Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad includes a competitive tournament with 23 team events in each division, along with specific events such as Elevated Bridge and Write It Do It. The program also offers hands-on science activities through events like a science Fun Day and a Science Olympiad Fun Night. At the K-6 level, the Elementary Science Olympiad (ESO) program is available, and in grades 6-12, Science Olympiad functions much like a football or soccer team, with school-based teams of up to 15 students who cross-train for a variety of events and may be part of larger clubs with more than 75 members using an apprentice and mentoring system.

• Ages: 5–18 years old

Science Olympiad was founded in 1984. It is described as the leading team STEM competition in the nation and provides standards-based challenges to 7,000 teams at 450 tournaments in all 50 states. Science Olympiad competitions are compared to academic track meets, with Division B for middle school and Division C for high school, and a portion of the events is rotated each year to reflect changes in genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering, and technology. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation, and events are designed to encourage group learning and alliances. Nearly 300 Regional and State tournaments and about 165 practice Invitationals lead up to the Science Olympiad National Tournament, which is held at a different university each year and uses a rotating university host system that allows students to visit new parts of the country and tour potential undergraduate colleges.

Science Olympiad’s community involvement includes Science Olympiad + Million Women Mentors, NOAA and NAAEE teaming up with Science Olympiad to provide 2026 resources for Meteorology and Dynamic Planet, and participation in White House Science Fairs. Recognitions and awards include the Combined Federal Campaign and Independent Charities of America “Best in America” Award Winner 2024, Combined Federal Campaign America’s Best Charities Federation Membership approved in January 2024, the Million Women Mentors Excellence In Partner Innovation Award, inclusion in the National Governors Association Center For Best Practices report “Innovation America: Building a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Agenda,” the “Champions in Education” Award for Best K-12 Volunteer Activity in the Midwest, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Building the Future Award.

Last updated May 25, 2026.