Debate & Speech Programs & Competitions for High School Students

Debate remains one of the most respected humanities extracurriculars: national circuits in Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Congressional debate, plus speech events and summer debate institutes.

Sustained debate achievement signals exactly what selective colleges want — research ability, argumentation, and composure under pressure.

60 verified programs match this page; 19 of the featured listings are completely free; 1 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 30+ curated programs for high school students:

• Tournament of Champions Qualifier — Tournament of Champions: Compete in an elite high school debate competition to sharpen public speaking and critical thinking skills. Stand out on college applications with thi
• Glenbrooks Debate Tournament — Glenbrook Schools: Compete in the Glenbrooks Debate Tournament, a top national-circuit competition for high schoolers. Build critical thinking skills and boost your coll
• Tournament of Champions Debate — Various: Compete in the elite Tournament of Champions Debate, the most prestigious high school competition. Build critical thinking skills and strengthen colle
• Underline Space Roundtable — Space Minds Center: The Space Minds Center was created to inspire interest and proactive thinking about space policy in emerging political science and international relat
• Best Delegate Model UN Institute — Best Delegate: Intensive Model UN training program teaching research, public speaking, and diplomacy skills. Programs available online and in-person for beginners th
• Yale Model Government Europe (YMGE) — Yale International Relations Association: Simulate European parliamentary government at Yale's premier international affairs conference. Debate real EU policy issues alongside 800+ students fr
• National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament — National Speech & Debate Association: The world's largest academic competition for high school students in competitive debate and speech events, culminating in the NSDA National Tournament
• American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest — The American Legion: The American Legion's Oratorical Contest challenges high school students to deliver speeches on the U.S. Constitution, awarding scholarships of $18,00
• National Speech & Debate Association National Tournament Finalist — National Speech & Debate Association: Reaching finals at NSDA Nationals is one of the most prestigious achievements in high school speech and debate. Strong indicator of communication and
• American Legion Oratorical Contest National Finalist — The American Legion: National finalists compete for up to $25,000 in scholarships. Speeches focus on the U.S. Constitution. One of the oldest and most prestigious oratory
• European Youth Parliament (USA Sessions) — European Youth Parliament Network: Pan-European youth parliament simulation with delegates from 40 countries. Debates current EU policy issues. Demonstrates international engagement and
• Tournament of Champions (TOC) Bid Winner — University of Kentucky: Most prestigious high school debate tournament. Requires earning bids at qualifier tournaments throughout the year.
• Institute for Speech and Debate Summer Programs — Institute for Speech and Debate: Top-tier debate institute with programs across the country. Coaches include former national champions. Pathway to competitive debate success.
• Harvard National Forensics Tournament — Harvard Debate Council: Largest and most prestigious HS debate tournament. Presidents' Day weekend. Highly competitive.
• World Schools Debate Championship US Team — World Schools Debate: Selection to represent Team USA at World Schools Debate Championship. Requires excellence in tryout process.
• National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society — NSDA: Largest interscholastic speech and debate organization. Earn points through competition to achieve distinction levels. National tournament pathway.
• Emory Barkley Forum for High Schools — Emory University: Major national tournament since 1956. 1000+ students from 35 states.
• National Catholic Forensic League Grand Nationals — NCFL: Second largest national tournament. Over 3,000 participants.
• International Young Physicists' Tournament — International Young Physicists' Tournament Association: A global team-based physics research and debate competition for high school students.
• We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution — Center for Civic Education: A nationwide high school competition on the U.S. Constitution, civil liberties, and democratic principles through simulated congressional hearings.
• US Universities Debating Championship — American Parliamentary Debate Association: Major annual British Parliamentary debating championship for U.S. university teams, run under the American Parliamentary Debate Association.
• U.S. High School Policy Debate — National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA): Team-based high school debate focused on a yearly policy resolution, emphasizing research, argumentation, and public speaking.
• Pan African Universities Debating Championship — Pan African Universities Debating Council: Africa’s largest university debate championship using British Parliamentary format, hosted annually by rotating African universities.
• World Schools Debating Championships — World Schools Debating Council: Annual international English-language debating championship for national high school teams from around the world.
• Philippine Schools Debate Championship — Ateneo Debate Society: The Philippine Schools Debate Championship is a premier national BP debate tournament for high school teams across the Philippines.
• Kathmandu Debates Championship — Kathmandu Debates: An annual international high school debate championship held in Kathmandu, Nepal, using World Schools Debate format.
• Heart of Europe Debating Tournament — Heart of Europe Debating Tournament, z.s.: An international high school debating competition held annually in the Czech Republic using the World Schools format.
• Frank Anthony Memorial All-India Debate — Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE): Nationwide English debate competition for CISCE-affiliated Indian schools in junior and senior categories.
• ESU Schools' Mace Debating Competition — The English-Speaking Union: The ESU Schools' Mace is a UK-wide debating competition for secondary students run by the English-Speaking Union.
• Science on Tap Student Science Competition — Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI): A teen-led science communication competition where high school students present engaging talks on scientific topics to a public audience.

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