Participation Eligibility

For students in any Philadelphia public, charter, private or catholic schools; who are home- or cyber-schooled; or enrolled in an Out-of-School-Time (OST) program, we welcome you to compete in our annual city fairs. The Exhibition Elementary Fair (grades 4 and 5) will be on April 11, 2024, and the Competitive Secondary Fair (grades 6 to 12) will be on March 7, 2024.  

Exhibition Elementary Fair

All school and OST programs participating in the Exhibition Fair are permitted to send a limited number of students per grade level and category. Each participating school and OST program may send three students, per category, from grade levels 4 and 5. The categories include life science, earth science, and physical science and consumer science. All students will present their research to a judge and receive an award at the end of the fair.

Competitive Secondary Fair

All school and OST programs participating in the Competitive Fair are permitted to send a limited number of students per grade band and category. The grade bands are as follows:  7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. *6th grade students will only be judged with other 6th grade students*. Each school may enter three students, per category, per grade band. All students will present their research to a judge and will receive an award. Some students will also have the opportunity to receive a special award. The awards ceremony will take place on March 15th, 2024.

***You must coordinate registration with other staff in your OST program, as this quota applies to programs, not individual sites. If your OST program does not have 501(c)3 status or is not formally affiliated with an organization with 501(c)3 status, then you must register through your school. Your students will be counted as part of your school’s student/project quota.

Applying for the GWCSF 

If you wish to participate, you will be required to apply through STEM Wizard. Visit the STEM Wizard site. 
If you have already participated in the past, you do not need to create a new account on STEM Wizard. Use your previous login information, and your account will be reactivated.​​

Delaware Valley Science Fairs

 The Delaware Valley Science Fairs, Inc. (DVSF) is a forum for middle and high school students to display to display scientific research and engineering projects that they have completed. In order to participate in the DVSF, students must first enter a regional fair in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey or Delaware. Qualifying winners from George Washington Carver Science Fair are promoted to compete in the DVSF. Learn more information about the DVSF. 

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair

​​The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is the world’s largest international pre-college STEM competition. High School scientists from around the world can win awards, scholarships and at the Regeneron ISEF. Students in grades 9-12 or equivalent are eligible to compete in a Regeneron ISEF affiliated science fair and win the right to attend the Regeneron ISEF.  Learn more information about the Regeneron ISEF.