National Magnet School Month Student Poster Contest

Important Dates!

December 5, 2025
Must be a paid 2025-2026 MSA member to be eligible.

January 23, 2026
Submission window closes. To be eligible:
◊ Online entry form must be completed and a clean digital copy of the poster uploaded.

Late February 2026
Online voting will open.

April 2026
Winners announced at the National Conference on Magnet Schools in San Diego, CA.

Student Poster Contest Packet
Student Poster Entry Form

Overview

Magnet Schools of America (MSA) designates February 2026 as an opportunity to highlight and promote magnet schools across the country. MSA invites all magnet schools to plan special events and activities during February 2026 to celebrate the success of magnet schools, students, and staff.

To help celebrate, Magnet Schools of America is sponsoring its 20th Annual National Magnet Schools Student Poster Contest, and invites entries from elementary, middle, and high school magnets. Plan to enter this exciting and fun student-based project.

Students have the option to express/interpret just one, a combination of two, three, four OR all five of MSA’s pillars:

2026 Poster Contest Details

20th Annual National Magnet Schools Poster Contest

To celebrate National Magnet Schools Month, Magnet Schools of America is sponsoring the 2026 Magnet Student Poster Contest. We encourage all districts to involve their magnet students in this exciting and educational project. MSA is looking forward to receiving many innovative, student-created posters.

Entry Requirements

Districts or schools entering the poster contest must be paid members of MSA for 2025-2026 by Friday, December 5, 2025. Please email support@magnet.edu for all membership-related questions.

NOTE:

  • Institution/School members may submit one poster to MSA representing the appropriate level – elementary, middle, or high.
  • District members may submit only one poster representing each level – elementary, middle, and/or high.  Schools should coordinate with their appropriate district level department(s).
    • Each district will determine the posters sent to be judged at the national level.
    • Entries will be accepted from the district level completed by individual students only.

Deadline to submit posters: Friday, January 23, 2026

Please complete the online submission form and be prepared to upload a digital copy (see submission guidelines for specifications and instructions; page 3 of the packet) of the poster; for district members*: a district designee must submit.

NEW for SY25-26!

  • The work is 100% student-originated, with no use of AI prompts, generative tools, or automated image synthesis.
  • AI was not used at any stage-concept, drafting, or finishing.
  • If the entry is found to include AI-generated content, it will be automatically disqualified-no exceptions.

FAQs

What styles of artwork are acceptable for submission to the student poster competition?

Magnet Schools of America has received artwork in a variety of media, including watercolor, oils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, charcoal, pastels, photography, and digital art; therefore, each district must submit their choice of a student’s artwork as a digital copy.

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