Academic Showcases and Competitions

2025-2026 Schedule:

National History Day

Grades 6-12.
Registration/Notification Deadline:
Intent to Participate Form Due by November 1, 2025.
Preliminary Registration for South Metro Region Due TBD.
Each school will host its own fair. All school competitions are to be held before February 6, 2026.
Formal Registration by February 6, 2026.
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).

RCPS District Spelling Bee

Grades 4-8.
Registration/Notification Deadline: Register with National Scripps Spelling Bee, Regular Enrollment from August 2024-October 2024.
District Contacts: Trinecia Ward - tward@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: Friday, January 16, 2026, 9:30 a.m. at Edwards Middle School.
GAE region Event: February 22, 2025.

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 12, 2025.
Deadline to submit Regional Fair Entries and ISEF forms: January 9, 2026.
Event: Friday, January 23, 2026, 1:30-4:30pm at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology.
Awards: Friday, January 23, 2026, 6:30– 7:30pm.

Technology and Media Showcase (East Atlanta Technology Fair)

Grades 3-12.
Registration/Notification Deadline: Register no later than January 9, 2026. 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 24, 2026. RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER. Participants will be notified of updated event information.

Rockdale County Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

Grades 4-8,
Grades 6-8 (one county-wide team)
Registration/Notification Deadline: Submit Intent to Participate to Jean O’Kelley (elementary and middle schools) - jokelley1@rockdale.k12.ga.us by October 31, 2025.
District Contact: Elementary Schools - Beth Clark - bclark@rockdale.k12.ga.us, Middle School team - Amanda Baskett - abaskett@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Event: Saturday, January 24, 2026 at RCA. RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER, to Saturday, February 7, 2026, at RCA. Participants will be notified of updated information.
For more information, Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl - Rockdale County Public Schools

Fifth Grade Social Studies Fair

Grade 5.
Registration/Notification Deadline: List of Entries Due January 3, 2026.
District Contact: Virnilisa Printup - vprintup@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: January 31, 2026, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at RCPS Central Office, 960 Pine Street, Conyers, GA. RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER. Participants will be notified of updated information.
East Metro Regional Social Studies Fair, DeKalb County Schools Administrative and Instructional Complex: March 14, 2026.

Math 24 Competition

Grades 3-5.
Deadline to submit School Level Winners and Alternates: February 13, 2026.
District Contact: Nancy Kelly - ndavies@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: March 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition

Grades K-12.
Deadline to submit School Level Winners: December 15, 2025.
Judging: January 30, 2026.
District Contacts: Trinecia Ward (K-5) tward@rockdale.k12.ga.us, and Dr. Sha’Ronda McRae (6-12) - smcrae@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: February 13, 2026, Winners submitted to MetroRESA
Young GA Authors Competition FY23

Thousand Voices Oratorical Showcase

Grades K-12.
Deadline to submit School Level Winner Entry Forms: March ___.
District Contact: Dr. Sha’Ronda McRae - smcrae@rockdale.k12.ga.us
District Event: March 31, 2026, 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (K-5th) and March 31, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.(6th -12th)

Olympiad (Science)

Grades 3-5.
Open to All Elementary Schools
District Contacts: Angela Reaves - areaves@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Event: March 21, 2026.

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 - Terrance Green - tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Friday, February 6, 2026 - Large group rehearsal @ HHS
Saturday, February 7, 2026. @HHS – Rehearsal followed by 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
Performances begin 3:00 p.m. – at Heritage High School.

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 ___ Sectionals Rehearsals at Location TBD
Saturday, January___
District Contact: Terrance Green - tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us

One Act (Fine Arts Theater)

Grades 9-12
Georgia High School Association Georgia High School Association | GHSA.net - This is a GHSA event
One Act - RCPS High School Theatre departments participate.
October ___: Deadline to enter
Dates, Times, and Locations Region 4 – October 4, 2026 at HHS
Region 4 HHS and RCHS – Wednesday, October___ at HHS
Region 6 – SHS TBD
November 8, 2025 - Regional Competition Complete
November 15, 2025 – State Championships
HHS and RCHS are in Region 4
SHS is in Region 6
District Contact: Paige Hutchinson - phutchinson@rockdale.k12.ga.us

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 ___
Deadline for completion of region meets : March 7, 2026
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us
RCHS: P. Hutchinson; SHS: J. Roper; HHS: T. Green
State Literary Meet - March 14, 2026.

Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival Student Photography Show (Visual Art)

Grades 3-12
Deadline to submit Entries and Registration Forms: February 13, 2026.
Exhibit at Conyers City Hall - March 2-6, 2026.
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Date: March 5, 2026 - Awards ceremony and reception, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. (awards at 5:00 p.m.) @ Conyers City Hall

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

Grades K-12
Work due to Dr. Kirby Meng from each school: February 13, 2026.
Work is exhibited at Nancy Guinn library: March 3-26, 2026
Reception at Nancy Guinn Library: March 26, 2026, 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
District Contact: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us

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: Dr. Kirby Meng - kmeng@rockdale.k12.ga.us
Deadline for entry – December 16, 2025.

Congressional Art Competition (Visual Art)

Grades 9-12
Art Contest | Congressman David Scott
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.