United States · Grades 6 to 8 · First competitions

Coding competitions for middle school students

Middle school is when many students enter their first real competition, and the choice is wider than most parents expect. Some contests need no coding at all, some accept Scratch, and a few are the same contests high schoolers take. The catch is that grade limits, team rules and sign-up routes differ a lot, and several fall deadlines arrive before families notice them. This guide lists what a sixth, seventh or eighth grader can enter in 2026-27, checked on each organiser’s own site on 17 October 2026, and adds a practice set and the year plan we use in class.

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In short

Middle schoolers in the US can enter Bebras (free, 45 minutes, November 9 to 20, 2026), the ACSL Junior Division (no student beyond grade 9), CyberPatriot’s Middle School Division, the Presidential SI Challenge for grades 6 to 8, the Congressional App Challenge (block code allowed), FIRST LEGO League, and USACO. Modern Age Coders teaches Scratch, Python and problem solving for them live online.

Get ready with a teacher

Courses that suit a first coding competition

Chosen by where a middle schooler usually starts: blocks, first typed code, or puzzles with no code at all.

Scratch Coding for Kids course thumbnail

COMP / 01

Scratch coding

For 8 to 13 year olds. Games that can become an app challenge entry.

Open the syllabus →
Python and AI for Kids course thumbnail

COMP / 02

Python for kids

For 8 to 13 year olds. The typed language ACSL and USACO accept.

Open the syllabus →
Problem Solving and Computational Thinking for Kids course thumbnail

COMP / 03

Computational thinking

For 8 to 13 year olds. The logic puzzles Bebras is built on.

Open the syllabus →

What is open

Which coding competitions accept grades 6 to 8

Middle school eligibility is where these contests differ most. The table puts the grade or age rule first, because it decides everything else.

Coding competitions open to US middle schoolers this school year (organisers’ pages, checked 17 October 2026)
CompetitionGrade or age ruleCoding needed?How you enterNext date
Bebras USAAges 6 to 18 in six age groupsNo; logic and computational thinking tasksThrough a school coordinatorNovember 9 to 20, 2026
ACSL Junior DivisionNo student beyond grade 9Yes, Python 3, Java or C++ for one problemA team advisor registers the teamContest #1 opens October 19, 2026
ACSL Elementary DivisionGrades 3 to 6No; a non-programming testA team advisor registers the teamContest #1 opens October 19, 2026
CyberPatriot Middle School DivisionMiddle school studentsSecurity settings, not programmingA coach registers a teamIntroductory Round, November 12 to 15, 2026
Congressional App ChallengeEnrolled in middle or high school; middle school is typically grades 6 to 8Yes, but block-based coding is allowedThe student registers in a participating districtDeadline October 26, 2026
Presidential SI ChallengeMiddle School Student Category, grades 6 to 8A project using SI tools or methodsAn adult Team Leader registers the teamRegister by December 18, 2026
FIRST LEGO LeagueGrades K to 8, ages 5 to 16Yes in Challenge: teams program a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robotA local team with a coachThe 2026-2027 BIOGLOW season, timing set by region
USACOAnyone may take the online contestsYes, C, C++, Java or PythonThe student makes an account2026-27 dates not yet published

The no-code doors

Two of these need no programming at all. Bebras tasks are logic puzzles about how computers think, and the ACSL Elementary Division, open to grades 3 to 6, sets a short non-programming test on one topic per contest.

They suit a sixth grader who likes puzzles but has not typed much code yet, and they give honest feedback on reasoning skills before any coding course begins.

Where Scratch counts

The Congressional App Challenge rulebook names block-based coding languages as allowed, so a finished Scratch project with a clear purpose is a genuine entry.

Most other contests on this page expect typed code. A student moving from Scratch to Python in grade 6 or 7 can be ready for ACSL Junior or USACO bronze by grade 8.

Sources: Bebras USA, ACSL Divisions, CyberPatriot, Congressional App Challenge, Presidential SI Challenge eligibility, FIRST and USACO, read 17 October 2026. Modern Age Coders has no tie to any of them.

Bebras

Bebras: a free 45-minute computational thinking challenge

Bebras is the gentlest first competition on this list, and the 2026 US dates are only weeks away.

Bebras USA age groups and task counts, from the official site (read 17 October 2026)
GroupAgesEasyMediumHard
Kits6 to 8333
Castors8 to 10444
Benjamins10 to 12555
Cadets12 to 14555
Juniors14 to 16555
Seniors16 to 18555

What the organisers say

The site states: "Participating in the challenge is free, and the tasks can all be completed without any preparation or studying." Students get 45 minutes and are not expected to finish every task.

For 2026 the US challenge is scheduled for November 9 to 20, 2026. Teachers supervise, so a family whose school is not taking part can ask a teacher to register as coordinator.

