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.

 

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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)
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction (Long Essay and Short Essay), Fiction, Poetry (all written forms), Senior Portfolios
• Cost: Free

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)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Fiction (short story), Creative Nonfiction (personal or academic essay), Playwriting (one-act play), Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 6-12
• Focus: All Prose and Poetry
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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)
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Expository Essay, Fiction, Playwriting, Poetry (all written forms), Screenwriting
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 8-11
• Focus: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry (all written forms), Playwriting, Screenwriting
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry (all written forms), Songwriting, Screenplay
• Cost: Free

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)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 6-12
• Focus: Fiction
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Ages: 13-19
• Focus: Fiction (Short Story)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 12
• Focus: Fiction/Drama, Memoir/Personal Essay, Poetry (including Spoken Word)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• 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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction (essay), Fiction (short story), Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• 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)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms), Prose (all forms)
• Cost: Free

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)
• Cost: Fee to Participate, Fee Waiver Available

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
• Grades: 12
• Focus: Creative Writing (journals, diaries, letters, memoirs, essays, poetry, storytelling, speeches, and free writing) and Playwriting (a one-act play)
• Cost: Free

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
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 12
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction (short story), Poetry (all written forms and Spoken Word)
• Cost: Free

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)
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Composition, Creative Writing, Literature
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Fiction (Short Story)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Ages: 13-19
• Focus: Varies by month, rotates through all genres
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades/Ages: 10-12 or 15-18
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction (Short Story), Novel, Playwriting, Poetry (all written forms and Spoken Word), Screenwriting
• Cost: Fee to Participate, Fee Waiver Available

 

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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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 7-12
• Focus: Poetry (Haiku and Senryu)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 10, 11
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free
• 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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 10, 11
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: Michigan
• Grades: 9–12
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms and spoken word)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Ages: 11-17
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 11
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 10, 11
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free
• Outreach: Female

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• 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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Ages: 13-19
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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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
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Ages: 9-19
• Focus: Playwriting (including Musicals)
• Cost: Free

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
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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)
• Ages: 13-19
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 7-12
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Ages: 12-18
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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 young 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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades/Ages: 9-12 and 15-18
• Focus: Playwriting/Screenwriting
• Cost: Free
• 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
• Focus: Playwriting

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades:11
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

 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
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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)
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: Michigan
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Ages: 6-18
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Ages: Under 19
• Focus: Playwriting
• Cost: Free

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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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Ages: 13-18
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades/Ages: 9-12 and 13-18
• Focus: Creative, Persuasive, or Journalistic Essay
• Cost: Fee to Participate

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades:6-12 and 13-19
• Focus: Creative Writing, Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades/Ages: 5-12 and 10-18
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Ages: 14-19
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 7-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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).

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Fee to Participate, Fee Waiver Available

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Ages: 11-18
• Focus: Creative Writing, Poetry (including Spoken Word)
• Cost: Free
• 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.

• Geographic Eligibility: California
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Poetry (all forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades/Ages: K-12 and 5-19
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 3-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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
• Grades: 6-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free
• 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).

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades/Ages: 9-12 and 14-18
• Focus: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 6-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free
• Outreach: Hispanic and Latino/x

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 6-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay and Oration
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Fee to Participate

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 4-12
• Focus: Creative Writing (Short Story)
• Cost: Fee to Participate

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).

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Ages: Up to 25
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Ages: 10-24
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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).

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 6-12 and college
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 3-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: National
• Grades: 9-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Poetry (all written forms)
• Cost: Free

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.

• Geographic Eligibility: International
• Grades: K-12
• Focus: Essay
• Cost: Free

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!