TX only · Academics · Grades 2–8 at a UIL member campus in Texas (most events for middle school are grades 5–8 or 6–8) · Individual events, entered through your school

UIL A+ Academics

27days to go
Participation registration due (schools), November 20

How to enroll

Your school registers with UIL each year and picks students for each event. Families can't enter directly.

Ask the front office or a teacher who your campus's A+ Academics coordinator is
Tell them which events your child wants to try; most schools hold tryouts or practice sessions
Ask for the date of your A+ district meet so you can plan around it

By Schools finish participation registration by Nov 20, 2026. Your district's meet falls in one of the Set A, B or C windows listed above.

UIL A+ Academics page ↗

Not sure if your campus takes part? Private, charter and homeschool groups need a UIL member campus. Ask your school or call the UIL A+ office at .

How A+ meets work ↗

In plain words

UIL A+ Academics is the elementary and middle school version of UIL academics, run by the University Interscholastic League in Texas. Schools group into local A+ districts and hold a district meet, which is the final event; there is no regional or state round for grades 2–8. Events include Number Sense, Mathematics, Calculator Applications, Science, Ready Writing, Spelling, Social Studies, Maps Graphs & Charts, Dictionary Skills, Listening, Oral Reading, Impromptu Speaking, Modern Oratory, Art, Music Memory, Chess Puzzle and more. For 2026–27 UIL split meet materials into three windows: Set A (Oct 1–Nov 30), Set B (Dec 1–Jan 30) and Set C (Feb 1–May 29). Each district picks one window for its district meet; many DFW districts also run a practice (invitational) meet first.

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

Great for

Kids who want to try a lot of subjects in one day, with teammates from their own school

Less ideal if

Your campus doesn't register for A+ (ask; a coach or coordinator has to sign the school up each year)

What it takes

Cost

Usually free to students; UIL provides test materials to districts at no charge

Format

In person at a district meet · each event is a short written test, speech or performance

Who

Individual events · entered through your school

Time

A few weeks of practice, then one meet day (plus an optional practice meet)

Step by step

1Ask your school's UIL A+ coordinator (often a teacher or assistant principal) which events your campus enters
2Find out when your A+ district holds its meet and whether there's a practice meet first
3Pick up to the allowed number of events and practice with past tests
4Compete at the district meet; results are by grade level

Where it leads

Practice (invitational) meet
Some A+ districts hold one as a warm-up or qualifier
A+ district meetIn the Set A, B or C window your district chooses
The final event for grades 2–8; no state round
UIL High School AcademicsGrade 9+
Many of the same events continue, with district, regional and state rounds

Key dates

Participation registration due (schools)
Fri, November 20, 2026
27 DAYS
Last day for Set A meets
Mon, November 30, 2026
37 DAYS
Set B meets begin
Tue, December 1, 2026
38 DAYS
Last day for Set B meets
Sat, January 30, 2027
98 DAYS
Set C meets begin
Mon, February 1, 2027
100 DAYS
Last day for Set C meets
Sat, May 29, 2027
217 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 · uiltexas.org Share on WhatsApp

Checked against UIL A+ Academics calendar and 2026–27 UIL Calendar on October 16, 2026. Suggestions, not guarantees: always confirm with the organizer.

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