Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad is a team STEM competition that includes standards-based challenges and specific events such as Elevated Bridge and Write It Do It. The Elementary Science Olympiad (ESO) program can take the form of a competitive tournament, a hands-on science Fun Day, or a Science Olympiad Fun Night. In grades 6–12, the program 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 some school clubs have more than 75 members using an apprentice and mentoring system.

• Ages: 5–18 years old

Science Olympiad was founded in 1984 and is a non-profit organization. It is described as the premier team STEM competition in the nation and provides standards-based challenges to 6,700 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states. Competitions are structured like academic track meets, with a series of 23 team events in each division, where Division B is middle school and Division C is high school, and a portion of the events are rotated each year to reflect changes in science and technology. The program places emphasis on active, hands-on group participation, and teamwork is a required skill with events designed to forge alliances. The Science Olympiad National Tournament is the culmination of nearly 300 Regional and State tournaments and about 165 practice Invitationals, and its rotating system gives students the chance to visit different universities, see new parts of the country, and tour colleges.

Science Olympiad offers resources such as the Science Olympiad TV YouTube Channel and the MY SO Library for lesson plans and STEM session videos, and 46 Science Olympiad events are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Community involvement includes the Science Olympiad Urban Schools Initiative serving students and teachers in high-need regions since 2006, and Science Olympiad’s work with Million Women Mentors to create partnerships between the STEM workforce and girls on STEM and CTE pathways. Science Olympiad has been included in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices report “Innovation America: Building a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Agenda,” and has participated in White House Science Fairs.

Science Olympiad’s credentials and awards include the Combined Federal Campaign and Independent Charities of America “Best in America” Award Winner 2024 and membership in the Combined Federal Campaign America’s Best Charities Federation approved in January 2024. Additional recognition includes the Million Women Mentors Excellence in Partner Innovation Award, 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 January 12, 2026.