Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament Northwest
Continuing the history of Lutheran elementary school competition, friendship, and celebration of the God who gives us our talents and brings us together in service to others, occurring in the Pacific Northwest since 1962.
Thursday – Saturday, Feb. 11-13, 2027
Logo for 2027
The LEST logo design was begun in 1989. Each school is limited to five entries for this event. One design is chosen for the following year’s LEST. A 6th Grader at Peace, Bremerton, Washington was the 2026 winner, with her 2027 logo submission on display here.
Over 20 Different Competitive Events
From athletics to music, drama to academics, L.E.S.T. Northwest has well over a dozen different types of events for our students to compete, perform, or demonstrate their giftedness. Everyone can find an area in which to shine at L.E.S.T. Northwest. More on each event can be found below.
Venues for 2026
Click the “Venues” button below for details and directions to the venues being used for LEST Northwest 2026.
Tacoma Community College 
Concordia Christian Academy 
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 
Rogers High School Aquatic Center 
Tower Lanes
A Taste of L.E.S.T. 2026
Thanks to the good people of Hope Lutheran School, Port Coquitlam (and the marvelous Mrs. Shutsa!) for putting together this video collage of the many events, experiences, and participants of our latest L.E.S.T.! Likewise, kudos to the L.E.S.T. Technology Team students for their contributions, and all who submitted photos!
L.E.S.T. Director Mary Schuldheisz was a guest on the What Works for Me Podcast (hosted by two Lutheran School administrators, one from here in the Northwest!) talking all about our Lutheran Elementary School Tournament (L.E.S.T.). Click the image to the left to go to that podcast episode, Ep. 77 (18 minutes long).
General Guidelines
A majority of the services and facilities provided for the tournament are donated. There are, however, rental fees, special contest adjudicator’s honorariums, and miscellaneous expenses associated with the tournament. To help defray some of these expenditures a ‘Participation Fee’ is assessed to each school participating in L.E.S.T. Northwest which is based on the number of students participating from each school.
Events for 2027
Click on the button beneath any of the events below to learn what you need to know for having students participate successfully.
Basketball
Boys and Girls, 5th-8th Grade, divided by school size (less than 75 students, 75 & above)
Cheerleading
Boys and Girls, 5th-8th Grade, divided by school size (less than 75 students, 75 & above)
Dance
Boys and Girls, 5th-8th Grade, divided by school size (less than 75 students, 75 & above)
Bookworms
Two Divisions, 5th/6th and 7th/8th Grade, one team per division per school, up to six people per team. Schools with 40+ LEST participants in a division may enter a second team at that level.
Knowledge Bowl
One Division, 5th-8th Grade, one team per school, up to five people, no more than two from any one grade, and no more than three above Grade 6. If a school has 40+ LEST participants at either 5th-6th or 7th-8th levels, they may enter a second Knowledge Bowl team subject to the same team member grade level composition rule.
Science Exposition
5th-8th Grade. Schools may enter one team if they have no more than 39 LEST participants at the 5th-6th level AND no more than 39 LEST participants at the 7th-8th level. If a school has 40+ LEST participants at either the 5th-6th or 7th-8th levels, they may enter a second team. Teams may have up to five people (minimum of two), and no more than two team members may be from Grades 7 & 8.
Spelling Bee
Four divisions, one for each grade level (5th-8th), one student per school per level. If a school has 40+ LEST participants at the 5th-6th or 7th-8th levels, they may enter up to two competitors for each of the grades at that level.
Chess
Four divisions, one for each grade level (5th-8th), one student per school per level
Mathematics
Four divisions, one for each grade level (5th-8th). Schools with up to 39 total LEST participants may enter up to four competitors, no more than one per grade level, and one team entry for the team competition. Schools with 40-59 total LEST participants may enter up to six competitors, no more than two per grade level, and two teams for the team competition. Schools with 60+ total LEST participants may enter up to eight competitors, no more than three per grade level, and three teams for the team competition. A team may consist of up to four individuals, no more than one from each grade level. A team may participate with as few as two members. No individual may serve on more than one team.
Art
5th-8th Grade, schools bringing up to 79 LEST participants are limited to 15 original art piece entries plus up to five LEST logo entries. Schools with 80+ LEST participants may submit up to 30 original art piece entries and up to 10 LEST logo entries.