Which group a middle schooler sits in

Most sixth graders fall in Benjamins (10 to 12) and most seventh and eighth graders in Cadets (12 to 14). Both groups get fifteen tasks, five at each level.

With 45 minutes for fifteen tasks, that is three minutes a task on average by our arithmetic, so the skill on test day is moving on from a stuck puzzle quickly.

Source: USA Bebras Computing Challenge, read 17 October 2026.

ACSL for middle school

ACSL Junior, Classroom and Elementary: three ways in for grades 6 to 8

The American Computer Science League has more middle school routes than any other contest here. The right division depends on whether the student already writes typed code.

ACSL divisions a middle schooler can enter, 2026-27 (Divisions page and FAQ, read 17 October 2026)
DivisionWho ACSL says it is forEach contestFinals cut-off
JuniorJunior high and middle school students learning programming or with coding experience; no student beyond grade 9Six short-answer questions in 30 minutes, then one programming task with a 72-hour window28 points
ClassroomOpen to all grades; suits computer science classes without much programmingA 50-minute, 10-question short answer test, no programming24 points
ElementaryGrades 3 to 6A 30-minute, 6-question non-programming test on one category, a new category each contest14 points

The 2026-27 season

The first contest window runs from October 19, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Three more contests follow, the last closing on May 23, 2027, and the online Finals are on Saturday, May 29, 2027.

Students take all four contests. ACSL awards certificates to top teams and top individuals in each state after the fourth contest, using cumulative scores.

Getting a team started

Registration is done by an adult advisor before December 31, 2026, and ACSL says any teacher, parent or adult with some computer science experience can be that advisor. There is no minimum team size.

Short answer topics run, in ACSL’s words, "from Number Systems to Boolean Algebra to Digital Electronics". The practice set below covers the first of those.

Sources: ACSL Divisions, Schedule, FAQ and home page, read 17 October 2026. Our ACSL competition preparation page covers each topic.

Team events

Team events for middle schoolers: CyberPatriot, FIRST and the SI Challenge

For students who would rather work with friends than sit a test alone, three programs build the whole year around a team.

Team competitions with a middle school route (organisers’ pages, checked 17 October 2026)
ProgramTeam shapeWhat the team doesKey 2026-27 dates
CyberPatriot Middle School DivisionAn adult coach and two to six students, up to five competing at onceSecures Windows and Linux virtual machines and answers networking questionsIntroductory Round November 12 to 15, 2026; State Round December 10-13, 2026
Presidential SI Challenge, Middle School Student CategoryBetween one and four students in grades 6 to 8, plus a Team Leader who is at least 21A written report (a title page plus at most 10 pages) and a video no longer than 4 minutesRegistration closes December 18, 2026; projects are due December 23, 2026
FIRST LEGO LeagueA team with an adult coach, grades K to 8Programs a SPIKE Prime robot to complete missions autonomously in two-and-a-half minute matchesBIOGLOW, the 2026-2027 season, which FIRST says will be the final season of the program

CyberPatriot for beginners

CyberPatriot says it is designed for any student, "regardless of prior cybersecurity knowledge". For middle school teams the first scored round of the season is the Introductory Round, which tests the basics.

This season’s team sign-up ended on October 1, 2026. A student with no team yet can learn the basics this year and ask a teacher about coaching one next fall.

Two notes on the other two

The Presidential SI Challenge has a Standard Track and a Trailblazer Track for middle schoolers; Trailblazer is for projects that are novel and could matter nationwide. The program was called the Presidential AI Challenge until a September 29, 2026 executive order changed the federal term.

FIRST says it is developing the next generation of K-8 programs, launching in 2027, so check firstinspires.org before planning a 2027-28 team. Its FIRST LEGO League page says the 2026-2027 BIOGLOW season will be the final season of the program.

Sources: CyberPatriot overview and schedule; Presidential SI Challenge tiers and requirements; FIRST; read 17 October 2026.

Going further alone

USACO, the app challenge and capture the flag for a strong eighth grader

Some middle schoolers are ready for contests that high schoolers take. Three of them welcome younger students outright.

USACO bronze

The USACO rules say all are welcome in the online contests, every newcomer starts in bronze, and bronze problems are designed so that Python can solve them fully. Entry is free. The 2026-27 dates were not posted on 17 October 2026.

Congressional App Challenge

For 2026 a student enrolled in middle school on October 26, 2026 can enter, alone or in a team of up to four. Entries close at noon Eastern (EDT) on Monday, October 26, 2026, so this suits a student whose app is nearly finished.

CyLab Security Academy

The free platform behind picoCTF describes itself as a learning ecosystem for middle schoolers through adults, with an annual flagship event for US middle and high school students. Its practice challenges stay open between events.

