Mathematics Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 19 mathematics competitions for high school students. Of these, 7 are free to participate in and 10 offer virtual participation. Examples include AMC 10/12 (MAA American Mathematics Competitions), ASA Statistics Project Competition, and Berkeley Chess School Scholastic Tournaments.
- 19
- listed
- 7
- free
- 10
- virtual
- 19
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are mathematics competitions for high school students?
- Mathematics Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in mathematics. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 7 of the 19 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 10 of the 19 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are mathematics competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — mathematics competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in mathematics on college applications.
Related Categories
19 activities found·Browse by category
AMC 10/12 (MAA American Mathematics Competitions)
National contest series leading to AIME and USAMO, administered at schools or online through registered hosts with fall test dates.
ASA Statistics Project Competition
National competition where students design and carry out their own statistical studies and present results, open to grades 7-12.
Berkeley Chess School Scholastic Tournaments
Weekly USCF-rated scholastic chess tournaments held across the Bay Area (Berkeley, Walnut Creek, Alameda) and open to K-12 players including high schoolers, run by the Berkeley Chess School since 1982.
Berkeley Math Tournament (BMT)
Flagship Bay Area high school math tournament with both online and in-person editions at UC Berkeley, recurring annually with advanced problem-solving challenges.
CalChess Grade Level Championship
A statewide scholastic chess championship held in the South Bay (Milpitas) where California K-12 students, including high schoolers, compete by grade level for state titles. Requires an active USCF membership.
Denker Tournament of High School Champions
A prestigious invitational chess tournament, founded in 1985 by Grandmaster Arnold Denker, in which the reigning high school chess champion of each US state and DC compete against one another for the title of Denker Champion of Champions. Held alongside the US Open.
International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM2C)
An international team competition in which high school students spend five consecutive days applying mathematics to analyze and solve an open-ended real-world problem and submit a written solution report; in the USA, participation is by invitation based on performance in COMAP's HiMCM/MidMCM contests.
Kasparov Chess Foundation All-Girls National Chess Championship
An annual national scholastic chess championship run by the Kasparov Chess Foundation (founded by World Champion Garry Kasparov) exclusively for girls, drawing 650+ participants, alongside the foundation's Young Stars training and online KCF Academy instruction.
Math Kangaroo USA
Large international multiple-choice math contest with NorCal testing centers and online option, designed to build confidence and mathematical thinking for students of all levels.
Math Madness by AreteLabs
Season-long online team competition with weekly or biweekly matches, similar to an online math league for middle and high school teams.
Math Prize for Girls
A prestigious one-day math competition hosted at MIT by the Advantage Testing Foundation and Jane Street, open to female and nonbinary students in 11th grade or below who have taken the AMC, with substantial cash prizes for top scorers.
MathCON
National online math test followed by in-person finals for top scorers, covering algebra, geometry, and problem-solving for grades 4-12.
Purple Comet! Math Meet
A free, online team-based math competition open to middle and high school students worldwide, run annually since 2003, where teams collaborate to solve a set of challenging problems within a fixed time window.
Redbird Risk Management Challenge
A free week-long residential program at Illinois State University's Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management where high school seniors form teams to manage a simulated corporation through risk scenarios, learning actuarial and risk-management fundamentals; next held in 2027.
SCUDEM (SIMIODE Challenge Using Differential Equations Modeling)
A team-based mathematical modeling competition in which groups of three students use differential equations to model a real-world problem in physics/engineering, chemistry/life sciences, or social sciences, culminating in a 10-minute video presentation reviewed by judges.
Stanford Math Tournament (SMT 2026)
Stanford's flagship in-person high school math competition at Stanford University with team and individual rounds covering various mathematical disciplines.
Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and Boys
A national scholastic chess tournament founded by GM Susan Polgar, featuring a girls' workshop, simultaneous exhibitions with titled players, and blitz side events. The foundation has awarded nearly $8 million in prizes and scholarships to young players since 2003.
US Chess National High School (K-12) Championship
The largest annual scholastic chess tournament in the country, drawing over 1,500 students to compete across a championship section and multiple rated/unrated sections. Hosted by US Chess, with individual and team titles awarded plus side events like blitz and bughouse.
Wharton High School Data Science Competition
Annual data science competition focused on hockey analytics where high school teams analyze real sports data and compete for recognition.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.