The U.S. Department of Education has announced that the five regional semifinal competitions for the Presidential 1776 Award will be held at presidential libraries across the country. The award is a national civics competition that aims to recognize high school students who demonstrate exceptional knowledge of the American founding.
More than 8,000 high school students from all states and territories participated in the initial qualifying round, known as the Impossible Civics Test. With this stage complete, the competition now moves forward to its next phase.
The Department is working with the National Archives and Records Administration to host these events. The regional semifinals are scheduled for May 2, 2026, and will take place at these locations: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts; Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia; Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan; George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas; and Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said, “What better way to bring history to life than by welcoming students into the very institutions that tell America’s story every day through the legacy of the presidency? As we unite around America’s 250th birthday, these regional semifinals will challenge students to deepen their knowledge of our nation’s founding principles in places that embody our shared history.”
Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Archivist of the United States who is performing the duties of the Archivist, stated: “America's presidential libraries and centers all across the country are natural venue partners to host the Presidential 1776 Award competition, as each center plays an important role in celebrating the Semiquincentennial in its state and community. The National Archives is pleased to support these astute and enterprising students who are putting their civics knowledge into action.”
Regional semifinalists will receive a stipend intended to help cover attendance costs when they check in for their respective competitions.
The competition consists of three rounds. In Round One (February 22–28, 2026), students took an online multiple-choice exam called The Impossible Civics Test. Four finalists from each state were selected based on their performance. In Round Two on May 2, state finalists will compete at one of five regional sites by answering verbal questions about topics such as the Constitution and key moments in U.S. history. The top four students from each region advance to Round Three—the National Final—which will be held in Washington, D.C., in June 2026. During this final round, participants answer additional verbal questions for points; scholarships up to $150,000 are awarded to the top three winners.
