Date: March 24, 2024Location: Point Park University - Pittsburgh Playhouse

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is proud to present the annual Western Pennsylvania Spelling Bee that will be hosted at Point Park University - Pittsburgh Playhouse. More information will be sent via email to the qualifying school champions and their teacher representatives as it becomes available. 

How to enroll

In order for a student to participate in the Western Pa. Spelling Bee, his or her school must enroll with the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Schools can enroll by visiting https://spellingbee.com/enrollment and paying the entry fee. 

This year's enrollment fee is $180 per school, and the fee will increase to $199 after October 31.The fee for an individual home school family that is not part of a home school association is $120. Click here to learn more about the enrollment process.

Note: a check handling fee of $7.50 is applied to invoices for schools that chose the option of check payment.

Online testing information:

As a benefit of Enrollment in the 2023-2024 Bee, schools will have access to an online test tool that will enable them to administer a classroom and/or school spelling test remotely. Schools may use this tool to narrow the field of competitors in their school spelldown or they may elect to use an online test in place of oral competition.

We are excited to announce the Bee's new online testing platform is ready for you to use and explore. Access the online testing platform by logging in to your school's account at spellingbee.com. Once there, you will see a new addition to the main menu: Online Testing Platform.

There will be a preliminary round for all of the spellers who have advanced from their local school spelling bee to the next round of the  Western Pennsylvania Spelling Bee. The online testing platform test consists of vocabulary and spelling. Each speller will only be given 30 minutes to complete this test. The top 15 spellers from the preliminary round will move on to the final local spelling bee at Point Park University - Pittsburgh Playhouse.

School eligibility

To enroll, a school must be part of the Post-Gazette’s spelling bee territory which includes the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Huntington (only the Huntingdon School District within Huntingdon County), Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer (except the city of Sharon), Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland. 

Student eligibility

Each enrolled school can send one (1) representative to the Western Pa. Spelling Bee. Students must not have passed beyond eighth grade on or before February 1, 2024. A participant must not have reached his or her 15th birthday on or before August 31, 2023. The minimum grade for participation in our program is fourth grade. Schools are encouraged, but not required, to hold a school-wide Spelling Bee by February 08, 2024, to choose their representative. Please note: Students from a school that are not registered with the Scripps National Spelling Bee organization WILL NOT be permitted to participate in the Western Pa. Spelling Bee.

Benefits of enrollment

In addition to satisfying the eligibility requirements to send one student to the Western Pa. Spelling Bee, enrollment earns a school everything needed to conduct a Spelling Bee, such as study materials for students, a Pronouncers Guide for teachers, rules and certificates.

Important dates 

January 31, 2024 - Enrollment deadline

February 8, 2024 - Deadline to submit the name of one (1) student who will represent your school at the Western Pa. Spelling Bee. Visit your school’s log-in page www.spellingbee.com to register your speller.

Note: Only the top 15 students after taking the online testing platform will proceed to the final local spelling bee.

February 9, 2024 - Information emailed to participating students, parents and school representatives about the Online Testing Platform Test.

February 12, 2024 - Deadline to submit Integrity Pledge for participating students.

February 12-21, 2024 - Online Testing Platform Testing Window. The test will consist of a mixture of vocabulary and spelling. This test will be used to narrow down the students to the top 15 students who will attend our In-Person final local spelling bee event at Point Park University - Pittsburgh Playhouse in March.

February 22, 2024 - Top 15 students from the Online Testing Platform Test, along with parents and school representatives will be notified about their specific start time for the Western Pa. Spelling Bee at Point Park University - Pittsburgh Playhouse.

March 24, 2024- The Western PA Spelling Bee. Instructions will be sent via email to the top 15 finalists. 

For more information

To learn more about the Scripps Spelling Bee, visit https://spellingbee.com/contact for around the clock customer service.