Poetry Out Loud is a free national program for high school students that brings poetry to life through memorization, interpretation, and performance. Students select a poem from the official Poetry Out Loud anthology and compete through classroom, school, regional, state, and national levels, with cash prizes available throughout the competition.
Two students from each local competition advance to the regional competition, where one winner moves on to the state level. The state champion then represents California in the national competition.
Arts Connection has hosted Poetry Out Loud in San Bernardino County for the past seven years, connecting students and educators with opportunities to explore poetry, strengthen public-speaking skills, and share their voices.
Explore the anthology and national program resources at poetryoutloud.org.
Bring Poetry Out Loud to Your School in 2026–2027!
Registration is open for the 2026–2027 San Bernardino County Poetry Out Loud program, with free participation for schools and students.
Teachers and educators must register their school to participate. The program helps students discover poetry through study, memorization, and recitation while providing educators with classroom resources, program guidance, and ongoing support.
Virtual Information Sessions for Educators
New and returning educators are invited to join Poetry Out Loud Education Ambassador David Tellyer for a virtual information session about the 2026–2027 program.
Learn how to bring Poetry Out Loud to your school, navigate the competition process and timeline, access teacher resources and support, participate in community Open Mics, and take the next steps to get involved.
Learn how to bring Poetry Out Loud to your school, navigate the competition process and timeline, access teacher resources and support, participate in community Open Mics, and take the next steps to get involved.
Thursday, September 17 | 4:00–4:45 PM
Join the September 17 Info Session
Thursday, October 1 | 4:00–4:45 PM
Join the October 1 Info Session
Help create opportunities for students across San Bernardino County to discover, develop, and share their voices through poetry.
San Bernardino County: 2026 Poetry Out Loud County Winner, Maximillian Goodly
San Bernardino, CA — Arts Connection is pleased to announce the San Bernardino County Poetry Out Loud Champion, Maximilian Goodly from Norton Science & Language Academy. The Contest was held at Dorothy Ingrahm Learning Center in San Bernardino on January 24, 2026, where we had a full house with friends, family, teachers and poetry enthusiasts. The competition is presented in partnership with the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, and is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.
Participating High Schools This Year: NSLA, Granite Hills, Apple Valley, Green Valley, Rialto, Serrano.
San Bernardino County: 2025 Poetry Out Loud Winner & CA State Finals 2nd Place, Toochi H. Samsylvanus
Picture Courtesy of Luke Cheng
Arts Connection is proud to announce Toochi H. Samsylvanus, a 16-year-old sophomore at Norton Science & Language Academy, as the 2025 San Bernardino County Poetry Out Loud Champion. The county competition took place on January 25th at the Dorothy Ingrahm Learning Center, with seven high schools participating. Presented in partnership with the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, Inlandia Institute, and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, the program is led locally by Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County. Toochi went on to represent the county at the California State Finals on March 16–17, where she earned 2nd place and will represent California at the national finals if the state champion is unable to attend. Congratulations, Toochi!
Participating High Schools This Year: NSLA, Big Bear HS, The Grove School, Twentynine Palms HS, Granite Hills HS, Upland HS, Hillside HS.
Poetry Out Loud is a program of the following organizations:
