Competitions for homeschoolers: high school guide
Nineteen national contests for 2026-27 that let a homeschooler enter without a school, sorted by subject, plus two regional ones. Grades, cost and deadline come from each contest's own page.
Last checked: Nov 3, 2026
The short answer
Yes, homeschoolers can enter academic competitions, and many rules say so in writing. Every contest below either names homeschooled students in its rules or opens to every student in an age band or every resident.
Most are free. Three charge a fee: MATHCOUNTS, Math Kangaroo and the Stevens pitch competition.
National deadlines run from Nov 15, 2026 to June 7, 2027. The earliest ones are in the writing and math rows. The Junior Duck Stamp deadline is set by each state.
Competitions by subject
Regional contests, open only to students in certain areas, are listed in their own section below.
Writing
| Competition | Grades or ages | Cost | 2026-27 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFSPS Manningham Student Poetry Contest | Grades 6 to 12 | Free | Received by Nov 15, 2026 |
| Sejong Writing Competition (sijo poetry) | 18 and under (US and Canada residents) | Free | Feb 28, 2027, 11:59 PM CT |
Math
| Competition | Grades or ages | Cost | 2026-27 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS) | Middle and high school (US citizens or residents) | Free | Round 2 due Nov 30, 2026 |
| MATHCOUNTS Competition Series | Grades 6 to 8 | $75 non-school competitor fee ($85 late) | Register by Dec 15, 2026 |
| Math Kangaroo USA | Grades K to 12 | $20 to Dec 31, 2026; $35 late | Late registration ends Feb 1, 2027 |
| Purple Comet Math Meet | Middle and high school teams | Free | Contest window Apr 6 to Apr 15, 2027 |
Science
| Competition | Grades or ages | Cost | 2026-27 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision | Grades K to 12 | Free | Jan 27, 2027, 8:00 PM ET |
| eCYBERMISSION | Grades 6 to 9 | Free | Registration closes Feb 24, 2027; Mission Folder due Mar 3, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
| The Paradigm Challenge | Ages 4 to 18 | Free | May 1, 2027, 11:59 PM PST |
Law and civics
| Competition | Grades or ages | Cost | 2026-27 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-SPAN StudentCam | Grades 6 to 12 | Free | Jan 20, 2027, 11:59 PM PST |
| JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest | Grades 9 to 12 | Free | Jan 11, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
| Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest | Grades 5 to 12 (ages 10 to 19) | Free | Mar 12, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
| Bill of Rights Institute Community Impact Contest | Ages 13 to 19 | Free | Apr 19, 2027, 11:59 PM PT |
Business
| Competition | Grades or ages | Cost | 2026-27 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevens High School Entrepreneurship and AI Video Pitch Competition | Grades 9 to 11 | $25 per student | Register by Jan 8, 2027; video due Jan 15, 2027 |
| Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition | Homeschoolers ages 14 to 18 | Free | Pitch by Feb 21, 2027 |
Art
| Competition | Grades or ages | Cost | 2026-27 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest | Grades K to 12 | Free | Set by each state; send your entry to your state coordinator |
| International Festival of Owls Kids' Art Contest | 18 and under | Free | Received by Jan 15, 2027 |
| Science Without Borders Challenge | Ages 11 to 19 | Free | Mar 1, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
| Bow Seat Blue Planet Awareness Contest (art, writing, film, music) | Ages 11 to 18 | Free | June 7, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
Regional contests
Open only to students in the areas named.
| Competition | Area | Grades or ages | Cost | 2026-27 deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writers & Books Teen Poetry Contest | Western and Central New York counties | Ages 13 to 18 | Free | Dec 1, 2026 |
| Ninth Circuit Civics Contest | Western states and Pacific territories | Grades 9 to 12 | Free | Mar 5, 2027, 11:59 PM PT |
Deadlines change. Check each contest's own site before you enter.
How homeschoolers enter without a school
When the form asks for a school
Three contests say what to do:
- Writers & Books (regional): "homeschool students can simply say 'Homeschool'" in the school field.
- MATHCOUNTS: home schools submit "a separate Home School Participation Form". A student can also register as a non-school competitor, for $75 ($85 late).
- eCYBERMISSION: teams not tied to a school, including homeschooled teams, register in the state where the Team Advisor lives.
JFK Profile in Courage: "The parent or legal guardian responsible for the instruction of home schooled students can also serve as a nominating teacher."
When the contest needs a teacher, coach or adult
- Science Without Borders: a parent can be the teacher sponsor if they are the homeschool teacher of their child.
- ExploraVision: a coach submits the project. A parent or guardian can coach if they are at least 21 and know at least one student on the team.
- Purple Comet: any adult aged 21 or older may supervise a team, and the supervisor "does not need to be a teacher".
- The Paradigm Challenge: entrants need a parent or guardian's permission. No school enrollment is required.
When the contest has no homeschool wording
Sejong, USAMTS, Math Kangaroo, Paradigm and Festival of Owls do not use the word "homeschool". Each opens to everyone in a group instead: residents of the US and Canada, US citizens or residents, all US students, or every child in an age range. Math Kangaroo's public centers "are open to students from any grade and any school."
Questions parents ask
Can homeschoolers enter academic competitions?
Yes. StudentCam, JFK Profile in Courage, BRI, Junior Duck Stamp, eCYBERMISSION, Manningham, MATHCOUNTS, ExploraVision, Bow Seat, Blue Ocean and Stevens name homeschooled students in their rules or FAQs. Others, such as USAMTS and Math Kangaroo, open to every US student or resident, so no school is needed. Check the eligibility line on each contest's own page before you enter.
Do competitions help with college applications?
The Common App has a section where students list honors and awards.
How does my homeschooler enter a contest that asks for a school?
Three contests say how. Writers & Books (regional): write "Homeschool". MATHCOUNTS: home schools submit a separate Home School Participation Form. MATHCOUNTS also takes non-school competitors, for $75 ($85 late). eCYBERMISSION: homeschooled teams register in the Team Advisor's state. For JFK, the parent who teaches can serve as nominating teacher.
Can homeschool co-ops form a team?
Four contests allow mixed teams outright. Purple Comet has a mixed-teams category "designed for homeschooled students". ExploraVision: "team members do not have to attend the same school or the same state." eCYBERMISSION: homeschooled teams register in the Team Advisor's state. Blue Ocean: teammates can be "from a different school". StudentCam, BRI, Paradigm and Bow Seat allow groups but do not mention co-ops.
Which competitions are free to enter?
Sixteen of the nineteen national contests on this page are free, including StudentCam, JFK Profile in Courage, Manningham, Sejong, USAMTS, ExploraVision and Blue Ocean. The two regional contests are free too. Three charge a fee: MATHCOUNTS ($75 non-school competitor fee, $85 late), Math Kangaroo ($20 to Dec 31, 2026, then $35) and Stevens ($25 per student).
When should we start planning for competition deadlines?
Now, for some. Manningham closes Nov 15, 2026, USAMTS Round 2 on Nov 30, Writers & Books (regional) on Dec 1 and MATHCOUNTS registration on Dec 15. Most others close between January and March 2027. Bow Seat runs latest, to June 7, 2027.
Looking for contests that cost nothing, for younger kids too? See free contests for kids 2026-27.
No affiliate links on this page. Every contest link goes to the contest's own site.