2026 - American Rocketry Challenge

2026 National Finals Results

The Bishop’s School outperformed a record-breaking 1,107 teams that entered the competition at the start of the year and bested the top 100 teams competing at National Finals on May 16. Their precision in designing, building, and launching a model rocket was unmatched by any other team in the country.

In all, a record-breaking 1,107 teams from 44 states and Washington, DC competed in the 2026 American Rocketry Challenge. Students designed, built, and launched rockets to exacting requirements as they competed for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Below are the results for this year’s National Finals, as well as the Mission Debriefing Challenge and Rocket Reels competitions.

The top twenty-five finishers receive an invitation to participate in NASA’s Student Launch initiative to continue their exploration of rocketry with high-powered rockets and challenging mission parameters.

Check out the full results below:

2026 National Finals: Top 10 Teams

Place	Award	School/Organization Name	City	State	Flight 1 Score	Flight 2 Score	Final Score
1	$20,000	The Bishop’s School	La Jolla	CA	8	3	11
2	$15,000	Washington Youth Aerospace	Redmond	WA	1	11	12
3	$12,500	Hardin Valley Academy	Knoxville	TN	9.2	6	15.2
4	$10,000	Interlake High School (Team 1)	Bellevue	WA	11.72	8	19.72
5	$7,500	New Albany High School	New Albany	OH	21	0	21
6	$5,000	Newport High School (Team 2)	Bellevue	WA	16	6	22
7	$2,500	Odle Middle School	Bellevue	WA	1	23	24
8	$2,500	Richards R-5 (Team 1)	West Plains	MO	21.68	4	25.68
9	$2,500	Delbarton School	Morristown	NJ	21.56	6	27.56
10	$1,500	AIAA Orange County Section (Team 1)	Irvine	CA	16	15	31

Each school or organization for teams 1-5 also receives $1,000. Each school or organization for teams 6-10 also receives $500.

2026 Northrop Grumman Foundation Mission Debriefing Challenge

Place	Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
1	$3,000	Newport High School	Bellevue	WA
2	$1,500	4H Wake County Rocketry	Raleigh	NC

Awarded to the team who best showed off their hard work, explained their design, and demonstrated how test flight data drove decision making. The team wins $3,000.

2026 Rocket Reels

Place	Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
1	$3,000	New Albany High School	New Albany	OH
2	$1,500	Bob Jones High School	Madison	AL

Awarded to the team who created the best video that generated excitement about their team, the American Rocketry Challenge, and aerospace and space exploration. The team wins $3,000.

2026 Launchpad League

Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
$3,000	Kingsport Area Christian Home Education Association	Kingsport	Tennessee

Awarded to the team who actively participates by attending interactive webinars, submitting thoughtful questions, supporting fellow teams, and earning Launchpad League Miles through mission critical activities such as workshops, team events, and social media engagement. The team wins $3,000.

Northrop Grumman Foundation Rocket Building Contest

	Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
Most Creative	$500	North Carolina School of Science & Math	Durham	NC
Best Craftsmanship	$500	Northridge Prep School	Niles	IL

Awarded to the team who builds a creative, well‑assembled rocket that includes all required components for flight, such as a motor mount and recovery system, and that, in the judgment of the event judges, is most likely to fly stably. The team wins $500.

Ducommon Best ARC Rocket Craftsmanship Award

Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
$500	Presidio High School (Team 1)	Presidio	TX

Awarded to the team who demonstrates the highest level of rocket craftsmanship, as selected on the field by NAR judges. The team wins $500.

RTX Most Innovative Approach to ARC Mission Award

Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
$500	Astra Bio Science	Palo Alto	CA

Awarded to the team who demonstrates the most innovative approach to the mission, as selected on the field by NAR judges. The team wins $500.

Out of This World Outfits Award

Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
$500	Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology	Alexandria	VA

Awarded to the team who showcases the most creative attire or costume. The team wins $500.

Aerospace Games Award

Award	School/Organization Name	City	State
$500	Colville High School	Colville	WA

Awarded to the team who earns the most points in the Aerospace Games. The team wins $500.

