2023 National Finals Results

Hardin Valley Academy Team 1 took home the top prize at the 2023 National Finals on May 20, 2023 at Great Meadow in the The Plains, Va. Hardin Valley Academy Team 1 will go on to represent the United States in the International Rocketry Challenge at the Paris Air Show in June 2023.

In all, 798 teams from 45 states competed in the 2023 American Rocketry Challenge. Students designed, built, and launched rockets to exacting requirements as they competed for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Below are the results for this year’s National Finals, as well as the Presentation and Marketing Competitions.

The top twenty-five finishers receive an invitation to participate in NASA’s Student Launch initiative to continue their exploration of rocketry with high-powered rockets and challenging mission parameters.

Check out the full results below:

2023 National Finals: Top 10 Teams

PlacePrizeTeam NumberSchoolCityStateFlight 1Flight 2Total Score
12000023-3747Hardin Valley Academy Team 1KnoxvilleTN11.4213.4
21500023-3932Tharptown High SchoolRussellvilleAL13.8114.8
31250023-3071St. John Paul II Catholic High School Team 2HuntsvilleAL176.9223.92
41000023-2816AIAA Orange County SectionIrvineCA16.415.2431.64
5750023-4131Harmony Science Academy El PasoEl PasoTX15.8416.0431.88
6350023-2799Richards R-V School District 5 Team 1West PlainsMO33134
7250023-2750Master Arts FestivalHawaiian GardensCA231538
8250023-2901American Legion Post 468SylvaniaOH3216.9648.96
9250023-4412Notre Dame Academy Schools of Los Angeles Los AngelesCA37.21249.2
10150023-3595Hardin Valley Academy Team 2KnoxvilleTN11.2439.3650.6
Each school or organization for teams 1-5 also receives $1,000. Each school or organization for teams 6-10 also receives $500.

2023 Best First Time Finalist

Team NumberSchoolCityStateFlight 1Flight 2Total Score
23-3747Hardin Valley Academy Team 1KnoxvilleTN11.4213.4
Awarded to the best team who is competing in the National Finals for the first time. The team wins $2,500 and the school receives $500.

2023 Presentation Competition

PlacePrizeTeam NumberTeam NameCityState
1$3,00023-0000004146Sato AcademyLong BeachCA
2$1,50023-0000003384Copley High SchoolCopleyOH
Rookie$50023-0000003384Copley High SchoolCopleyOH

2023 Marketing Competition

PlacePrizeTeam NumberTeam NameCityState
1$3,00023-0000004380Marquette High SchoolChesterfieldMO
2$1,50023-0000002954West Chester County 4-H Youth DevelopmentCincinnatiOH
The winning team also wins a custom logo and poster by 2046 Design, and custom merch featuring the team’s new logo.

2023 National Finals Flight Results

PlaceSchoolCityStateTeam NumberFlight 1Flight 2Score
1Hardin Valley Academy Team 1KnoxvilleTennessee23-374711.4213.4
2Tharptown High SchoolRussellvilleAlabama23-393213.8114.8
3St. John Paul II Catholic High School Team 2HuntsvilleAlabama23-3071176.9223.92
4AIAA Orange County SectionIrvineCalifornia23-281616.415.2431.64
5Harmony Science Academy El PasoEl PasoTexas23-413115.8416.0431.88
6Richards R-V School District 5 Team 1West PlainsMissouri23-279933134
7Master Arts FestivalHawaiian GardensCalifornia23-2750231538
8American Legion Post 468SylvaniaOhio23-29013216.9648.96
9Notre Dame Academy Schools of Los Angeles Los AngelesCalifornia23-441237.21249.2
10Hardin Valley Academy Team 2KnoxvilleTennessee23-359511.2439.3650.6
11Newark Memorial High SchoolNewarkCalifornia23-3686347.6850.68
12Young Engineers in Action Team 1La PalmaCalifornia23-264919.4431.5651
13Immaculate Heart of Mary School Team 1Cuyahoga FallsOhio23-353149453
14duPont Manual High School Team 2LouisvilleKentucky23-283123.363457.36
15University School - Hunting Valley CampusHunting ValleyOhio23-27971741.6858.68
16Hackleburg High SchoolHackleburgAlabama23-263830.762858.76
17Maharishi SchoolFairfieldIowa23-294730.7629.5660.32
18Victory Christian Center High School Team 1CharlotteNorth Carolina23-24603723.4460.44
19Explorer Post 1010 Science CenterRockvilleMaryland23-27467.7658.5266.28
20Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and TechnologyAlexandriaVirginia23-38002938.5667.56
21Young Engineers in Action Team 2La PalmaCalifornia23-264739.6429.1268.76
22St. Vincent-St. Mary High SchoolAkronOhio23-260840.283373.28
23Lawrence County High SchoolMoultonAlabama23-26233936.3675.36
24Carmel Valley STEM YouthSan DiegoCalifornia23-294245.6430.476.04
25Presidio High School Team 2PresidioTexas23-34397.4881.3688.84
26Presidio High School Team 1PresidioTexas23-344047.24289.2
27New Albany High SchoolNew AlbanyOhio23-443336.1257.0493.16
28Together We ShineSan DiegoCalifornia23-408425.167297.16
29Shelby Junior High Team 1Shelby TownshipMichigan23-37304156.8897.88
30Radian RocketsRedmondWashington23-30989.888.3698.16
31Nazareth Academy High SchoolPhiladelphiaPennsylvania23-42422474.4498.44
32Copley High SchoolCopleyOhio23-33848.8893.84102.72
33Whitney M. Young Magnet High SchoolChicagoIllinois23-279850.2453.36103.6
34Haleyville City SchoolsHaleyvilleAlabama23-306549.2465.52114.76
35Winfield City High SchoolWinfieldAlabama23-388429.72102.72132.44
36West Morgan High SchoolTrinityAlabama23-380926222.32248.32
37St. John Paul II Catholic High School Team 1HuntsvilleAlabama23-308337.12946.92984.04
The top twenty-five finishers receive an invitation to participate in NASA’s Student Launch initiative to continue their exploration of rocketry with high-powered rockets and challenging mission parameters.

