Selah Greer, Staff Writer for The Spark
“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.”
-Robert Frost
Emotion is a universal human experience. We all have feelings, but it takes courage to transform those feelings into art. Robert Frost, the acclaimed American poet, understood that poetry is a deeply personal experience. While the vulnerability of poetry often discourages young poets from putting their work out into the world, poetry contests are a valuable opportunity for high schoolers to obtain recognition, scholarships, and collegiate acclaim.
"Freedom," Frost says, "Lies in being bold."
This new year, be emboldened and resolve to enter your poetry in state, nation, and worldwide contests. Below is a compiled list of 2025's top poetry contests, free to enter, for high school students.
The North Carolina Poetry Society Sherry Pruitt Award: The North Carolina Poetry Society is an excellent resource for young poets that offers workshops, contests, and memberships. This contest is for students grade 10-12. Poems must be 32 lines or fewer. Entries can be emailed or mailed. The award is open now and the deadline is January 31, 2025.
The Foyle Young Poets Award: The Award is created by The Poetry Society and is a highly competitive and prestigious competition that has been established as one of the best in the world. This is a contest for students 11-17 years old worldwide. Contestants can enter more than one poem and poems must be 40 lines or fewer. Entries are not accepted through email and must be sent through the Foyle Young Poets Award website. The Foyle Young Poets Award opens this spring and the deadline is July 31 2025.
The Bennington Young Writers Award: The Young Writers Award is an excellent opportunity for winners to become an acclaimed writer, receive a scholarship at Bennington College, and a $1,000 cash prize. This contest is for all writers in grades 9–12 worldwide. Entrants can submit three poems (you can also submit a short story or a personal or academic nonfiction essay). You must have a high school teacher sponsor your poem. Entries are accepted through the Bennington College website. The contest opens September 1, 2025 and closes November 1, 2025.
National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is an internationally recognized and esteemed contest whose winners are featured in numerous publications and are eligible to receive cash prizes and scholarships. This contest is open to grades 7-12. Poems must be 3-100 lines in length. You can enter a portfolio of poetry or individual pieces. To enter you must create an account on the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards website and upload your poems, as well as pay $10 per entry. The contest opens in September and closes on December 7, 2025.
Write The World Nature Poetry Competition: Write The World is a platform for young poets and writers to seek peer review, enter global competitions for cash prizes, and publish their work. The Nature Poetry competition is for students 13-19. Pieces must be 50-500 words long. Entries are accepted on the Write The World website. The contest is open now and closes January 27, 2025.
Write The World Poetry and Spoken Word Competition: This is another poetry competition offered by Write The World and is an excellent opportunity to receive peer review from established poets, along with a cash prize. This is for students 13-19 years of age. Poems are required to be between 50-500 words. Entries are accepted on the Write The World website. The contest opens April 7, 2025 and closes April 28, 2025.
Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers: The Kenyon Review is a distinguished poetry publication that offers writers workshops and The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize. This contest is open to sophomores and juniors. Entries must be submitted on The Kenyon Review website. The competition opens November 1, 2025 and the deadline is November 30, 2025.
Whether you are writing to give voice to emotions, win cash prizes, or strengthen your college application, be emboldened by the freedom of beautiful words. Good luck!
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