• Revised Curriculum for the Academic Year 2023-24
• Senior School Curriculum and Sample Question Papers for the session 2023-24
• DIKSHA CLASSES I to XII
• VIRTUAL LEARNING
• PHOTO GALLERY
• Secondary School Curriculum and Sample Question Papers for the session 2023-24

H.E. Mr. Pavan Kapoor, Ambassador of India to The Russian Federation

Deputy Chief of Mission and Chairperson SMC, EOIS, Moscow

Mrs. Gina Uika

Mr. BIGHNESWAR PATNAIK, M.A., M.Ed., PGDGC, PGDDE

From Principal's Desk

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Embassy of India School (Kendriya Vidyalaya), Moscow, Russia C/o Embassy of India, 6-8, Vorontsovo Polye, Moscow ( Russia ) -PINCODE 105064 10/2 Ulitsa Bolshaya Dist: Dorogomilovskaya Kievskaya,Moscow - 121059 Phone - 8 – 499 243 70 09 Email - [email protected]

• At a Glance
• CBSE Affliation No.: 7000001
• Classes: XII
• Streams: SCIENCE & COMMERCE
• Total Strength: 228
• Established: 1987
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The best international schools in Moscow

• 3 months ago

Embark on an educational journey in Moscow with a selection of elite schools catering to diverse needs. From the British-focused MCS, offering personalized bilingual education, to Riverside School’s immersive English environment in the picturesque Novogorsk, each institution stands out. Brookes School Moscow, part of a global network, promises quality education in a central location. Russian International School, combining Russian and British curricula, ensures holistic development. Whether it’s “Classika” emphasizing language proficiency or the innovative “Tomorrow’s School” with a unique biblical approach, Moscow’s educational landscape is rich and varied, ready to shape students for success on the global stage. Explore the options and discover the perfect fit for your child’s academic journey.

Let’s explore the top 11 schools in Moscow that meet the best criteria.

• 1.1      Advantages of the school:
• 2.1    Features:
• 2.2    Licenses and Certificates:
• 3.1    Key Features:
• 4.1    Advantages:
• 4.2    Location:
• 5.1    Advantages:
• 6.1    Special Features:
• 6.2    Licenses and Certificates:
• 7.1    Key Features:
• 8.1    Features:
• 8.2    Licenses and Certificates:
• 9.1    Special Features:
• 9.2    Licenses and Certificates:
• 10.1     Features:
• 10.2     Licenses and Certificates:
• 11.1     Features:
• 11.2     Licenses and Certificates:

     Advantages of the school:

– Students begin learning English from an early age, not only as a subject but as the primary means of instruction and communication.

– The program offers a comprehensive international-level education starting from kindergarten.

– Qualified teachers from English-speaking countries are involved in the teaching process.

– Small class sizes (up to 14 students) allow for individualized learning.

– The school provides additional activities such as drawing, dance, ballet, football, chess, jiu-jitsu, fencing, robotics, diving, vocal training, graphic design, and animation.

– Infrastructure: Modern campuses equipped for comfortable and engaging learning. Campuses are located in Skolkovo (western Moscow near the Skolkovo innovation center), Festivalnaya (northern Moscow near Rechnoy Vokzal metro station), and a campus in St. Petersburg near the Gulf of Finland.

British International School

BIS is one of the oldest international schools in Moscow, providing high-class education and a comprehensive approach for children aged 3 to 18. Over 2000 students have graduated from the school, gaining admission to leading universities in Russia and worldwide.

The school operates two departments:

– International Department: Education follows the best traditions of British schools based on the National Curriculum of England and the pre-university IB Diploma program.

– Russian Department: Education aligns with Federal State Educational Standards. English is intensively studied, and students can choose a second foreign language (French, Spanish, German, or Chinese).

BIS holds an “Excellent” rating in every category according to the British Schools Overseas inspection.

   Features:

– International accreditations (ECIS, CIS, COBIS).

– Six schools in different areas of Moscow.

– Class sizes up to 15 students.

– Large team of qualified teachers.

– Over 25 school clubs including 3D modeling, programming, chess, ballet, mental arithmetic, martial arts, fashion design, etc.

– Comprehensive approach including school bus services, extended day programs, and psychological and speech therapy services.

   Licenses and Certificates:

– Moscow Department of Education and Science License.

– Edexcel Approved Centre Accreditation.

– Cambridge International Examinations Accreditation.

– IBO Accreditation.

– ECIS Membership Accreditation and Certificate.

– CIS Membership Accreditation and Certificate.

British School MCS

British School MCS focuses on the individual development of each student, offering a diverse range of courses and a creative atmosphere – fulfilling expectations of what parents seek from British schools. MCS provides bilingual education, skillfully combining British educational programs and Russian Federal State Educational Standards (FGOS). Graduates receive two diplomas.

   Key Features:

– Modern and high-quality education comparable to private English schools.

