Spelling · Elementary and middle school students at an enrolled school (the Bee publishes grade and age limits in its rules; check them before planning) · Individual

Scripps National Spelling Bee

37days to go
$199 school enrollment rate ends, November 30

How to enroll

A teacher or administrator enrolls the school. Parents and students can't enroll directly.

Ask the school office whether a School Bee Coordinator is already named
If the school isn't enrolled, share the enrollment link with the principal or a teacher
Once enrolled, the school runs its bee and sends the champion to the regional partner

By Enroll the school by Nov 30, 2026 for $199; enrollment closes Jan 29, 2027. Regional bees are in Feb–Mar 2027.

Enroll a school ↗

See which regional partner covers your school (DFW - Dallas Sports Commission or Fort Worth Regional Bee; Minnesota - The Minnesota Service Cooperatives).

Regional partners ↗

In plain words

The Scripps National Spelling Bee starts at school. A teacher enrolls the school with Scripps ($199 per school through Nov 30, 2026; enrollment stays open until Jan 29, 2027), runs classroom and school bees in the fall or winter, and the school champion moves on to a regional bee run by a local partner in February or March. In DFW the listed regional partners are the Dallas Sports Commission (Dallas) and the Fort Worth Regional Bee; in Minnesota it is The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (St Paul). Use the zip-code lookup on the Bee's site to see which one covers your school. Regional champions go to the national finals in Washington, D.C. in May. The 2027 Bee Week dates were not posted as of mid-October 2026.

Compare every spelling bee: who signs up, cost, dates →

Great for

Kids who love words, word origins and performing under pressure

Less ideal if

Your school doesn't enroll and no teacher will take it on; students can't sign up on their own

What it takes

Cost

$199 per school (paid by the school); free to students

Format

In person · oral spelling rounds; some levels add a written or vocabulary test

Who

On their own · one champion per school advances

Time

Steady word study over the fall and winter; school bee, then regional bee if you win

Step by step

1Ask your school's principal or a language arts teacher whether the school is enrolled with Scripps for 2026–27
2If not, ask them to enroll before Nov 30 for the $199 rate (deadline Jan 29, 2027)
3Study the Bee's word lists; the school gets them after enrolling
4Win the classroom and school bees to advance to the regional bee

Where it leads

Classroom and school beesFall–winter 2026–27
Run by the enrolled school
Regional beeFeb–Mar 2027
Dallas or Fort Worth partner in DFW; Minnesota Service Cooperatives in Minnesota
National finals (Bee Week)May 2027
Washington, D.C. · exact 2027 dates not posted yet

Key dates

$199 school enrollment rate ends
Mon, November 30, 2026
37 DAYS
School enrollment closes
Fri, January 29, 2027
97 DAYS

Free prep

Add these dates to my calendar

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Dates update on their own when an organizer changes them. Nothing about your child is stored.

Official site · spellingbee.com Share on WhatsApp

Checked against Scripps National Spelling Bee, 2026–27 enrollment on October 16, 2026. Suggestions, not guarantees: always confirm with the organizer.

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