The Annual Poetry Out Loud Competition is a national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Through the expressive recitation of poems, students bring poems to life utilizing their rich literary tradition of storytelling. After the performers are judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of understanding, and overall performance, one of the six regional contestants will advance to the Virginia Poetry Out Loud State Finals in March to compete for a spot at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington D. C. in May. For more information, review the Virginia Commission for the Arts Website.
Heritage High School hosts an in-school competition each December in the library. Students may enter either through a classroom competition or see their English teacher for competition information. Students must memorize one poem to enter. If selected, students will memorize a second poem. For more information, visit the Poetry Out Loud website.
The Poetry Out Loud competition will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2026 in the library. Students may enter through a class competition or audition with Ms. Littell in 307. All students will be selected and poems must be chosen by November 20, 2026.