Today is National Speech & Debate Education Day!
Research shows that participation in competitive speech and debate programs leads to significant academic and personal benefits, including:
⬆️ 87% improvement in analytical skills
⬆️ 0.66-point higher GPAs
⬆️ 31% rise in school attendance
⬆️ 52-point higher math SAT scores
⬆️ 57-point reading and writing SAT scores
⬆️ 15% boost in self-esteem
⬆️ 5x greater likelihood of enrolling in a top 10 college
Perhaps most impressively, 98% of speech and debate participants graduate from high school, compared to the national average of 87%.
Since launching in 2018, the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative has been committed to ensuring every public middle and high school in the region has access to speech and debate programs. Currently, RFSDI has successfully implemented and supported programs in 91% of high schools and 32% of middle schools across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and Petersburg.
However, there is still work to be done. If your local school does not offer a speech and debate program, let’s change that together!
The following schools currently do not have a program:
Richmond
- Albert Hill Middle School
- Lucille Brown Middle School
- Boushall Middle School
- Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
- River City Middle School
Chesterfield
- Thomas Dale High School
- Bailey Bridge Middle School
- Carver Middle School
- Elizabeth Davis Middle School
- Falling Creek Middle School
- Manchester Middle School
- Matoaca Middle School
- Midlothian Middle School
- Providence Middle School
- Robious Middle School
- Tomahawk Middle School
Henrico
- Highland Springs High School
- Elko Middle School
- Quioccassin Middle School
- John Rolfe Middle School
- Pocohontas Middle School
- Short Pump Middle School
- Tuckahoe Middle School
Hanover
- Hanover High School
- Bell Creek Middle School
- Chickahominy Middle School
- Liberty Middle School
- Oak Knoll Middle School
Petersburg
- Vernon Johns Middle School
If your school is not listed, that means they already have a team!
Next June, the 2026 National Speech & Debate Tournament will descend upon Richmond, allowing our students to go toe-to-toe with thousands of top competitors from across the country. It’s time to show the world what our students can do!
Please join us in celebrating National Speech & Debate Education Day and help us continue to bring these life-changing opportunities to students in Richmond and beyond.
