JSHS 2027: What We've Learned From Past Winners

The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) is back for 2027 after a year off. Our students have presented at regional symposia, qualified for the National Symposium, and won first- and second-place poster awards there. Here is how JSHS works this year and what we've learned from those results.

JSHS is back for 2027

JSHS is a federally sponsored research competition for high school students in grades 9 to 12, administered by the National Science Teaching Association. Students compete first at a regional symposium, and regional finalists are invited to the National Symposium. Students must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, and regional participation is free.

It's worth knowing that JSHS was suspended nationally during the 2025–26 school year by its federal funder, and several states held their own symposia without a national component. Regional host pages now say JSHS is back for 2027, and the 64th National Symposium is scheduled for April 20 to 25, 2027, in Chantilly, Virginia.

Dates vary by region, so check yours now

Each region sets its own deadlines and format. A few examples from regional pages:

- Texas: registration deadline November 13, 2026; symposium January 22, 2027

- South Carolina and Georgia: papers due December 14, 2026; symposia in February 2027

- West Virginia, New England Southern, and Heartland (Iowa and Nebraska): deadlines January 8 to 11, 2027

- Alabama: deadline February 15, 2027; symposium March 4 to 5

Some regions, including California Northern, had not posted 2027 dates when we last checked. Find your region at jshs.org, and don't assume it's running on its old schedule.

What our students' results look like

Over the years, our students have presented at regional symposia in several regions, including Northern California, New Jersey, and Texas. They've been regional finalists, qualified for the National Symposium more than once, and won awards at the National JSHS. We're proud of that record, and it's also where our lessons come from.

What we've learned

1. The paper comes first. JSHS evaluates completed original research. In the regions we looked at, students submit a research paper or abstract, and selection to present happens at that stage. In Texas, for example, only the top eight abstracts in each of eight categories are chosen to present, and Georgia selects 45 to 50 students. Being invited to present is itself an achievement, and it depends on having a finished paper well before the symposium.

2. Plan backward from your region's deadline. With deadlines ranging from mid-November to mid-February, the work has to be on track months earlier. A rushed paper tends to show.

3. The work must be the student's, and the help must be disclosed. Some regions ask for a Statement of Outside Assistance with the application, and others have similar rules. That fits how we work: the student does the work, mentors guide, and the student can say exactly what they did and what help they had.

4. Know your region's format. Regions differ in how many students they select, whether the presentation is an oral talk or a poster, and how they judge. There is also a Virtual region for students who can't attend in person, but students may register for only one region, and the Virtual region is pre-screened to prevent it from being used to avoid a competitive home region.

5. Don't underestimate the poster. At the National Symposium, regional finalists present orally, and other regional delegates compete in a poster session for cash awards. A well made poster, presented well, is a real path to recognition.

6. Prepare for unscripted questions. JSHS is a live defense before judges and an audience of peers. Our team trains students on presentation and Q&A, including the ad hoc questions judges ask at fairs. In our experience, a student who can explain each choice in their project and what they would do differently is in the strongest position.

7. Treat it as one step on a longer journey. The same paper can lead to conference submissions, and the experience of presenting it many times helps later, in interviews, in essays about the work, and in conversations with admissions offices. Don't plan around this one event but rather make it part of an overall strategy to showcase and get feedback on your work. That is where our Mentors in Residence, who have seen many successful student journeys, can help.

Is JSHS right for your student?

It's a good fit for a student with a completed piece of original research, a willingness to present it live, and a deadline that works for their region. If the research isn't finished yet, an earlier or later event, or a conference submission, may be a better first step.

If your student is thinking about JSHS

Our Mentors in Residence can look at where a student's project stands and say honestly whether this year's deadline is realistic. If you'd like to talk, we'd be glad to.

Book a free consultation here.