About this competition
ACSL is a long-running (since 1978) computer science competition league with five divisions spanning grades 3-12. Each season has four contests across the school year. Each contest has two parts: a short-answer section on theoretical CS topics (boolean algebra, recursion, regular expressions, etc.) and a short programming problem solved in any language.
The format is friendlier than USACO's pure-algorithm focus — students who like CS theory or are still building programming fluency often succeed here before they're ready for USACO Bronze. The Senior Division top scorers qualify for the All-Star Contest in May.
Season & deadlines
School/team registration October-November. Four contests Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar. All-Star Contest in May.
Season window: October through May.
Cost
$130 — Team registration ~$130/year covers up to 6 students. Schools or community teams.
Prizes & outcomes
Top scorers per division earn medals + advancement to the All-Star Contest. Scholarship awards for All-Star winners.