2026 National Finals Flight Results

Place	School/Organization Name	City	State	Flight 1 Score	Flight 2 Score	Total Score
1	The Bishop’s School	La Jolla	CA	8	3	11
2	Washington Youth Aerospace	Redmond	WA	1	11	12
3	Hardin Valley Academy	Knoxville	TN	9.2	6	15.2
4	Interlake High School (Team 1)	Bellevue	WA	11.72	8	19.72
5	New Albany High School	New Albany	OH	21	0	21
6	Newport High School (Team 2)	Bellevue	WA	16	6	22
7	Odle Middle School	Bellevue	WA	1	23	24
8	Richards R-5 (Team 1)	West Plains	MO	21.68	4	25.68
9	Delbarton School	Morristown	NJ	21.56	6	27.56
10	AIAA Orange County Section (Team 1)	Irvine	CA	16	15	31
11	Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers	Topeka	KS	10.56	20.92	31.48
12	Newport High School (Team 1)	Bellevue	WA	16.2	16	32.2
13	Collaborative College For Technology and Engineering	Statesville	NC	22	12	34
14	Immaculate Heart of Mary School	Cuyahoga Falls	OH	15.52	19.96	35.48
15	The Stony Brook School (Team 1)	Stony Brook	NY	19	19.88	38.88
16	Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology	Alexandria	VA	16	24	40
17	Newark Memorial High School	Newark	CA	24.88	20	44.88
18	Garnet Valley High School	Glen Mills	PA	20.48	25.32	45.8
19	Interlake High School (Team 2)	Bellevue	WA	15.68	36.72	52.4
20	Frontier STEM High School (Team 2)	Kansas City	MO	28.56	24	52.56
21	Spring Grove Area High School (Team 1)	Spring Grove	PA	14	40.56	54.56
22	Harmony School of Ingenuity	Houston	TX	21.16	35.04	56.2
23	Lightridge High School	Aldie	VA	22.72	35.72	58.44
24	Providence School of Jacksonville	Jacksonville	FL	8	51.96	59.96
25	Fulton Science Academy	Alpharetta	GA	11	49	60
26	Richards R-5 (Team 2)	West Plains	MO	19	47	66
27	The Cornerstone School (Team 1)	Ocala	FL	25	41.92	66.92
28	Combined Scout Troops	Woodbridge	VA	15.84	53.04	68.88
29	North Carolina School of Science and Math	Durham	NC	17	52.56	69.56
30	The Cornerstone School (Team 2)	Ocala	FL	23	46.72	69.72
31	Spring Grove Area High School (Team 2)	Spring Grove	PA	21.92	52	73.92
32	Astra Bio Science	Palo Alto	CA	24	50.72	74.72
33	Annie Wright Schools	Tacoma	WA	28.32	50.8	79.12
34	Farmington High School	Farmington	CT	25.76	56.64	82.4
35	Clear Falls High School	League City	TX	21	65.76	86.76
36	AIAA Orange County Section (Team 2)	Irvine	CA	33.48	62.36	95.84
37	Hamilton High School	Sussex	WI	9.76	96.84	106.6
38	Tyee Middle School	Bellevue	WA	14.68	94.64	109.32
39	Bridgewater-Raritan High School	Bridgewater	NJ	30.92	87.16	118.08
40	Waubonsie Valley High School (Team 2)	Aurora	IL	11.72	113.76	125.48
41	Los Alamitos High School	Los Alamitos	CA	17.12	136.48	153.6
42	Art Learning Mission (Team 2)	Yorba Linda	CA	20.88	DQ	20.88
43	St. Joseph's Academy High School	St. Louis	MO	33.84		33.84
44	International STEAM Education Assoc	Torrance	CA	35.56		35.56
45	Erie High School	Erie	CO	37		37
46	Fremont High School	Sunnyvale	CA	38		38
47	Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School	Rockville	MD	38.48		38.48
48	Victory Christian Center School (Team 2)	Charlotte	NC	39		39
49	Northridge Preparatory School	Niles	IL	39.44		39.44
