8 Fall Computer Science Competitions for High School Students
High school students interested in STEM, especially those drawn to computer science, should strongly consider participating in coding and algorithm competitions. These events provide a platform to apply and deepen their understanding of concepts learned in class while solving complex, real-world problems. By engaging in competitions, students not only sharpen their technical skills but also learn critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration—key competencies that are highly valued in both academic and professional settings.
Participation in CS competitions can significantly enhance a student’s academic profile, serving as a valuable addition to their CV and college applications. It demonstrates initiative, passion, and a commitment to their field, qualities that are attractive to admissions committees and potential employers alike. For students aiming to pursue research opportunities or internships in the future, these experiences also provide a solid foundation by showcasing their ability to tackle challenges, work under pressure, and contribute meaningfully to team projects.
In this blog, we’ll cover 8 great fall computer science competitions for high school students that you can choose from!
1. American Computer Science League
Location: Virtual
Prize: Certificates and cash prizes (amounts not disclosed)
Competition Dates:
Contest 1: November 4, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Contest 2: January 6, 2025 – March 2, 2025
Contest 3: February 3, 2025 – April 13, 2025
Contest 4: March 3, 2025 – May 18, 2025
Finals will take place on May 24, 2025
Registration Deadline: Applications are currently open for the 2024-2025 season; the deadline is December 31, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The American Computer Science League (ACSL) has been hosting computer science and programming competitions for K-12 students, schools, and various groups for nearly five decades, with the upcoming 2024-2025 season marking its 47th year. Last season, the league saw participation from over 6,000 students across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia in their regular season contests.
ACSL offers a range of divisions designed to match the age and skill level of each participant, providing appropriate challenges for all. Students will compete as teams in ACSL contests and will need a team advisor (a teacher or any adult with CS experience) to register their team in the appropriate division. Schools and organizations have the flexibility to register as many students as they wish for each contest.
Throughout the season, students participate in four contests that test their knowledge of fundamental computer science concepts such as Number Systems, Boolean Algebra, and Digital Electronics. For the upper divisions, these contests also include a programming component where students tackle coding problems using languages like Python, C++, or Java.
2. CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Program
Location: Virtual | Finals take place in Bethesda, MD
Prize: Scholarship money
Competition Dates:
Round 1: October 24-27, 2024
Round 2: November 14-17, 2024
State Rouund: December 12-15, 2024
Semifinals: January 23-25, 2025
National Finals: March 14-18, 2025
Registration Deadline: Team registration closes on October 2, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to high school students from schools, scouting units, Boys and Girls Clubs, home school programs, STEM programs, etc.
CyberPatriot’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition challenges high school and middle school students to tackle cybersecurity vulnerabilities within simulated operating systems. To participate students need to be added to the team roster by a team coach. Teams are judged on their ability to secure these systems using a specialized competition platform. The competition begins with online rounds, where top-scoring teams advance, culminating in the best teams reaching the National Finals for an in-person showdown.
During the four-hour competition window, teams are tasked with two main challenges. The Cisco Networking Challenge includes a quiz and a virtual networking exercise, both based on specific training materials. In the Network Security Challenge, participants must identify and fix security flaws in Windows and Linux operating systems, putting their skills to the test under real-world conditions.
3. Congressional App Challenge
Location: Virtual
Prizes:
Winning apps will be displayed in the US Capitol Building and featured on the House of Representatives website.
Winning students will be invited to attend the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington D.C.
Waived copyright registration application fees through the ARTS Act.
Winning apps receive a press release on the Congressional App Challenge website.
Additional sponsor prizes may be announced in the future!
Competition Dates: October 24: deadline | November: Judging period | December: Winners announced
Registration Deadline: October 24, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students in middle school or high school in participating districts; must be a U.S. resident.
The Congressional App Challenge, hosted by members of the U.S. House of Representatives, invites middle and high school students from districts nationwide to participate. To participate, students can register as individuals or in teams of up to four.
This competition is designed to encourage students to leverage coding skills to address real-world issues by creating apps that respond to specific prompts. Participants are not only expected to gain proficiency in widely used programming languages but are also encouraged to experiment with different app development platforms like Kotlin and XCode to broaden their technical capabilities.
4. Solve for Tomorrow | Samsung US
Location: Competitions are local until the final competition in Washington, D.C.
Prizes:
3 National Winner schools receive a $100K prize package including Samsung products and classroom resources.
10 schools will be named National Finalists and chosen to receive a $50K prize package including Samsung products and classroom resources, plus a trip to a TBD location to pitch their solution to become a National Winner.
National Finalists are eligible to win an additional $10K in technology for the Community Choice Award through social media voting and the Samsung Employee Choice Award, in addition to their National Finalist prize package.
From 50 State Winners, one Sustainability Award winner will receive a $50K environmental sustainability prize package of Samsung products.
Rising Entrepreneurship Award: $25K given to one of the 50 State Winners
State Winners: A $12K prize package including Samsung products and resources will go to 50 schools named State Winners.
