Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a national, high school poetry recitation competition developed by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. This free program teaches students about poetry through memorization & recitation.
Poetry Out Loud lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million high school students have participated in this dynamic poetry recitation competition. Poetry Out Loud can help students improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and grow their appreciation for poetry.
Our 2025-2026 Season has Started!
We’re looking for students in Baton Rouge, specifically our 10-parish regions containing Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupée, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, West Feliciana, and West Baton Rouge that are interested in poetry recitation. Participation helps students master public speaking skills, build self- confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. The program increases student engagement in literature classes, provides non-academic scholarship opportunities for students, and builds statewide cultural connections for schools.
The program comprises of a Regional, State, and National competition with the highest scoring student(s) advancing to the next competition as well as earning cash prizes. In the past, we’ve had several students advance all the way to Nationals, totaling their prizes to as much as $300.
Interested in Participating?
We’re interested in several forms of participation from schools and their students, judges, hosts, and workshop guides. If any of these positions interest you, fill out the form below!
