8 Fall Computer Science Competitions for Middle School Students
Middle school students interested in STEM and related fields can significantly benefit from participating in computer science competitions. These contests not only offer a platform for students to hone their coding and problem-solving skills but also provide valuable experience that can enhance their resumes, making them more competitive for future research opportunities and high school programs.
Engaging in CS competitions allows students to demonstrate their commitment to STEM disciplines early on, showing initiative and passion that can be highlighted in college applications or statements of purpose. Additionally, such involvement fosters critical thinking, teamwork, and resilience—key skills highly regarded in both academic and professional environments.
In this blog, we cover 8 fall computer science competitions for middle school students to participate in. Keep reading to get a headstart on your STEM career!
Location: The contest is open to all classroom formats, whether the district is on a virtual, in-person, or blended model. Both the Pitch Event and Final Event announcing National Winners are held in Washington, D.C.
Prize: The prizes range from $100,000 to $2,500. Check the full list of prize tiers here.
Competition Dates: The competition typically runs from October to April each year.
Registration Deadline: Applications usually open in August and close in October.
Eligibility: Schools from public and charter schools in grades 6-12 are eligible to apply, given that their schools receive 50% of funding from the public.
Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition invites students to create prototypes aimed at solving local community challenges. This event is team-based, requiring a minimum of three students, and involves a teacher from their school acting as a mentor and primary contact for the group.
The competition focuses on leveraging STEM and computer science knowledge to devise practical, sustainable solutions. To excel, teams need to thoroughly research community problems, apply critical thinking, and develop creative and effective strategies.
Location: The competition takes place online.
Prize: Participating students receive a certificate with their score and achievement level.
Competition Dates: November 4-17, 2024
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Teachers can register here.
Eligibility: Open to all middle school students. Ages 10-12 compete in the Benjamins category, while ages 12-14 compete in the Cadets category.
The Bebras Computing Challenge aims to enhance students' informatics and computational thinking abilities through a set of timed tasks, which must be completed in 45 minutes.
Setting itself apart from other competitions, Bebras offers six unique age categories, allowing a diverse group of students to participate from over 30 countries. Teachers are responsible for registering students and overseeing their participation in the challenge.
3. American Computer Science League
Location: Online
Prize: Top-scoring students receive a certificate and prize
Competition Dates: November-May
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and are currently open for the 2024-2025 season. Registration is available here.
Eligibility: Open to all middle school students
For nearly five decades, the American Computer Science League (ACSL) has been hosting programming and computer science contests for K-12 students from schools and groups around the globe. The league offers various divisions tailored to different age groups and skill levels, ensuring that every participant faces suitable challenges. Schools and organizations can enroll an unlimited number of students, promoting widespread participation.
Each season includes four contests that test students on essential topics, such as Boolean Algebra, Digital Electronics, and Number Systems. Advanced divisions also include a programming component where students can tackle problems using languages such as Python, C++, or Java.
Check out our in-depth guide for ACSL here!
4. Technovation Girls Challenge
Location: Online, but the Regional Pitch Events and Technovation World Summit takes place in person.
Prize: Scholarships up to $2000
Competition Dates: October-July | Technovation World Summit takes place in October 2025
Application Deadline: Applications open on October 11, 2024, and close on March 17, 2025.
Eligibility: Middle school students between the ages of 8-18 who identify as female, trans, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming are eligible to apply.
The Technovation Challenge motivates girls to dive into coding by tackling real-world challenges using technology. It is split into three main categories: Beginner (8-12), Junior (13-15), and Senior (16-18) Divisions.
Guided by volunteer mentors, teams of one to five girls create apps that address pressing issues, such as bullying or climate change. The competition is open to both novice and experienced participants, offering practical coding experience and helping to build valuable tech skills.
Location: Online
Prize: Prizes range from $200 to $20,000.
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
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the first round.
Eligibility: Middle school students are eligible to apply.
Meta’s Hacker Cup is an international coding competition that invites anyone (including middle school students) to solve algorithmic challenges. Competitors face progressively harder problems that test their skills in algorithms and various areas of computer science.
Participants can join as individuals or form teams, with top performers advancing through rounds and competing for cash prizes. Beyond the competition, it offers valuable networking opportunities, enabling students to connect with industry professionals and potential mentors, while sharpening their coding skills for academic pursuits and career paths in tech.
Location: Virtual, but the national judging and educational event will take place in person.
Prize: Prizes are awarded through U.S. Series EE Saving Bonds, ranging from $500 to $10,000 at maturity. Here are specifics on how prize awards work.
Competition Dates: The Mission Submission Deadline is March 5, 2025. Judging is virtual until the national event on June 23-27, 2025.
Application Deadline: Registration must be done by a Team Advisor (adult) and is currently open until February 26, 2025. Register here.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-9 (in teams of 2-4)
At eCYBERMISSION, teams of 2-4 students, guided by an adult Team Advisor, choose a local community problem to either investigate using science or address with engineering solutions. The competition offers two paths—scientific inquiry and engineering design. It emphasizes the practical application of STEM skills, with participants adopting the same methods as scientists and engineers, integrating technology and mathematics into their projects.
Throughout the competition, students engage with their communities to identify and tackle local issues. They also receive support from volunteer STEM professionals through Mission Mentor Live Chats and a message board, providing expert advice to help teams succeed.
Registration for the 2024-2025 eCYBERMISSION competition is currently open, inviting students to participate and make a positive impact in their communities.
7. Congressional App Challenge
Location: Online
Prize: Winning teams are invited to Capitol Hill for #HouseofCode, where they show their apps to Representatives.
Competition Dates: November – December
Application Deadline: Applications close on October 24, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to middle school students from participating districts.
The Congressional App Challenge, organized by U.S. House Representatives, motivates students to solve real-world challenges through app development. Participants are encouraged to learn widely-used programming languages and delve into various development platforms, such as Kotlin and XCode, to enhance their projects.
Each spring, winning teams are invited to Capitol Hill for #HouseOfCode, a unique event often called the national science fair for STEM students. This demo day provides participants with the opportunity to showcase their apps in the U.S. Capitol, meet their Representatives, and network with other young coders from around the country.
Here is everything you need to know to win the Congressional App Challege!
Location: Virtual
Cost: There is a registration fee of $290 per team of 6 students.
Competition Dates: September – January
Application Deadline: Registration hasn’t opened yet, but based on previous dates, registration closes when the competition starts in September.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6-9 who will take part in the Junior Division.
CoderZ League is an online competition where teams tackle a series of missions and challenges, programming a robot within a virtual simulation. The objective for each team is to accumulate the highest number of points.
Middle school students compete in the junior division, facing off against teams from grades 6 to 9. Those who have completed Cyber Robotics 102 or are returning competitors from upper middle school can choose to enter the pro division, which is available to students in grades 7 through 12!
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Image Source - Congressional App Challenge Logo