50	Girl Scouts Troop 76141	Plainfield	IL	40.84		40.84
51	Haughton HS-Starbase LA	Haughton	LA	43		43
51	Russellville High School	Russellville	AL	43		43
53	Spring Grove Area Middle School	Spring Grove	PA	43.16		43.16
54	Tharptown High School	Russellville	AL	45.56		45.56
55	Neuqua Valley High School (Team 2)	Naperville	IL	45.8		45.8
56	Muscle Shoals High School	Muscle Shoals	AL	47		47
57	Bridge Education Foundation (Team 1)	City of Industry	CA	48.2		48.2
58	Irvine High School	Irvine	CA	49.96		49.96
59	South Brunswick High School	Monmouth Junction	NJ	51.32		51.32
60	New England Sci-Tech	Natick	MA	54.16		54.16
61	Waubonsie Valley High School (Team 1)	Aurora	IL	54.76		54.76
62	Neuqua Valley High School (Team 1)	Naperville	IL	54.92		54.92
63	Harmony Public School El Paso	El Paso	TX	55.04		55.04
64	Downingtown High School East	Exton	PA	56.88		56.88
65	The Stony Brook School (Team 2)	Stony Brook	NY	61		61
66	Presidio High School (Team 2)	Presidio	TX	67.56		67.56
67	Fox School District	Arnold	MO	72.64		72.64
68	Seckman High School	Imperial	MO	73.32		73.32
69	SmilingTree	Sammamish	WA	76.36		76.36
70	Hackleburg High School	Hackleburg	AL	79.2		79.2
71	Cedar Creek High School	Egg Harbor City	NJ	85		85
72	Center High School	Kansas City	MO	87.72		87.72
73	Maharishi School	Fairfield	IA	88.56		88.56
74	Liberty Hill High School	Liberty Hill	TX	89.4		89.4
75	Bridge Education Foundation (Team 2)	City of Industry	CA	91.4		91.4
76	Brooklyn Technical High School	New York	NY	94.92		94.92
77	Kingsport Area Christian Home Education Assoc	Kingsport	TN	95.92		95.92
78	Harmony Science Academy El Paso	El Paso	TX	97.72		97.72
79	Albuquerque Institute of Math & Science	Albuquerque	NM	102.72		102.72
80	Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School	Somerset	NJ	106.56		106.56
81	Fillmore County 4-H STEAM and Arts Club	Geneva	NE	114.6		114.6
82	Glenelg Country School	Ellicott City	MD	125.8		125.8
83	International Preparatory	Buffalo	NY	136.44		136.44
84	One World Anchor	Aliso Viejo	CA	136.84		136.84
85	Triple-I Academy	Irvine	CA	139.72		139.72
86	Frontier STEM High School (Team 1)	Kansas City	MO	146.12		146.12
87	Victory Christian Center School (Team 1)	Charlotte	NC	159.96		159.96
88	Del Norte High School	San Diego	CA	195.76		195.76
89	A Sustainable Future	Bellevue	WA	DQ		DQ
89	Art Learning Mission (Team 1)	Yorba Linda	CA	DQ		DQ
89	Blue Valley West High School	Overland Park	KS	DQ		DQ
89	Bob Jones High School	Madison	AL	DQ		DQ
89	Civil Air Patrol - Firebirds	Fremont	CA	DQ		DQ
89	Colville High School	Colville	WA	DQ		DQ
89	Longfellow Middle School	Falls Church	VA	DQ		DQ
89	Mountain Lakes Public Library Makerspace	Mountain Lakes	NJ	DQ		DQ
89	Northview High School	Johns Creek	GA	DQ		DQ
89	Presidio High School (Team 1)	Presidio	TX	DQ		DQ
89	Vandegrift High School	Austin	TX	DQ		DQ
89	Vikan Middle School	Brighton	CO	DQ		DQ

The top twenty-five finishers receive an invitation to participate in NASA’s Student Launch initiative to continue their exploration of rocketry with high-powered rockets and challenging mission parameters.