Our Congressional App Challenge guide covers that rulebook in detail, and the USACO coaching page explains how bronze problems are scored. For security puzzles, start with picoCTF for beginners; for team defense, read CyberPatriot preparation; and for an SI project, the Presidential AI Challenge guide covers the renamed program.

Practice set

Six number systems questions to try before an ACSL contest

Number systems is the first short answer topic most ACSL students meet. These six questions are ours, written for this page, at roughly Junior Division difficulty.

  1. Convert 45 (base 10) to binary.
  2. Convert 2F (base 16) to base 10.
  3. Convert 75 (base 8) to binary. Hint: each octal digit is exactly three binary digits.
  4. Add the binary numbers 1101 and 1011. Give the answer in binary.
  5. Which is largest: 3A (base 16), 71 (base 8) or 111011 (base 2)?
  6. Convert 1F (base 16) to base 8.
Answers and the reasoning (ours)
QuestionAnswerHow
110110145 = 32 + 8 + 4 + 1
2472 x 16 + 15 = 47
31111017 is 111 and 5 is 101; side by side gives 111101, which is 61 in base 10
4110001101 is 13 and 1011 is 11; 13 + 11 = 24, and 24 = 16 + 8
5111011 (base 2)3A is 58, 71 is 57, and 111011 is 59
6371F is 31; 31 = 3 x 8 + 7
Check every answer in Python (ours)Python
# Python reads other bases with int(text, base)
# and writes them with bin() and oct().

print(bin(45))                      # 0b101101
print(int("2F", 16))                # 47
print(bin(int("75", 8)))            # 0b111101
print(bin(0b1101 + 0b1011))         # 0b11000
print(max(0x3A, 0o71, 0b111011))    # 59, so the binary one wins
print(oct(int("1F", 16)))           # 0o37

In the real contest there is no computer and no calculator for the short answer test, so do every question by hand first and use the code only to check.

Why place value is the whole trick

Every question above reduces to one idea: each position is worth the base times the position to its right. Once a student can say why 2F means two sixteens and fifteen ones, the rest is careful arithmetic.

The shortcut in question 3 works because 8 is 2 to the power 3. The same shortcut links base 16 and base 2 in groups of four.

Turning it into a habit

We give students five fresh questions like these each week for a month before Contest #1. Speed comes from repetition, not from memorising tables.

A good follow-up is writing a short Python function that converts any base 10 number to any base from 2 to 16 without using bin, oct or hex.

A year plan

A first competition year for grades 6 to 8

Our suggested plan, built on the published 2026-27 dates. It assumes one live class a week and a little practice at home.

Starting points by grade (our recommendation)
GradeIf the student mostly uses ScratchIf the student already types Python
6Bebras (Benjamins) and ACSL ElementaryBebras plus ACSL Junior
7Bebras (Cadets) and a Scratch app for next year’s app challengeACSL Junior and USACO bronze
8Bebras, plus a move to Python this yearACSL Junior, USACO bronze, and a team event such as CyberPatriot next season
The 2026-27 calendar for a middle schooler (our plan on the official dates)
WhenEventOur focus that month
October 2026ACSL Contest #1 opens October 19; app challenge due October 26Number systems drills; finish any app entry
November 2026Bebras November 9 to 20; CyberPatriot Introductory Round November 12 to 15Logic puzzles against the clock
December 2026ACSL registration closes December 31; SI Challenge registration December 18Boolean algebra basics
January to February 2027ACSL Contest #1 closes January 10; Contest #2 windowFirst USACO-style problems in Python
March to May 2027ACSL Contests #3 and #4; Finals May 29 for those invitedReview every mistake from the year
Summer 2027Quiet for most contestsOne bigger project, ready for the next app challenge

Readiness

Four signs a middle schooler is ready to compete

None of these needs a high grade in maths, only steady practice.

From curious to competitor in middle school (ours)
SignWhat we look for
1. Finishes thingsHas completed at least one small game or project, even in Scratch
2. ExplainsCan say in words what a loop or an if statement is doing
3. Sticks with itKeeps trying a puzzle for ten minutes before asking for help
4. Moves onKnows when to skip a hard question and come back later

For parents

A first competition is about learning what a timed test feels like. Treat the score as a starting line.

Check the sign-up route early: Bebras and ACSL need a coordinator or advisor, and that adult may be you.

For students

Pick one contest that sounds fun and one that sounds hard, and enter both.

After each contest, write down one question you got wrong and why. That list is your study plan.

The catalogue

Nine courses for middle school competitors

Small live classes taught online by one consistent teacher, or a private class for one student.

I

First steps

Blocks and puzzles
II

Typed code

For ACSL and USACO

COMP / TYP / 01

Python for kids

The usual first contest language.

