Poetry Out Loud 2025
Congratulations Selah Johnson!
California's Poetry Out Loud Winner
Selah will represent Los Angeles County and the state of California at the national Poetry Out Loud competition being held May 5-7, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Congratulations to Our Winners!
Congratulations to the 2025 Los Angeles Poetry Out Loud winner, Selah Johnson from The Archer School for Girls and the Runner-Up Sonia Carrillo from Crescenta Valley High School!

Selah Johnson (Winner)
The Archer School for Girls

Sonia Carillo (Runner-Up)
Crescenta Valley High School
For Students
Resources for students interested in poetry and participating in the competition.
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Online Anthology
Selection of POL poems available to students for recitation. -
Recitation Videos
What's it like to compete? Here is everything you need to to help you perform a successful recitation. -
Tips on Reciting
Enhance your performance with these professional recitation tips. -
POL Conversation with Students
A conversation with the 2020 POETRY OUT LOUD winner, Aiyanna Da'Briel and LACHSA Student and LA Youth Poet Laureate, Arlene Campa. -
Scoring Rubric
The scoring rubric is meant to provide a consistent measure against which to evaluate recitations. -
Accuracy Score Sheet
Score sheet used by the Accuracy Judge to track errors in accuracy.
For Organizers
Every year since 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation work with thousands of schools and organizations nationwide to bring students a unique way to learn and love poetry. Through Poetry Out Loud™, students read, memorize, and recite classic and contemporary poems.
This year, LA County's Poetry Out Loud competition will hold the competition remotely and have an in-person celebration ceremony. Check back on this page for updated documents and forms.
Resources
Resources for schools and non-school organizations who are hosting a local Poetry Out Loud event.
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2024-2025 LA County Poetry Out Loud Organizer's Training Slides
Instructions on hosting a local Poetry Out Loud event from a training on September 25, 2024. -
POETRY OUT LOUD 24-25 ORGANIZER's TRAINING
Watch video to learn how your organization can participate in the 24-25 LA County Poetry Out Loud competition! -
2024-2025 LA County Poetry Out Loud Public Calendar
Dates are tentative -
2025 LA County Poetry Out Loud Local Competition Registration
Registration closed on December 13, 2024. -
2024-2025 Poetry Out Loud Guide for Teachers and Organizers
This document has all the information to host your own local Poetry Out Loud competition. -
2024-2025 Poetry Out Loud Judge's Guide
Use this document to guide your judges, print out judging forms, and assist in your local competition. -
How to Host a Virtual POL Competition
A guide to help organizers administer an online competition in light of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. -
Poetry Out Loud Digital Score Sheet Instructions for Organizers
Digital option for scoring student recitations. -
POL Lesson Plans
Academic lessons that teachers can use in the classroom. Poetry Out Loud fulfills the NCTE Standards.

Selah Johnson
The Archer School for Girls2025 LA County Poetry Out Loud Winner
Contact
For more information please contact:
Jeannine Flores
Arts & STEAM Coordinator, LACOEFlores_Jeannine@lacoe.edu