National Academic Competitions for Homeschoolers
Connecticut Homeschool Network | 2026–27 research edition | October 30, 2026
Interested in forming a team?
Many academic competitions offer opportunities for homeschool students to participate individually or as part of a team. Homeschool families may wish to connect with other families to form their own teams, while existing homeschool groups and co-ops may consider organizing teams for competitions that interest their students.
CHN encourages families to explore these opportunities! While CHN provides information and resources, participating families and groups are responsible for organizing, registering, supervising, funding, and managing their own teams, including any insurance requirements.
This directory includes national academic competitions that may interest homeschooling families. Homeschool eligibility has been confirmed for some competitions but remains unconfirmed for others. Families should contact the organizers directly to verify eligibility, registration requirements, fees, and deadlines. Dates shown refer to the 2026–27 season and may change.
Competition Categories Details Below For:
• Spelling & Language
• Geography & History
• Science & STEM
• General Academics
• Civics & Government
• Mathematics
• Robotics & Technology
• Writing & Arts
• Business & Entrepreneurship
• Environment & Outdoors
Spelling & Language
Scripps National Spelling Bee — Through grade 8; Individual / homeschool group.
Deadline: Jan 29, 2027; some local deadlines earlier
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed — Individual families or homeschool groups eligible
Official link: https://spellingbee.com/faq
Geography & History
National Geography Bee (IAC) — Elementary / middle school; Individual.
Deadline: Regional tournament deadlines vary
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Homeschool pathway supported — IAC national finals require regional qualification
Official link: https://www.iacompetitions.com/elementary-and-middle-school-nationals/
National History Bee (IAC) — Elementary through high school; Individual.
Deadline: Regional tournament deadlines vary
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Homeschool pathway supported — IAC national finals require regional qualification
Official link: https://www.iacompetitions.com/elementary-and-middle-school-nationals/
National History Bowl (IAC) — Middle / high school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.iacompetitions.com/
Science & STEM
National Science Bee (IAC) — Elementary through high school; Individual.
Deadline: Regional tournament deadlines vary
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Homeschool pathway supported — IAC national finals require regional qualification
Official link: https://www.iacompetitions.com/elementary-and-middle-school-nationals/
National Science Bowl — Middle / high school; Team.
Deadline: CT high school Team 1 by Nov 23, 2026; preregistration first
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed with conditions — Homeschool teams have separate requirements; verify with CT regional coordinator
Official link: https://science.osti.gov/wdts/nsb/Regional-Competitions/High-School-Regionals/CT_Connecticut-High-School-Regional-Science-Bowl
Science Olympiad — Elementary / middle / high school; Team.
Deadline: CT deadline: consult state organizer
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed with conditions — Homeschool teams allowed; two contiguous counties, same state
Official link: https://www.soinc.org/team-qualification-and-home-school-policy
Regeneron ISEF — High school; Individual / team project.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge — Middle school; Individual.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.societyforscience.org/jic/
National STEM Festival — Grades 7–12 (verify); Individual / project.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.nationalstemfestival.com/
Invention Convention U.S. Nationals — K–12 (verify divisions); Individual / team project.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://inventionconvention.org/
General Academics
National Academic Bowl (IAC) — Elementary / middle school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.iacompetitions.com/
Civics & Government
National Civics Bee — Grades 6–8; Individual.
Deadline: Feb 2, 2027
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed — Homeschool students explicitly eligible; free essay round
Official link: https://civics.uschamberfoundation.org/ncb-how-it-works/
National History Day — Grades 6–12; Individual / group.
Deadline: Regional deadline varies by CT region
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed for Connecticut — CT History Day explicitly directs homeschool families to sign up as homeschool
Official link: https://www.historydayct.org/where-to-begin/parents/faq-parents/
Mathematics
MATHCOUNTS — Grades 6–8; Individual / team.
Deadline: Dec 15, 2026 registration; Dec 31 homeschool form
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed — Homeschool and homeschool groups permitted; specific form required
Official link: https://www.mathcounts.org/programs/official-rules-procedures
American Mathematics Competition— Middle school through high school, grades 8-12 / age limits; Individual.
Deadline: Jan 5, 2027 regular; Jan 14 late for returning managers
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Eligibility pathway to confirm — Competition manager/test-center arrangements required
Official link: https://maa.org/amcreg/
Math Kangaroo USA — Grades 1–12; Individual.
Deadline: Dec 31, 2026 regular; Feb 1, 2027 late
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed open to all students — Grades 1–12; public centers accept individual registrations
Official link: https://mathkangaroo.org/mks/resources/how-to-start-math-kangaroo-center/
Purple Comet! Math Meet — Middle / high school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://purplecomet.org/
American Regions Mathematics League — High school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.arml.com/
Robotics & Technology
FIRST LEGO League — Elementary / middle school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.firstinspires.org/
FIRST Tech Challenge — Middle / high school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.firstinspires.org/
FIRST Robotics Competition — High school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.firstinspires.org/
VEX Robotics Competition — Middle / high school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.robotevents.com/
American Computer Science League — Elementary through high school; Individual / team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.acsl.org/
Congressional App Challenge — Middle / high school (verify); Individual / team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/
Writing & Arts
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards — Grades 7–12; Individual.
Deadline: CT writing Dec 20, 2026; CT art online Dec 9, 2026
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Eligibility details to confirm — Separate Connecticut regional art and writing deadlines; confirm homeschool submission process
Official link: https://cwp.uconn.edu/publications/scholastic-writing-awards/
Poetry Out Loud — High school; Individual.
Deadline: CT coordinator deadline: verify
Homeschool participation: Pathway identified. Confirmed with conditions — Homeschool students can compete via local school or homeschool group; state coordinator
Official link: https://poetryoutloud.org/rules-eligibility/
National YoungArts Competition — Ages 15–18 (verify); Individual.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://youngarts.org/
Congressional Art Competition — High school; Individual.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.house.gov/educators-and-students/congressional-art-competition
Letters About Literature / state programs — Varies; Individual.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Program status unverified — Do not assume this former program is active; confirm before promoting
Official link: https://www.read.gov/letters/
Business & Entrepreneurship
DECA competitive events — High school; Individual / team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.deca.org/
Future Business Leaders of America — Middle / high school; Individual / team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.fbla.org/
National Economics Challenge — High school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://www.councilforeconed.org/
Environment & Outdoors
Envirothon — High school; Team.
Deadline: 2026–27 deadline not verified
Homeschool participation: Unconfirmed. Not verified for CT 2026–27 — Check organizer for homeschool eligibility, Connecticut entry route, and current deadline
Official link: https://envirothon.org/
Note: The former National Geographic GeoBee is discontinued. The IAC National Geography Bee is a different event. A similarly named event may have different homeschool rules.