Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million high school students have taken part in this dynamic poetry recitation competition. Poetry Out Loud helps students improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and grow their appreciation for poetry.

Students interested in competing in Poetry Out Loud who do not attend a participating school must attend the Individual Regional Competition.

Saturday, January 9th, 2027
2pm at Charleston Stage: West Ashley
1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, 4A

• Grade Level: Only currently enrolled students in grades 9-12 are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th- through 12th-grade class.
• State Finals: A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition.
• Legal Participation Requirements: No student may be excluded from participating in Poetry Out Loud on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. Schools may determine eligibility for classroom and school level Poetry Out Loud programming pursuant to local and state law.
• Each student will select two poems to recite from the approved Poetry Out Loud Anthology. For Charleston Stage's Individual Regional Competition, one poem must be 25 lines or fewer, and one must be published before 1930.

Register for the Regional Competition

School Registration

• If you are a teacher who would like more information, please sign up here: FY27 Poetry Out Loud Interest.
• If you are a teacher who plans to host a school-wide competition at your school, you must fill out this Registration Form for Schools and Organizations by Thursday, December 31st, 2026.
• For schools that have hosted a school-wide competition, this form must be completed once their competition is complete: Report Form for Schools/Organizations by January 22nd, 2027.
• State Finalists should fill out the State Finalist Registration Form by January 29th, 2027.
• Click here to see the National Poetry Out Loud Teacher's Guide.
• See this page for details about staffing the competition.
• Find out more about judging the competition here.
• National Poetry Out Loud website.

• What It's Like to Compete: A helpful overview of what a student might experience when competing in a Poetry Out Loud Competition.
• Tips on Reciting: A comprehensive overview of reciting poems and evaluation criteria.

Questions about Poetry Out Loud or the regional competition? Contact our Education Offices at 843.225.3900.