Scores Based on Single Flight

PlaceSchoolCityStateTeam NumberFlight 1Flight 2Score
38Bob Jones High SchoolMadisonAlabama23-30509.44DQ9.44
39Cumberland Civil Air PatrolCumberlandMaryland23-387617.88DQ17.88
40East Aurora Union Free School DistrictEast AuroraNew York23-261919DQ19
41Heuvelton Central SchoolHeuveltonNew York23-251120DQ20
42Girl Scouts of Citrus CouncilOrlandoFlorida23-278647.6DQ47.6
43Galileo STEMEagleIdaho23-390150.4450.44
44Ingraham High SchoolSeattleWashington23-36565151
45Vocational STEAM WorksEl CajonCalifornia23-254151.9251.92
46IvyMaxSan DiegoCalifornia23-267853.8453.84
47Chavez High SchoolHoustonTexas23-316856.2856.28
48Immaculate Heart of Mary School Team 2Cuyahoga FallsOhio23-384356.7656.76
49Camas High SchoolCamasWashington23-387457.8857.88
50West Chester County 4-H Youth DevelopmentCincinnatiOhio23-295458.6458.64
51Seabrook Intermediate Team 2SeabrookTexas23-270959.459.4
52Neuqua Valley High School Team 2NapervilleIllinois23-434763.3663.36
53The Cornerstone School Team 2OcalaFlorida23-37686464
54The Cornerstone School Team 1OcalaFlorida23-275364.2864.28
55East Fairmont Middle School Team 2FairmontWest Virginia23-245766.466.4
56Bridge Education FoundationCity of IndustryCalifornia23-285667.2867.28
57Combined Scout TroopsWoodbridgeVirginia23-347167.867.8
58Bentley SchoolOaklandCalifornia23-398469.3269.32
59Air Capital STEM ClubWichita Kansas23-243969.5269.52
60National Museum of the United States Air ForceDaytonOhio23-254972.3672.36
61Richards R-V School District 5 Team 2West PlainsMissouri23-280074.7674.76
62Onteora Central SchoolBoicevilleNew York23-363283.9283.92
63Northwest R-1 School District Team 2High RidgeMissouri23-310286.5686.56
64Seabrook Intermediate Team 1SeabrookTexas23-322392.0492.04
65East Fairmont Middle School Team 1FairmontWest Virginia23-245893.1693.16
66Shelby Junior High Team 2Shelby TownshipMichigan23-372993.5293.52
67The Lawrenceville SchoolLawrencevilleNew Jersey23-249995.1295.12
68Safer New MexicoAlbuquerqueNew Mexico23-2711100100
69Victory Christian Center High School Team 2CharlotteNorth Carolina23-2462101.92101.92
70Monroe Township High SchoolMonroe TownshipNew Jersey23-4125104.36104.36
71Archbishop Riordan HighSan FranciscoCalifornia23-3104105.08105.08
72Center High SchoolKansas CityMissouri23-2914115.96115.96
73Spring Grove Area Intermediate SchoolSpring GrovePennsylvania23-2692122.84122.84
74First Baptist Church of Manchester Youth Group Team 1ManchesterConnecticut23-3559125.4125.4
75Harmony Science Academy El PasoTexas23-4252127.28127.28
76Victory Christian Center Middle SchoolCharlotteNorth Carolina23-2463134.72134.72
77NC School of Science and Math Team 2DurhamNorth Carolina23-3692134.76134.76
78Medford Lakes Neeta SchoolMedford LakesNew Jersey23-3679142.52142.52
79First Baptist Church of Manchester Youth Group Team 2ManchesterConnecticut23-3558164.12164.12
80East Fairmont STEMFairmontWest Virginia23-2961188.36188.36
81Civil Air Patrol: Brackett Composite Squadron 64La VerneCalifornia23-4152214.04214.04
82Northwest R-1 School District Team 1House SpringsMissouri23-2707258.52258.52
83Fred J. Page High School FranklinTennessee23-3256321.08321.08
84Powering STEMRedmondWashington23-4015388.84388.84
85Covenant Christian High SchoolIndianapolisIndiana23-2897438.84438.84
86Rigby High SchoolRigbyIdaho23-2477909.76909.76
87All Saints Episcopal High SchoolFort WorthTexas23-4182DQDQ
87Animas High SchoolDurangoColorado23-3297DQDQ
87Annie Wright SchoolsTacomaWashington23-4124DQDQ
87CF Brewer High SchoolFort WorthTexas23-3154DQDQ
87duPont Manual High School Team 1LouisvilleKentucky23-2807DQDQ
87Haughton High SchoolHaughtonLouisiana23-2872DQDQ
87NC School of Science and Math Team 1DurhamNorth Carolina23-3693DQDQ
87Neuqua Valley High School Team 1NapervilleIllinois23-4351DQDQ
87Oak Park High SchoolOak Park California23-2964DQDQ
87Oakton High SchoolViennaVirginia23-3165DQDQ
87Redeem MinistryElizabeth CityNorth Carolina23-2917DQDQ
87Seattle Country Day SchoolSeattleWashington23-3491DQDQ
87Triangle Math and Science Academy at CaryCaryNorth Carolina23-4023DQDQ
87Upstream LearningGlennallenAlaska23-2851DQDQ