APS HSPC

Arlington's only programming competition for middle and high school students.

Contest Date

February 7th, 2026

10:45am to 4:00pm

Registration

Please fill out the Google Form to register. Registration is completely free and will be closed on February 5th, 2026.

Location

The 2026 APS HSPC will be held in person at the Arlington Career Center. Contestants should go to the main building upon arrival; a map will be provided on this website closer to the event.

Teams

Each team consists of up to three students from a middle or high school. Teams cannot mix middle and high school students. Each school may register an unlimited number of teams.

Food & Transportation

Cheese pizza will be provided free for all participants. If you have food preferences or allergy, please plan to bring your own food to the event.

Students may utilize the iRide Student Fare Free Program to take public transportation to the event at no cost.

Timeline

The contest will run from 10:45 AM to 4:00 PM on February 7th, 2026. The schedule is as follows:

10:45 - 11:00 Arrival and Check-In 11:00 - 11:10 Intro Presentation 11:10 - 11:30 Practice Round 11:30 - 12:00 Lunch 12:00 - 3:00 Competition (3 hours) 3:05 - 3:20 Award Ceremony 3:20 - 4:00 Problem Solutions + Discussion (Optional)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the contest rules?

Rules can be found in the contest information packet. If you have any other questions, please contact contactarlingtoncs@gmail.com.

What programming languages can be used?

Python, Java, and C++ will be the only languages allowed during the competition.

Are any sample problems available?

Yes, sample problems are available here

What should I bring on the day?

It is recommended that you bring the following items:

Any paper reference materials that may help you during the contest (e.g., algorithm reference sheets, language syntax reference sheets, etc.)
Pen/Pencil
A laptop (only if a high school student)

Please note: you should not bring a computer to participate in the contest if you are a middle school student.

Who runs the event?

The APS HSPC is an a volunteer student-run event. Gabe Cohen and Brendan O'Reily are the co-chair organizers of the 2026 event.

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

Please contact contactarlingtoncs@gmail.com if you have any other questions.

More Programming Competitions

A selection of other programming competitions for high school students is listed below.

University of Maryland-College Park February 28th, 2026

Virginia Commonwealth University April 17th, 2026 (tentative)

University of Virginia April 11th, 2026