State Finalists: A $2.5K prize package including Samsung products and classroom resources will go to 300 schools.
Competition Dates:
Entries allowed for the contest: Aug. 29 – Nov. 14th
State finalists announced: Dec. 5 – Jan. 11
State winners announced: Jan. 30 – Mar. 7
National finalists announced: Mar. 26
Community and employee choice voting: Mar. 26 – Apr. 23
Final judging event: Apr. 29
Registration Deadline: Description of students’ projects must be submitted by teachers on November 14, 2024
Eligibility: Open to students from schools that are 50% publicly funded in grades 6-12 with one teacher aged 21+ to serve as a mentor from the team.
The Solve for Tomorrow competition invites teams of at least three students to create a prototype that tackles a specific issue within their community, with a school teacher acting as the primary liaison with Samsung and the event organizers.
This collaborative challenge encourages participants to use their individual strengths and expertise to craft a sustainable and flexible solution to a local problem. Teams are expected to excel in research to pinpoint a community issue, apply critical thinking and analytical skills to develop their concept, and possess a solid foundation in STEM and computer science to bring their ideas to life.
5. Girls Programming League Challenge
Location: Virtual
Prize: The top three teams in each division receive awards and trophies.
Competition Dates: September 21, 2024
Registration Deadline: Registration hasn’t been posted yet, so you should frequently check the website!
Eligibility: Open to middle/high school students
The Girls Programming League Challenge kicks off with a two-hour programming competition in the morning, featuring separate Novice and Advanced divisions. Teams of up to three female middle and high school students are invited to take part. If you’re a single student without a team, you can email the Harker Programming Club to be matched with a team!
In the afternoon, attendees will hear from a keynote speaker and engage in a panel discussion with female leaders from both academia and industry, focusing on computer science and astronomy. This competition aims to motivate young women by immersing them in algorithmic programming challenges within a nurturing environment that caters to both newcomers and seasoned participants. The keynote and panel discussions are designed to provide participants with valuable perspectives on the current landscape of STEM, highlighting insights from successful women in the field.
6. International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)
Location: Alexandria, Egypt
Prize: Medals are awarded to the top 50% of the contestants: gold, silver, or bronze
Competition Dates: 10 days in September (tentatively)
Registration Deadline: June (tentatively); registration for 2024 is closed.
Eligibility: Open to high school students around the world who have already won their national competition
The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) stands out as one of the world's leading computer science competitions, welcoming high school students from many nations. Each participating country selects a team of four individuals, who then compete solo over two days. Keep in mind that though you enter the competition as a team, each contestant will compete individually and will have to solve three algorithmic problems within five hours. Read here for more information on the contest rules.
For U.S. students, qualification requires excelling in the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO). Participants at the IOI must possess excellent problem-solving skills, a deep understanding of algorithms, and strong programming capabilities, especially in C++.
Location: Virtual
Prize: Certificate
Competition Dates: First round: November 4-17, 2024
Registration Deadline: Registration is now open.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, with age divisions separating contestants.
The Bebras Computing Challenge is a competition where students between the ages of 6 and 18 engage in a variety of tasks aimed at building their informatics and computational thinking abilities.
During the competition, participants will have 45 minutes to tackle as many tasks as they can within the allotted time. Unlike other computer science competitions, this challenge features six different age divisions, making it accessible to a wider range of participants. Registration is coordinated through a teacher, who also oversees the students throughout the challenge.
Location: Online
Prize: Based on previous years:
1st place: $20,000
2nd place: $10,000
3rd place: $5,000
4th place: $3,000
5th place: $1,000
6th-10th place: $500
11th-15th place: $300
16th-25th place: $200
Competition Dates:
Practice round: Sep. 20, 2024
Round 1: Oct. 5, 2024
Round 2: Oct. 19, 2024
Round 3: Nov. 2, 2024
Final Round: Dec. 7, 2024
Registration Deadline: Registration is still currently open until the first round.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Meta's Hacker Cup is a global coding competition that invites high school students to showcase their programming talents through a series of algorithmic challenges. Anyone can enter the practice round, which will be open for 2-3 days, and round 1. From round 2 onwards, only the top competitors will progress.
Participants face progressively tougher problems that test their skills in algorithms and problem-solving across various computer science disciplines. Students can enter the competition individually or as part of a team, with top performers advancing through multiple rounds and vying for cash prizes and recognition from one of the world's leading tech companies.
The Hacker Cup also provides participants with the chance to engage in real-world coding challenges, network with peers, and connect with industry professionals and mentors. By taking part in this competition, high school students gain hands-on experience, enhance their coding confidence, and position themselves for success in competitive programming, future academic pursuits, and tech industry careers.
Are you looking to start a project or research paper in the field of AI and ML? Consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is an AI program designed for high schoolers. It’s founded and run by Harvard graduate students. The program aims to give students the opportunity to create unique projects in the field of AI. Participants will get to learn more about AI from researchers and experts and work 1-on-1 with mentors from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and more. In just the past year, we’ve had over a thousand students learn with us! You too can apply!
Image Source - Congressional App Challenge Logo