Competitions · Season calendar

Computer Science Competitions:
Format, Dates & Prep for Irvine Students

3 computer science competitions in school-year order; 2 have official dates for this season.

Photo: Mario Amé / Pexels

Computer Science (3)

Oct192026American Computer Science LeagueFounded in 1978, ACSL is one of the oldest K-12 computer science competitions in the United States, and its value lies in being low-barrier, season-long and cumulative: four contests spread across the school year let a student build up number systems, Boolean algebra, recursion, graph theory and bit strings through real competition rather than one make-or-break sitting. For Irvine families it is the most sensible first formal CS competition for elementary and middle schoolers, producing concrete results such as state-level certificates and a Finals invitation while acting as a smooth on-ramp to USACO.ElemMiddleHighOpen to K-12 students, sorted by ability and grade into five divisions: Senior (high schoolers with programming experience), Intermediate (high schoolers with little programming background plus advanced junior high students), Junior (junior high and grade 9 or below), Classroom (all grades, suited to AP CSP courses) and Elementary (grades 3-6). Entry is by team, registered by an adult advisor who may be a teacher, a parent or any adult with some CS experience. Students in afterschool or weekend programs may compete, though full-time school students must compete with their own school's team. An unlimited number of students may sit each contest.Register by Dec 31
Nov9–202026Bebras Computing Challenge (USA)Bebras is one of the most widely taken computational thinking activities in the world: free, requiring no preparation, and open from age six, which makes it the ideal zero-cost first look at CS competition for Irvine elementary and middle school families. It will not by itself be a highlight on a college application, but it reveals very early whether a child genuinely enjoys and has aptitude for logic and algorithms, informing whether to commit to the multi-year ACSL and USACO track rather than discovering a mismatch in high school.ElemMiddleHighOpen to students aged 6 to 18, split into six age categories: Kits (6-8), Castors (8-10), Benjamins (10-12), Cadets (12-14), Juniors (14-16) and Seniors (16-18). No programming background or advance preparation is required. Students take part through a teacher acting as coordinator, who registers them and schedules the session during the challenge window.Register by Nov 20

Dates to be announced

TBAUSA Computing OlympiadUSACO is the programming credential that US STEM admissions officers know best and that is hardest to fake: divisions are public, judging is automatic, entry is free and open, so the result speaks entirely for itself. In an applicant pool as crowded as Irvine's, simply saying a student "can code" carries no weight, while a Gold or Platinum division instantly places them among the few thousand strongest pre-college algorithmists in the country. For students targeting top CS programs (MIT, CMU, Stanford, UC Berkeley EECS, or UCI's ICS honors track), the USACO division is effectively a line reviewers look for by default.MiddleHighThe online contests and training pages are open to anyone worldwide, of any age, who registers an account. However, only pre-college (K-12) students studying in the USA can qualify as finalists, be invited to the spring training camp, and compete for a place on the US IOI/EGOI teams. There is no minimum grade level, so middle schoolers can start in the Bronze division.

A Free 30-Minute Planning Call to See Your Child’s Next Step

Share the grade and the goal. An Irvine-based course advisor reaches out within one business day with a first, actionable course and study plan. Direction first, courses later.

Scan to reach a course advisor on WeChatHotline: (949) 383-4877WeChatEDUBUSerCopy the ID and add a course advisor in WeChat