What's the Buzz About?
Spelling Bees promote the love of language and vocabulary. The Spelling Bee helps students in Grades 4-6 and 7-9 improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage beyond the level of the everyday. Students study the correct spelling of words from prepared study lists and participate in “round” competition in which contestants are eliminated as they misspell a word. Students prepare for the county Spelling Bee using materials provided by the County. Two students per grade level advance to the California State Spelling Bee.
2026 Santa Clara County Spelling Bee
Timeline of
Important Spelling Bee Dates
Spelling Bee Virtual Informational Session
Must register | September 18, 2025
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | For school administrators or spelling bee coordinators.
Registration Link:
https://sccoe.to/Spelling_Bee_Info_2026
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County Spelling Bee Intent to Participate Registration
Final Due Date
Must register | February 20, 2026 | Registration is limited to districts, private schools and charter schools.
Registration link:
https://sccoe.to/Spelling_Bee_2026
(Will go live on 9/18/2025)
Sentences and definitions for spelling words on these published lists will be provided to LEAs once they register for the County Spelling Bee. Also, an additional list with sentences and definitions will be provided to use for final rounds of school/district spelling bees.
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| District/School Spelling Bee Student Form Due Date | February 20, 2026
| All districts and private or charter schools must submit names of students competing in the county Spelling Bee by this deadline date. |
| Spelling Bee Virtual Q&A Discussion Session | March 4, 2026
6 to 7 p.m.
| Zoom link will be shared one week before the event. |
| Santa Clara County Office of Education Spelling Bee Competition | March 7, 2026
Grades 4-6: 9 a.m. to Noon
Grades 7-9: 1 to 4 p.m. | County Spelling Bee at Santa Clara County Office of Education
1290 Ridder Park Dr.
San Jose, CA 95131 |
California State Spelling Bee Competition
| TBD
| State Elementary Bee held at: TBD |
2026 Spelling Bee Word Lists:
Elementary (Grades 4th to 6th) Word List
Junior High (Grades 7th to 9th) Word List
District Spelling Bee Guidebook:
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Sample 2025-26 Spelling Bee Timeline.pdf
2025-2026 SCC Spelling Bee Info Session Slides.pdf
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Please Note: This year pronunciations and meanings have been eliminated from the word lists to encourage students to use a dictionary, or other sources deemed appropriate, which also increases student's vocabulary acquisition and college and career readiness.
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Please refer to the information provided on this website, or contact
Mary Katayama at MKatayama
@sccoe.org with questions or for further information.
For Parents
Helping your child prepare for a spelling bee is an exercise in love, purpose, and tenacity. Studying at school is not enough. Being your child's partner in education will model a foundation built for a lifelong love of language, a buzz for achievement, and the confidence to "bee-lieve".
And remember -
Keep it fun! Find the joy in spelling.
Not sure how to advise your child? Helping prepare for a spelling bee can be as easy as 1, 2, 3....or A, B, C!
- Read. Read. Read. Reading helps move the practice along. Read all the books and news articles within arm's reach!
- Practice, Practice, Practice. It is important that spelling is addressed every single day. Study the official word lists used in district, county, city, regional, and state spelling bees. There are countless online and readily available.
- Study the rules. Knowing spelling rules like "i before e except after c" help when learning words. And don't forget the "building blocks" of the English language! Prefixes and suffixes, and Greek and Latin root words come in handy when constructing language. They help to understand a word's meaning and spelling convention.
