Explore SMSso

Solon Middle School Science Olympiad teams have consistently performed at the national level for many years, earning eight national championship titles (2008-2013, 2015 and 2018). The team has consistently placed among the top in the nation since 2008. This level of success is attributed to teamwork, dedication, and perseverance.

A team consists of 15 students and alternates. No more than 5 ninth-grade students are allowed on a team, with no limitation on the number of sixth, seventh, or eighth-grade students. We will select enough students to compete with two teams at invitationals during the regular season.  After we qualify for the state competition, 15 students will be chosen from the pool of 34-45 students to compete.

We are fortunate to have experienced event coaches who have had students go through the SMS Science Olympiad program. Each coach has won at the national level, and their participation is integral to our success.

We focus on teamwork, dedication, and respect. Students are expected to work hard on their events, maintain a positive attitude, persevere in the face of adversity, and learn from their mistakes—important life lessons we promote. Please check out the SMSSO student handbook.

There are 23 events in the competition. Most events are written tests (brain events), with some including laboratory or hands-on aspects. There are also five build events requiring students to build a device to prescribed specifications and compete with it.

Each event typically requires two students, except for events like Experimental Design and Code Busters, which require three. With 15 students per competition team, each student will participate in at least 3 events. New team members (6th and 7th graders) will study at least 3 events, while returning 8th and 9th graders will study 4-6 events.

A comprehensive list of events and rules can be found on the SMS Science Olympiad Google tryout form.

Please remember that your student is trying out for one of the best teams in the nation, and we must be very selective. We will use input from event coaches, teachers, school administrators, and staff to make the final decision. The team members for the year 2025-2026 will be posted on the Solon Middle School website at the end of September.

Feel free to contact us with any questions regarding the tryouts at smsso.coaches@gmail.com.

If you're interested in joining the SMSSO, we encourage you to apply today. We welcome students of all backgrounds and abilities and are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment for everyone.