US Geography Bee
Middle & Elementary School Divisions Homepage
New for 2024-2025!
The US Geography Bee Middle & Elementary School Divisions Overview
The United States Geography Bee is a quiz competition for individual students, testing knowledge of all aspects of American geography at a grade-appropriate level. For students competing in the Middle & Elementary School Divisions, the US Geography Bee consists solely of the National Championships. The National Championships of the US Geography Bee is entirely a buzzer-based quiz competition. Please note that the US Geography Bee is a distinct competition from the National Geography Bee. Questions in the US Geography Bee focus exclusively on the history of the USA and its territories and territorial waters. Questions in the National Geography Bee focus on both American geography and general world geography.
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Competition Format
For students competing in the Middle & Elementary School Divisions, the US Geography Bee is a one-stage competition, consisting solely of the National Championships. Students can also qualify for the International Geography Championships by competing in the US Geography Bee.
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National Championships
The National Championships of the US Geography Bee for the Middle and Elementary School Divisions for the 2024-25 academic year will take place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The four preliminary rounds take place in the morning and the two final rounds will take place in the evening. The National Championships for the US Geography Bee are also held in conjunction with the National Championships of the National History Bee, National Geography Bee, National Science Bee, and many other events. A full schedule of the 2025 Varsity & Junior Varsity National Championships Events is available here.
For the Middle School & Elementary Divisions, only students who have qualified for and are competing in the National Championships of the National Geography Bee are eligible to compete in the US Geography Bee.
The cost to compete at the 2025 National Championships for the US History Bee is $135. Registration for the National Championships opens in November and runs through early May on this page. Nationals weekend will also feature many other events, including the Opening Ceremonies, a Family Quiz Night, Universal Studios Night, Intro to Model United Nations, various talks and receptions, and the Jeopardy! Charity Games.
For all questions on the 2025 Middle & Elementary School National Championships, please email ems-info@iacompetitions.com.
Stage
International Geography Championships
Students who compete in the Middle & Elementary School Divisions of the US Geography Bee can qualify for the 2026 International Geography Championships! Students can qualify for IGC by finishing in the top 50% in their age division at the 2025 National Geography Bee National Championships. They can also qualify by finishing in the top 25% at any 2024-25 or 2025-26 National Geography Bee regional tournament, or in the top 50% at the 2025 or 2026 National Championships of the National Geography Bee. The complete qualifying methods for the International Geography Championships are explained here.
The International Geography Championships is a week-long event with numerous competitions, field trips, family activities and more. In each event, medals are awarded to the top 3 competing students in each age division. US students compete for their state; students from other countries (or students in the USA who were born abroad or who have foreign citizenship) represent those countries. Two of the most prestigious events at IGC are the International Geography Bee World Championships and the International Geography Bowl World Championships; an overall IGC Championship title is also awarded in each age division; please view the website at www.geochampionships.com for further details on all events and to register. We are expecting 300-400 students to attend the 2026 IGC.
For all questions on the 2026 International Geography Championships, please email igc@iacompetitions.com.