California's round of the National Endowment for the Arts recitation contest. Students in grades 9-12 memorise and perform poems from the official anthology, winning first at school, then at the state final. The state champion gets an all-expenses-paid trip to the national finals in Washington. Free to enter.
Offered by California Arts Council. Competition for high school students in California, USA. Format: In-person. Cost: Free. Grades 9–12. Deadline: rolling or not yet announced.
Fields: Writing, Humanities, Arts
Info checked September 2026.
No date is posted for the 2026-27 cycle yet. Check the official page for when applications open.
Yes. Poetry Out Loud California is free to take part in.
High school students in grades 9 to 12. It takes place in person in California. Age, residency and citizenship rules are on the official page.
More academic competitions for high school students