– Emphasis on developing critical thinking, curiosity, and increasing academic motivation through solving non-standard tasks.

– Full-day school with teaching based on individual educational routes, along with pedagogical and psychological support for each student.

– Balanced workload, collaboration of psychologists, educators, healthcare professionals, and a tailored schedule contribute to effective learning of both programs without mental exhaustion.

– Certificates such as A-levels, GCSE, and/or Cambridge CAE are awarded, granting the right to university admission in any English-speaking country.

Riverside School

Riverside School is a bilingual primary school located in the Moscow suburbs, in Novogorsk. It simultaneously follows British national and Russian educational programs. The British program includes Key Stage 1 (ages 5–7, grades 1–2) and Key Stage 2 (ages 7–12, grades 3–6). Alongside the British program, children undergo Russian primary education based on FGOS.

   Advantages:

– Full immersion in an English-language environment.

– Experienced English-speaking educators in the English department.

– Wide range of extracurricular activities: sports (swimming, tennis, football, wrestling, skiing, golf), creative workshops (drawing, dance, music, theater), intellectual development clubs (chess, robotics).

– Professional security and daily bus transportation.

– Extended school hours until 20:00 with various activities and amenities for children.

   Location:

Riverside School is situated in a nature conservation zone in the Skhodnya River valley, surrounded by over 1 hectare of forest.

Brookes School Moscow

Brookes School Moscow is an international coeducational private school founded in 2018. All subjects are taught in English, and it is part of the Brookes Education Group with schools worldwide. The institution includes a preschool section for children aged 2 and a school for children aged 6 to 7.

– Highly qualified teachers, many with advanced degrees.

– Exchange programs with schools in the USA, Canada, UK, South Korea, India.

– Healthy three-meal daily catering.

– Convenient location in one of Moscow’s best districts.

– School representatives assist with organizing accommodation in Moscow.

Russian International School (RIS)

RIS is an elite educational center offering dual programs: Russian and British national. The school features experienced educators from Russia and the UK, adhering to high standards in both Russian and British education.

   Special Features:

– Class sizes limited to 10 students.

– Additional sections and workshops: ballet, karate, artistic gymnastics, football, Chinese martial arts, theatrical studio, chess, and English clubs.

– Collaboration with British educational institutions, aiding with admissions and document processing.

– Accreditation from the British Examination Commission (Edexcel Approved Centre) to prepare students for A-levels and GCSE.

– Accreditation from Cambridge International Examinations, along with an educational license from the Russian Ministry of Education and state accreditation.

Academic Gymnasium

Academic Gymnasium offers preschool, primary, basic general, and secondary education according to the Russian educational program. It is also an ESOL center for conducting Cambridge English tests. Graduates successfully pass these tests, facilitating admission to foreign universities.

– Extensive extracurricular activities, including excursions, clubs, conferences, roundtable discussions, Olympiads, research, sports sections, and competitions.

– Options for full-time, homeschooling, part-time (external), and their combinations.

– Educational program supplemented with individual subjects from Cambridge University.

– Learning a second foreign language.

– Accreditation and license for educational activities.

– Certified Cambridge ESOL center.

European Gymnasium

European Gymnasium is one of the few international private schools in Russia using the International Baccalaureate (IB) program from grades 1 to 11. Children also follow the state educational program. In the primary school, the state program integrates with the PYP IBO approaches. From an early age, students deeply study English and begin learning a second foreign language.

– Preparation for the IB and Russian exams on individual programs.

– In-depth study of two foreign languages.

– Students in middle and high school can choose the language of instruction: English or Russian.

– Preparation for KET, PET, and FCE exams.

– Authorization for all three IB programs: PYP, MYP, DP.

– State accreditation and license.

School of Tomorrow

“School of Tomorrow” is a bilingual school based on biblical principles, using the proprietary teaching methodology created by Dr. Donald Howard. The approach involves individualized learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace.

    Features:

– Mandatory SAT and TOEFL testing for graduates.

– Authorized to conduct Stanford testing since 2004.

– Graduates easily pass the Russian Unified State Exam (EGE) and gain admission to top global universities.

– Annual “School of Tomorrow” Olympiads with participants from various countries.

    Licenses and Certificates:

– NCPSA and Accreditation International certificates.

– Fire safety declaration.

– CITA accreditation.

Marina International Private School

Marina International Private School operates based on the federal program with a focus on mastering several foreign languages. Children start learning English from the 1st grade, and from the 4th grade, they choose French, Spanish, or German. In higher grades, a third foreign language is added to the curriculum.

– Collaboration with leading universities in the country, British, Canadian, and American universities.

– Educational exchanges and trips during holidays.

– Participation and victories in Olympiads and project work competitions (including in India and California).

– Marina, together with the California Theater, stages musicals in English.

– License and accreditation for educational activities.

– CIS (Council of International Schools) membership.

– Conclusion C (unknown context).

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