The Politic High School Essay Competition is an investigative journalism contest organized by The Politic, Yale University's undergraduate journal of politics and culture. Open to students aged 14–19 worldwide, the competition invites entries that investigate a specific issue affecting the student's local community — such as elections, environmental concerns, school funding, redistricting, or business closures.
Essays must be 800–1,200 words (excluding title, byline, and footnotes) and must be original, community-rooted investigative reporting. Entries are submitted in a single round; first, second, and third-place winners are announced, and the top 10 receive honorable mentions. Winners are considered for publication on The Politic's website and in print.
The 2026 registration fee is $20 (early bird, by July 8) or $30 (regular, by August 14). Financial aid is available upon request. The essay submission deadline is August 21, 2026, with winners announced September 11, 2026.