Eligibility:

The Annual Student Poetry Contest is open to all students enrolled in grades 3-12 (including home schooled and tutored children), regardless of experience or previous publication, except where prohibited. Employees and agents of The America Library of Poetry and their immediate families are ineligible and may not enter. Each entrant may submit one poem of no more than 20 lines on any subject, and in any style except concrete (shape poems) or black out poems (marker covering another author's text to create a poem) provided that the content of the poem is not vulgar or offensive, does not employ profanity, and is the original, individual work of the entrant. All submissions become the property of The America Library of Poetry and will be considered for publication in a forthcoming anthology and may appear on this website. Submissions by multiple entrants may be mailed together in one package to save on postage.
All entries sent by mail must include completed entry form.  
All entries sent via website must include completed online form.  
Entrants must complete the entry form in its entirety to qualify for the contest and may submit no more than one poem per contest.

    

  Contest Dates:

The Student Poetry Contest is ongoing. Entries are accepted year-round and placed in the contest most current at the time of their receipt. Each contest states a deadline of April 30th.

The next contest will begin the following day.

    

  Selection:

Poems are judged based on originality, creativity, and artistic quality. Poems not meeting the requirements for line limitation are automatically disqualified. Poems containing profanity, vulgarity or offensive material are automatically disqualified.

    

  Prizes:

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners are selected in each of four divisions (Division 1 - Grades 3-5, Division 2 - Grades 6-7, Division 3 - Grades 8-9, and Division 4 - Grades 10-12). Each winner will receive a cash prize and Certificate of Achievement.

The writer who places first overall receives the Editor's Choice Award, and a $500.00 cash Grand Prize. 

Prizes are also awarded by random drawing, based on participation and not artistic ability, to encourage all students to pursue literary endeavors. These awards consist of a new Laptop, Tablet, or Wireless Headphones, a "School's Out" Shopping Spree, or one of ten Gift Cards. Teachers selected for Top Educator Awards will receive one of ten Laptops, Netbooks, Chromebooks, or Tablets. Teachers selected for "Early Bird" prizes will win one of 

25 Amazon Gift Cards of $100. Winners will be drawn from all “Early Bird” submissions we receive, in addition to our 10 “Top Educator Awards,” and 25 “Student Awards.” 

Two Spirit of Education Awards will be presented. One to the school with the highest number of entries overall, and one to the school with the highest percentage of participation (winner to be determined by drawing in the event of a tie). Each winning school will receive a new computer package and a trophy suitable for the school's display case. 

    

  Decisions:

Judges are members of The America Library of Poetry Review Committee.  All decisions made by the judges are final.

    

  Fees:

There are no entry fees for any of the contests. There is no purchase necessary. There is no financial obligation to enter or win the contests.

    

  Copyrights:

The author retains all copyrights to the submitted poem. Winning poems will appear on this website with the copyright notice intact and may be published in a forthcoming anthology. By entering the contest, consent to the publication of poetry is granted if selected as a winning entry.

    

  Notification:

Winners are announced every September 30th. Winners are notified by phone, email, or standard mail. Names of the winners and their respective poems may appear on this website.

    

  Privacy Policy:

As indicated here, The America Library of Poetry collects personal information for the purpose of notifying contest winners. All information submitted is kept confidential, and used solely for notification purposes and shall not be made public by The America Library of Poetry. The America Library of Poetry does not lease, sell, or share personal information collected. Minor children must have parental permission to enter the contest as per the COPPA guidelines outlined here.

    

  Legalities:

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Sponsored by The America Library of Poetry. All rights reserved. All information provided herein pertains to the Annual Student Poetry Contest. This information may be updated or changed for future contests. Last updated July 15, 2022.