Open the syllabus
III

Eighth grade and up

Ready for harder contests

COMP / ADV / 01

Competitive programming

From 13, toward USACO silver.

Open the syllabus

COMP / ADV / 02

Cybersecurity competitions

From 13, picoCTF and CyberPatriot.

Open the syllabus

COMP / ADV / 03

AI literacy for kids

Background for an SI project.

Open the syllabus

How lessons run

Classes that leave room for homework and sports

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Weekdays

An after-school batch in your own US time zone.

Weekends

A calmer slot for younger students.

1-on-1

Paced for one child and one contest.

Same teacher

One familiar face all year.

Short drills

Five-question sets, not long worksheets.

Mock tests

Practice at the real time limits.

Parent updates

A short note on progress each month.

From home

Live online, nothing to drive to.

Batch or private

Fifteen to twenty learners, or one.

Student work

What our younger students have made

Games, sites and small AI tools built by our learners. The student labs page shows more.

NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot

AI and ML

NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

by Bhavya · Open it

Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot

AI and ML

Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot

AI and ML

GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot

Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

Fees

Bebras, USACO and CyLab Security Academy are free to enter, and others charge their own fees set by each organiser. Our classes are billed month by month in US dollars, so a family can add lessons in the run-up to a contest and stop when it is done.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

  • A free first lesson
  • Try a contest-style puzzle
  • No card details
Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

  • Fifteen to twenty learners
  • One regular teacher
  • Choose your batch
  • Monthly
Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

  • A private teacher
  • Planned around one contest
  • Your child’s own pace
Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

Google reviews from parents, quoted exactly.

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"The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content."

Ria Mukherjee

Parent

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

Vansh Agarwal

Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

Sonam Oswal

Parent of Dhairya

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

Sonu Goyal

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"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

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Questions from parents

Questions parents ask about middle school contests

What coding competitions can middle school students enter?

In 2026-27 a student in grades 6 to 8 can enter Bebras, ACSL (Junior, Classroom or Elementary for grade 6), CyberPatriot's Middle School Division, the Congressional App Challenge, the Presidential SI Challenge, FIRST LEGO League and the USACO online contests.

Is there a coding competition that needs no coding experience?

Yes. Bebras USA says its tasks can be completed without any preparation or studying, and the ACSL Elementary Division for grades 3 to 6 uses a non-programming test.

When is Bebras in 2026?

The Bebras Challenge USA 2026 is scheduled for November 9 to 20, 2026. Students have 45 minutes, and a teacher registers as the coordinator.

Can a seventh grader do ACSL?

Yes. The ACSL Junior Division is meant for junior high and middle school students, and no student beyond grade 9 may compete in it. An adult advisor registers the team before December 31, 2026.

Can my child enter a coding competition with Scratch?

For the 2026 Congressional App Challenge, yes: the rules allow block-based coding languages. Most other contests here expect typed code such as Python.

Is CyberPatriot open to middle school?

Yes, through the Middle School Division. Its first scored round in 2026-27 is the Introductory Round on November 12 to 15, 2026, but the deadline to create a team this season was October 1, 2026.

Can middle schoolers take USACO?

Yes. USACO says all are welcome in its online contests, newcomers start in bronze, and bronze problems are meant to be solvable in Python.

What is the Presidential SI Challenge for middle school?

It is the program formerly called the Presidential AI Challenge. Its Middle School Student Category covers grades 6 to 8, and a team is one adult Team Leader plus between one and four students.

When are your classes?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays.

Do you run any of these competitions?

No. We are an independent online school with no connection to any organiser. We teach the skills, and families register with each competition directly.

Elsewhere on this site

Further reading

Other guides for families of US middle schoolers.

Congressional App Challenge

The 2026 rulebook, step by step.

USACO coaching

What bronze asks for.

MATHCOUNTS preparation

The maths contest for grades 6 to 8.

ACSL preparation

Junior Division topics explained.

Technovation Girls

An app and AI challenge for girls.

Coding classes in the USA

All our guides for American families.

Machine learning competitions for high school students

ML and AI competitions for US high schoolers, 2026-27, from the official rules.

Math competitions for middle school students

Middle school math competitions for 2026-27, compared round by round.

US competitions calendar 2026-27

US coding, math and AI competition dates for 2026-27, sourced row by row.

Start here

Book a free first lesson

Tell us your child’s grade and what they have built so far. The teacher tries a contest-style puzzle together with them and suggests which competition to aim at first.

Curious how a class works? How we teach describes a typical lesson, and the courses page lists every syllabus.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

Lessons happen on live video with teachers based in India, so there is no building to visit. WhatsApp tends to be the fastest way to reach us from the US.

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