Student Writing Awards

Achievement Awards in Writing

For 10th- and 11th-grade students

This school-based writing program encourages high school students in their writing and publicly recognizes some of the best student writers in the nation.

Students affected by the California wildfires are eligible for a deadline extension for the 2025 awards. Nominating teachers: Please notify NCTE by emailing studentwriting@ncte.org.

Annual deadline: February 15

Promising Young Writers

For 8th-grade students

This school-based writing program stimulates and recognizes student’s writing talents and emphasizes the importance of writing skills among eighth-grade students.

Students affected by the Los Angeles wildfires are eligible for a deadline extension for the 2025 awards. Nominating teachers: Please notify NCTE by emailing studentwriting@ncte.org.

Annual deadline: February 15

National Writing Award: Unity and Justice

Update, January 13, 2025: The 2024 Jefferson Lecture has been postponed due to the Los Angeles wildfires. NCTE will provide updates on the National Writing Award when the lecture is rescheduled. Sign up to receive a reminder when the contest opens. 

For 11th- and 12th- grade students

Based on Sam Mihara’s 2024 Jefferson Lecture, “Memories of Injustice”

NCTE, in partnership with the National Humanities Alliance, is proud to once again announce its annual award for student writers and mini-grants for educators tied to the National Endowment for the Humanities’ prestigious Jefferson Lecture. The Jefferson Lecture is the highest honor the federal government bestows for distinguished intellectual achievement in the humanities.

Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM)

February 7, 2025: Results of the 2024 REALM Awards are now available. Congratulations to all participating schools, educators, and students!

This program for middle schools, high schools and universities/colleges recognizes students, teachers, and schools for producing excellent literary magazines. It provides encouragement for all schools to develop literary magazines with excellence in writing and school-wide participation.

Annual deadline: July 31