29 competitions open to 9th graders. Next date is in 1 days.
Start this week1 days
YMCA Texas Youth & Government
Students write bills, argue cases and run for office in a model state government, ending at a State Conference in Round Rock. District conference registration closes: Oct 25.[1]
Start this week2 days
Congressional App Challenge
Build any app, in any language, and get recognized by your member of Congress. Register and submit app: Oct 26.[2]
Start this week5 days
Conrad Challenge
Hands-on invention with a team, judged in stages. A good fit for builders. Registration and Lean Canvas due: Oct 29.[3]
Worth knowing
Doing several at once is a lot alongside school and sports. If they pick one, start with the nearest deadline.
Add grade 9 dates to my calendar
Dates update on their own when an organizer changes them. Nothing about your child is stored.
Tests & school deadlines
Credit by Exam, GT, PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP
Summer research
Programs open to 9th graders
The year at a glance
2026–27SONDJFMAMJ
Deadline or testNext roundToday
This season's dates
21- CHECKED OCT 16YMCA Texas Youth & GovernmentTX only · Leadership · District conference registration closes: Oct 25
- CHECKED OCT 11Congressional App ChallengeCoding · Register and submit app: Oct 26
- CHECKED OCT 9Conrad ChallengeInnovation · Registration and Lean Canvas due: Oct 29
- CHECKED OCT 19YMCA Minnesota Youth in GovernmentMN only · Leadership · Regular registration closes ($599): Oct 30
- CHECKED OCT 16Technology Student Association (TSA)Technology · Chapter affiliation deadline (late fee after this date): Nov 1
- CHECKED OCT 16Letters About Literature (Texas)TX only · Writing · Submission portal opens: Nov 4
- CHECKED OCT 17AMC 10Math · AMC 10 A test day: Nov 5
- CHECKED OCT 16Bebras Computing ChallengeCoding · Challenge window begins (Nov 9–20): Nov 9
- CHECKED OCT 16DECABusiness · District CDC registration closes (chapter advisor enters students): Nov 12
- CHECKED OCT 16FBLABusiness · Area 7 Fall Leadership Conference, Fort Worth (other areas Oct 14–Nov 14): Nov 14
- CHECKED OCT 16HOSA Future Health ProfessionalsHealth · Texas affiliation deadline, high school members: Nov 15
- CHECKED OCT 16Scholastic Art & Writing AwardsArt & writing · Entry and fee deadline (Region-at-Large South): Dec 2
- CHECKED OCT 16TMSCA Math & Science MeetsTX only · Math · Gear-Up online meet registration closes: Dec 4
- CHECKED OCT 16UIL High School AcademicsTX only · Academics · Invitational meets (Set A) begin: Jan 8
- CHECKED OCT 10The Earth PrizeEnvironment · Registration phase ends: Jan 10
- CHECKED OCT 10Diamond ChallengeEntrepreneurship · Submissions due: Jan 14
- CHECKED OCT 17Science OlympiadScience · Apple Valley Regional (Div B/C), Apple Valley HS: Jan 30
- CHECKED OCT 11Science Fair (Dallas Regional → Texas → ISEF)TX only · Science research · Dallas regional fair, Fair Park: Feb 20
- CHECKED OCT 11National History DayHistory · Metro Senior regional registration due (event Mar 8, tentative): Feb 22
- CHECKED OCT 19Minnesota State Science & Engineering FairMN only · Science · Twin Cities Region science fair: Feb 26
- CHECKED OCT 16NSDA Speech & DebateSpeech & debate · National Tournament, Phoenix, AZ: Jun 13
More to explore
8Popular picks. Tap through for details and the official site.
- CyberPatriotCybersecurity · uscyberpatriot.org
- Doodle for GoogleArt · doodleforgoogle.doodles.google
- FIRST Robotics CompetitionRobotics · firstinspires.org
- FIRST Tech ChallengeRobotics · firstinspires.org
- Junior Science and Humanities SymposiumScience research · jshs.org
- PhysicsBowlPhysics · aapt.org
- Technovation GirlsCoding · technovationchallenge.org
- USACOCoding · usaco.org
Nothing matches those interests for grade 9.
[1] YMCA Texas Youth and Government, key dates for 2026–2027 season, checked Oct 16
[2] Congressional App Challenge, student rules, checked Oct 11
[3] 2026–2027 Conrad Challenge Student Guide, checked Oct 9
[4] YMCA of the North, Youth in Government 2027 program season, checked Oct 19
[5] Texas TSA 2026–27 Advisor Guidebook (PDF), Affiliation page, and National TSA 2027 conference page, checked Oct 16
[6] Letters About Literature Texas, official rules 2026–2027, checked Oct 16
[7] MAA American Mathematics Competitions, 2026–27 dates, checked Oct 17
[8] Bebras Computing Challenge USA, 2026 challenge dates, checked Oct 16
[9] Texas DECA, District conferences and State CDC pages (2026–27), checked Oct 16
[10] Texas FBLA, State Leadership Conference and Area Conferences pages (2026–27), checked Oct 16
[11] Texas HOSA 2026–2027 Calendar of Events (PDF) and HOSA ILC page, checked Oct 16
[12] Scholastic Awards region finder, Region-at-Large South (2027 season), checked Oct 16
[13] 26-27 TMSCA Calendar (tentative, approved 07-26) and Upcoming Meets page, checked Oct 16
[14] 2026–27 UIL Calendar (updated 09-29-26), checked Oct 16
[15] The Earth Prize 2027 timeline, checked Oct 10
[16] Diamond Challenge 2026–27 student materials (University of Delaware), checked Oct 10
[17] Science Olympiad 2027 National Tournament schedule, checked Oct 17
[18] Dallas Regional Science & Engineering Fair, checked Oct 11
[19] National History Day, find your local contest, checked Oct 11
[20] Minnesota Academy of Science, 2027 State Science Fair details, checked Oct 19
[21] NSDA National Tournament, future host sites, checked Oct 16
Suggestions, not guarantees. Always confirm with the organizer.