• For School Registration ( Form 1): The registration fee is $75  per school for Science & Engineering fair on April 11th, 2026 ( For Title 1, Tittle 2 schools, Please email   pseshaiy@gmu.edu and cc: yarif@paedu.org for discount/funding)

• For Independent Registration ( STEP 2): If a school is not participating in the NVSE Fair, the student who is interested in registering their project must have a School Administrator's permission letter that states that the student has permission to represent the school. The Administrator must email the letter to pseshaiy@gmu.edu and cc: yarif@paedu.org. 

• Form (Step 3) due from parents,  pay additional $30 for child's registration. (For Title 1 and Tittle 2 schools, Please email   pseshaiy@gmu.edu and cc: yarif@paedu.org for discount/funding) ​

• Registration closes after March 25th, 2026

Information for School  Participation:

The NVSE Fair, formerly the Fairfax County Elementary and Middle School Fair, is in its 8th year. The event encompasses elementary and middle schools in Washington, DC, Loudoun, and Fairfax. Elementary schools in Arlington County, Prince William, and Manassas are encouraged to participate.

 

However, Middle school students participating in the Northern Virginia Regional Science and Engineering Fair (Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria) and the Prince William-Manassas Science Fair are ineligible for this competition.

Projects submissions:

 A total of 20 submissions/schools can be submitted, which include the following categories:

•  Life and Earth Sciences

• Physical Science and Engineering 

• Projects format Trifold Poster Board with the Scientific/Engineering Design Process:

• Grades K-5 

• Grades 6-8 (If participating in the :

• (The Lemelson Early Inventor Prize: https://www.societyforscience.org/lemelson-early-inventor/

• The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge 

​