Academic Showcases and Competitions

2026-2027 Schedule:

Congressional Art Competition (Visual Art)

Grades 9-12
Art Contest 13th Congressional District
Open to 9th - 12th grade students living in U.S. House District 13
**This competition may have a theme**
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Entry and Awards date not yet posted, it is usually in the spring.

Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival Student Photography Show (Visual Art)

Grades 3-12
Deadline to submit Entries and Registration Forms: February 12, 2027.
Exhibit at Conyers City Hall - February 22- March 1, 2027.
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Date: March 1, 2027 - Awards ceremony and reception, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. (awards at 5:00 p.m.) at Conyers City Hall.

District Honor Chorus (Fine Arts Chorus)

Grades 6-12
District IV (GMEA) Honor Chorus for Middle and High Schools – students
selected by directors. Clinicians are not finalized at this time.
Date and location: Friday, January 2027, Sectionals Rehearsals at Location TBD
Saturday, January 2027
District Contact: Terrance Green - tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us

District Youth Art Month Exhibit at Conyers City Hall (Visual Art)

Grades K-12
Work due to Dr. Kirby Meng from each school: February 12, 2027.
Work is exhibited at Nancy Guinn library: March 2-25, 2027
Reception at Nancy Guinn Library: Thursday March 25, 2027, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us

Fifth Grade Social Studies Fair

Grade 5.
Registration/Notification Deadline: List of Entries Due January 4, 2027.
District Contact: Virnilisa Printup - vprintup@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: January 23, 2027, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at RCPS Central Office, 960 Pine Street, Conyers, GA.
East Metro Regional Social Studies Fair, DeKalb County Schools Administrative and Instructional Complex: March 6, 2026.

Georgia Book Award Project Showcase

Grade 6-8.
District Contact: Brenna Moore, bmoore2@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: January 23, 2027, at Rockdale Career Academy.

GMEA District IV Honor Chorus

Grade 6-12.
Registration/Notification Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026
District Contact: Terrance Green - tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Honor Chorus: - November 13-14, 2026, Cost: $30 per student (Payment Due by Friday, October 16, 2026)
Middle School Clinician- Ms. Suzanne Grant High School Clinician: Dr. William Powell
Sectional Rehearsals - Friday November 13, 2026, Location TBD Performance- Saturday, November 14, 2026, Location TBD

GMEA District IV Honor Band

Grade 6-12.
Registration/Notification Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026
District Contact: Terrance Green - tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Honor Chorus: - November 13-14, 2026, Cost: $30 per student (Payment Due by Friday, October 16, 2026)
Middle School Clinician- Ms. Suzanne Grant. High School Clinician: Dr. William Powell.
Sectional Rehearsals - Friday November 13, 2026, Location TBD
Performance- Saturday, November 14, 2026, Location TBD

Literary Meet (Fine Arts)

Grades 9-12
Georgia High School Association Georgia High School Association | GHSA.net - This is a GHSA event
RCPS High School students participate in Fine Arts and other areas
Deadline: February 2027 TBD.
Deadline for completion of region meets : March 2027 TBD
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us
RCHS(7A): P. Hutchinson; SHS(4A): J. Roper; HHS (6A): T. Green
State Literary Meet - HHS, RCHS-March 20, 2026, at Buford High School. SHS- March 20, 2027, at Georgia Military College

Math 24 Competition

Grades 3-5.
Deadline to submit School Level Winners and Alternates: February 12, 2027.
District Contact: Nancy Kelly - ndavies@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: March 13, 2027, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at Central Office.

Model Water Tower Competition (Rockdale Water Resources)

Grades 6-8.
Competition conducted by Rockdale County's Rockdale Water Resources organization.
Deadline to submit School Level Winners and Alternates: February 2027
District Contact: Nancy Kelly - ndavies@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: February 2027, Date and Time TBD, Location TBD

National History Day

Grades 6-12.
Registration/Notification Deadline:
Intent to Participate Form Due by October 30, 2026.
Preliminary Registration for South Metro Region Due TBD.
Each school will host its own fair. All school competitions are to be held before January 29, 2027.
Formal Registration by February 12, 2027.
District Contact: Virnilisa Printup - vprintup@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: There is no district NHD competition. The South Metro Region NHD Competition will be held TBD (face-to-face).

Olympiad (Science)

Grades 3-5.
Open to All Elementary Schools
District Contacts: Christy Hernandez, chernandez@rockdale.k12.ga.us .
Event: March 6, 2027, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Honey Creek Elementary.

