What is UIL Academics? 

UIL stands for University Interscholastic League, an organization that governs all athletic and academic contests in the state of Texas. 

Every great journey begins with a first step, and the visionaries who built the League recognized that the first steps toward educational excellence must begin early. Academic competition for younger students was a part of the UIL program almost from the beginning, with the first junior division Declamation contest for students aged 10-14 in 1913. The first competition for students under age 10 was Spelling, which began a sub-junior division in 1921.

The program of academic competition for elementary, middle school and junior high officially became "A+ Academics" in 2008. A+ Academics includes 20 different events for grades 2-8. These events span the curriculum - they are designed to complement and expand upon what students learn in the classroom, both through learning specific subject knowledge, and through learning skills that are valuable in many disciplines. Approximately 3,000 Texas schools participate in A+ Academics, competing in more than 300 district meets each year.

UIL academic programs are designed to support basic curriculum and allow students to apply what they learn in the classroom. Students are nominated and then select a contest to enter, spend a couple of months practicing the concepts under the supervision of a coach (occasionally before or after school), and then compete at the district-wide contest on. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for your student to perform academically against other students from other districts. This will allow your student to grow to perform at higher levels in high school.