Choral Festival
5th-8th Grade, one choir per school, minimum of two pieces, maximum time of 12 minutes
Handbells / Handchimes
5th-8th Grade, one band per school, minimum of two pieces, maximum time of 12 minutes
Instrumental – Solo & Ensemble
5th-8th Grade, varied number of participants based upon school’s number of LEST participants at the various levels.
Vocal – Solo & Ensemble
5th-8th Grade, varied number of participants based upon school’s number of LEST participants at the various levels.
Piano
5th-8th Grade, varied number of participants based upon school’s number of LEST participants at the various levels.
Writing
5th-8th Grade, one authentic piece of writing may be submitted for each grade level, from any of the following styles: Persuasive Essay, Creative Writing, or Poem (Haiku or Tanka, Free Verse, Acrostic, or one demonstrating a rhyming scheme). If a school has 40+ LEST participants at the 5th-6th or 7th-8th levels, they may submit an authentic piece of writing for up to two participants at each grade of the relevant level.
Robotics
5th-8th Grade, team size and number of teams per school TBD
Swimming
5th-8th Grade, several individual and relay swim events
Dramatic Interpretation
Two divisions, 5th/6th and 7th/8th. Schools with up to 39 LEST participants at a division’s level may enter up to two competitors at the respective level. If a school has 40+ LEST participants at a division level, they may enter up to four competitors for that division. Performance piece may be no longer than 10 minutes.
Original Oration
Two divisions, 5th/6th and 7th/8th. Schools with up to 39 LEST participants at a division’s level may enter up to two speakers at the respective level. If a school has 40+ LEST participants at a division level, they may enter up to four speakers for that division. Prepared speeches are to be no longer than 10 minutes.
Readers’ Theatre
Two divisions, 5th/6th and Any Grade (no grade level restrictions). Three to six participants per Readers’ Theatre team. Schools with up to 39 LEST participants at the 5th/6th Grade level may enter one 5th/6th team. Schools with 40+ LEST participants at the 5th/6th level may enter up to two 5th/6th teams. Schools with up to 39 LEST participants at the 7th/8th Grade level may enter one Any Grade team. Schools with 40+ LEST participants at the 7th/8th level may enter up to two Any Grade teams. Performance piece is to be no longer than 12 minutes.
Drama: One Acts
One entry per school 5th-8th Grade, no longer than 20 minutes. Up to 5 minutes setup and 5 minutes teardown time allowed on either side of performance. Exceeding the 5 minutes of setup eats into the 20 minute performance limit.
Cubing
No grade level restrictions on participants. Schools with up to 39 total LEST participants may enter up to four competitors. Schools with 40-59 LEST participants may enter up to six participants. Schools with 60+ LEST participants may enter up to eight participants. All materials required for the competition will be provided, including the 3×3 cubes.
Bowling
One team per school, either 5th-6th Grade or 7th-8th Grade. Two students on a team, with a substitute for each player.
LEGO Building Competition
Lego Build Teams are limited to one team per school, a 5th-6th Grade team OR a 7th-8th Grade team, made up of two participants.
Band Festival
New Event This Year: Bands are limited to one per school. There is no limit to the number or grade level of participants. Bands may perform multiple selections, but total time may not exceed 12 minutes.
Safeguard L.E.S.T.’s Future – Make a Donation Today
The Lutheran Elementary School Tournament Northwest continues a long tradition of the L.E.S.T. as a vital, vibrant, and memory-filled opportunity for students, families, and staff or our Lutheran Schools to come together and celebrate the unique interests, gifts, and abilities God has given to the students of our schools. It also allows our schools to come together as brothers and sisters in Christ, enjoying this large gathering of our Christian family just as we learn about each day in Lutheran Schools.
L.E.S.T. expenses are partially covered by registration fees paid by each school, but these fees do not cover the time and effort contributed by volunteers working behind the scenes, including our current L.E.S.T. Northwest Coordinator. In anticipation of increasing costs as the years go by, as well as the eventual likely need to fund a part-time Tournament Coordinator to keep all this going, an endowment has been established through LCMS Foundation. Do you love what L.E.S.T. means for Lutheran Schools, and maybe what it has meant for you, your children, or even your grandchildren? You can help ensure this continues for years to come by contributing to the endowment. Scan the QR Code below with your phone’s camera to access the secure donation page – or click the “Donate Now” button. Thank you!
BE SURE TO IDENTIFY YOUR DONATION FOR L.E.S.T NORTHWEST ON THE PAYMENT PAGE.
LEST Northwest 