One Act

Grades 9-12.
One Act Play | GHSA.net -This is A GHSA event One Act- RCPS High School Theatre departments participate.
Regions: HHS, (Region 4-6A) RCHS, (Region 4-7A) SHS (Region 5-4A)
District Contacts: Paige Hutchinson - phutcherson@rockdale.k12.ga.us Region Championships: October 14, 2026 - RCHS October 21, 2026 - SHS October 21, 2026 - HHS
State Championships: November 14, 2026 - 6A- Carrolton High School November 21, 2026 - 5A- Baldwin High School November 21, 2026 - 7A- Monroe County FAC

RCPS Band Exhibition

Grades 6-12
RCPS Middle and High School bands showcase their talents. No registration is required.
District Event: Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at Heritage High School.
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us

RCPS Choral Expo

Grades 6-12
RCPS Middle and High School bands showcase their talents. No registration is required.
District Event: October 1, 2026, 7:00 p.m. At Conyers Middle School
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us

RCPS District Spelling Bee

Grades 3-8.
Registration/Notification Deadline: Register with National Scripps Spelling Bee, Regular Enrollment ($199) All Schools will purchase their subscription from August 2026-October 2026.
District Contacts: Shenita Russell, srussell@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: January 15, 2027, Location TBD.
GAE region Event: TBD.

RCPS Elementary Honor Chorus (Fine Arts Chorus)

Grades 4th-5th
Music teachers select up to 10% of their 5th grade students to participate in RCPS Honor Chorus.
Clinician - Virnilisa Printup
Friday, February 5, 2026 - Large group rehearsal
Saturday, February 6, 2026, 2:30pm - Large Group Performance
RCPS Contact: Jenelle Freeman - jfreeman2@rockdale.k12.ga.us

RCPS Honor Band (Fine Arts Band)

Grades 6-12
RCPS Honor Band/Orchestra for Middle and High Schools – students selected by directors. School-level rehearsals take place prior to April 17.
Clinicians: 9 – 12 Band – TBD; Orchestra – TBD; MS 7/8 Band – TBD; Beginning Band – RCPS MS Directors
April 17-18, 2026
Friday, March 27, 2026 - Entire group rehearsal 4:30p.m.-8:30p.m. HS Students, 5:30p.m.-8:30p.m. MS Students
Saturday, March 28, 2026- Rehearsal 9 a.m. – noon
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us

Rockdale Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Website: http://rsef.webs.com
Support information: http://sites.google.com/view/schoolfair/home
Contact: Dr. Scott Bolen - scottbolensofficehours@studentsrockdalek12ga.onmicrosoft.com
Deadline for all School-based Science Fairs: December 11, 2026.
Deadline to submit Regional Fair Entries and ISEF forms: January 8, 2027.
Event: Friday, January 22, 2027, 1:30-4:30 p.m. at RMSST.
Awards: Friday, January 22, 2027, 6:30– 7:30 p.m. at RCHS auditoirum.

Rockdale County Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

Grades 4-5.
Registration/Notification Deadline: October 30, 2026.
District Contact: Elementary Schools - Lisa Tolbert, ltolbert@rockdale.k12.ga.us,
District Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Event: Saturday, January 30, 2027, at RCA.
For more information, Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl - Rockdale County Public Schools

Scholastic Art Awards through SCAD (Visual Art)

Grades 7-12
How to Enter - https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/how-to-enter - Students may self-enter or schools may enter student work.
Students in Grades 7 – 12 are eligible
$10 per entry, $30 per portfolio, fee waiver form available
District Contact: Virnilisa Printup, vprintup@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Deadline for entry – TBA (Usually Around December 15)

Technology and Media Showcase (East Atlanta Technology Fair)

Grades 3-12.
Registration/Notification Deadline: Register no later than January 8, 2027. Showcase projects must be presented on the day of the Showcase.
District Contact: Tiffany McLymore (Fair) - tmclymore@rockdale.k12.ga.us, Josh Dyer (Showcase) jdyer@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Click here for more information www.rockdaleschools.org/techfair
District Event: January 30, 2027, 7:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., at Rockdale Career Academy.

Thousand Voices Oratorical Showcase

Grades K-12.
Deadline to submit School Level Winner Entry Forms: March 19, 2027.
District Contact: Dr. Sha’Ronda McRae - smcrae@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: Location TBD, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (K-5th), 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.(6th -12th)

Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition

Grades K-12.
Deadline to submit School Level Winners: December 14, 2026.
Judging: January 30, 2027.
District Contacts: Shenita Russell
District Event: February 13, 2027, Winners submitted to MetroRESA
Young GA Authors Competition