Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee 2026

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education coordinates the Elementary (grades 4-6) and Junior High (grades 7-9) County Spelling Bee. Students first participate in school spelling bees, and then advance to the county-level event. The countywide Spelling Bee is open to two students from every private/public school in Santa Cruz County in grades 4-6 and grades 7-9 who have been certified as school champions by their school coordinator.

The Spelling Bee Advisor will register two participants along with an adult proctor from their site for the event.

All participants will receive certificates of participation and the top three spellers in each grade level division will receive a trophy and prizes. Winners will be announced at the end of the event.

The top two spellers from each division, grades 4-6 and 7-9 will represent Santa Cruz County at the respective California State Spelling Bee.

Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee will be held on Jan 24th 2026. Please register your school for Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee by using the link below. Please register your school by Oct 15th 2025.

Students whose schools are not participating in the Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee, may submit an At large interest form. At-large participants will be chosen by lottery, based on available space.  Selected At Large participants must provide a proctor for the event.  Submitting this form does not guarantee selection to participate in the county-wide spelling bee.  Participants will be selected by lottery on a space-available basis after the December 5th 2025 deadline and will be notified if selected via the email provided here by Jan. 9th, 2026. Please let us know if the student needs any additional accommodations.