Mark your calendars! The United States of America Computing Olympiad (USACO) has announced the dates for its upcoming season, spanning from December 2023 to June 2025. Whether you’re an aspiring programmer or an experienced coder, this prestigious competition provides a platform to showcase your skills and compete against the brightest minds in computer science.
Starting with the December 2023 competition, aspiring programmers and experienced coders alike will have the opportunity to participate in four qualifying rounds, each designed to test their problem-solving abilities and programming prowess. Those who excel in these rounds will earn a spot in the coveted USACO Training Camp, an immersive and rigorous program that fosters collaboration and advances their coding skills. The top performers at Training Camp will then represent the United States at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), the pinnacle of competitive programming for high school students.
Furthermore, USACO offers various resources and support to help participants maximize their potential, including online tutorials, community forums, and the guidance of experienced mentors. Whether you’re just starting your coding journey or aiming for the highest levels of competition, USACO provides a supportive and challenging environment to ignite your passion for computer science.
2024-2025 USACO Contest Schedule
2024-2025 USACO Contest Schedule
The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is a prestigious programming competition for high school students in the United States. The competition is held annually and consists of four rounds: December, January, February, and March. The top-scoring students in each round are invited to compete in the USACO Summer Camp, where they compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals.
The 2024-2025 USACO contest schedule is as follows:
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| December | December 14-15, 2024 |
| January | January 18-19, 2025 |
| February | February 15-16, 2025 |
| March | March 15-16, 2025 |
The registration deadline for each round is two weeks before the start of the round. Students can register for the USACO at the following link: https://usaco.org/
Official Start and End Dates
The following table outlines the official start and end dates for the 2024-2025 USACO season:
| Contest | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| December Contest | December 10, 2024 | December 17, 2024 |
| January Contest | January 14, 2025 | January 21, 2025 |
| February Contest | February 11, 2025 | February 18, 2025 |
| March Contest | March 11, 2025 | March 18, 2025 |
| April Contest | April 15, 2025 | April 22, 2025 |
| May Contest | May 13, 2025 | May 20, 2025 |
| June Contest | June 10, 2025 | June 17, 2025 |
Season Length and Intervals
Duration
The USACO season for 2024-2025 will span approximately 11 months, commencing in December 2023 and concluding in October 2024. The season is divided into four contests, each lasting around two months and focusing on specific programming concepts and algorithms.
Intervals
There are two short intervals separating the contests: a one-week break between Contests 1 and 2 and a two-week break between Contests 3 and 4. These intervals provide students time to review, practice, and prepare for the subsequent contests.
Contest Schedule
The following table summarizes the contest schedule for the 2024-2025 season:
| Contest | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Contest 1 | December 13, 2023 | February 10, 2024 |
| Contest 2 | March 20, 2024 | May 19, 2024 |
| Contest 3 | June 12, 2024 | August 11, 2024 |
| Contest 4 | September 11, 2024 | October 20, 2024 |
Registration Deadlines and Fees
For the 2024-2025 United States of America Computing Olympiad (USACO), the registration deadlines and fees are as follows:
Online Registration:
Online registration for the USACO will open on Monday, [Date]. The registration deadline is [Date].
Registration Fees:
The registration fee for the USACO is [Amount].
Payment Options:
Registration fees can be paid online via credit card or debit card.
Late Registration:
Late registration will be available from [Date] to [Date]. A late registration fee of [Amount] will be charged.
Registration Refunds:
Registration fees are non-refundable.
Contest Platforms and Formats
Contest Platforms
The USACO contests are held on two online platforms:
- USACO Online is used for the December, February, and April contests.
- Codeforces is used for the January and March contests.
Contest Formats
The USACO contests are held in two formats:
- Gold is the more difficult format and is open to all USACO participants.
- Platinum is the most difficult format and is open to the top 500 USACO participants.
Contest Dates
The dates for the 2024-2025 USACO contests are as follows:
| Contest | Date | Format | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2023 | December 14-15, 2023 | Gold and Platinum | USACO Online |
| January 2024 | January 11-12, 2024 | Platinum | Codeforces |
| February 2024 | February 15-16, 2024 | Gold and Platinum | USACO Online |
| March 2024 | March 14-15, 2024 | Platinum | Codeforces |
| April 2024 | April 11-12, 2024 | Gold and Platinum | USACO Online |
Contest Schedule
Each contest starts at 12:00 pm Eastern Time and lasts for 4 hours. The contest consists of three problems of varying difficulty. The problems are scored on a scale of 1 to 10 points.
Problem Types
The USACO problems are typically divided into three types:
- Implementation problems require the contestant to implement a specific algorithm or data structure.
- Algorithm problems require the contestant to design an algorithm to solve a problem.
- Math problems require the contestant to use mathematical techniques to solve a problem.
Award and Recognition Timeline
The USACO competition season runs from December to March each school year. The following is a general timeline of award and recognition events:
December
The USACO Silver and Bronze divisions begin.
January
The USACO Platinum division begins.
February
The USACO Training Contest 1 is held.
March
The USACO Training Contest 2 is held. The USACO Silver and Bronze divisions end. The USACO Platinum division ends. The USACO Invitational (USACO Camp) is held. The USACO medals are announced.
April
The USACO National Olympiad Team is announced.
May
The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is held.
Anticipated Competition Intensity
The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is a prestigious programming competition for high school students. The competition is known for its challenging problems and intense competition. The following are some factors that will affect the competition intensity in 2024-2025:
Number of Participants
The number of participants in the USACO has been growing steadily in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in 2024-2025. As the number of participants increases, the competition intensity will also increase.
Skill Level of Participants
The skill level of the participants in the USACO has also been increasing in recent years. This is due to the increasing popularity of programming and the availability of more resources for students to learn programming, such as online courses, coding bootcamps, and specialized USACO preparation classes and clubs.
Problem Difficulty
The difficulty of the problems on the USACO has also been increasing in recent years. This is due to the increasing skill level of the participants. As the participants become more skilled, the problems must become more difficult to challenge them.
Problem Set Design
The design of the problem set also affects the competition intensity. The problems can be designed to be more or less difficult, and they can also be designed to favor certain types of skills or knowledge. The problem set for the 2024-2025 USACO has not yet been released, but it is likely that it will be designed to challenge the participants and provide a fair and competitive competition.
Impact of the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the USACO. The pandemic has caused disruptions to the competition schedule and has also made it more difficult for students to prepare for the competition. However, the pandemic is not expected to have a major impact on the competition intensity in the long term.
Increased Access to Resources
The internet has made it easier for students to access resources to help them prepare for the USACO. These resources include tutorials, practice problems, and online forums where students can discuss problems and strategies. The increased access to these resources has made it easier for students to learn programming and improve their skills, which has led to increased competition intensity.
Growth of Competitive Programming Community
The growth of the competitive programming community has also led to increased competition intensity. The community provides students with a platform to share ideas, learn from others, and compete against each other. The community has also helped to raise the profile of competitive programming and attract more students to the field.
Diversity of Participants
The USACO is becoming more diverse, with a growing number of female and underrepresented minority participants. This diversity is expected to continue to increase in the coming years, which will contribute to the competition intensity.
USACO Practice Opportunities
The USACO provides various opportunities for students to practice and prepare for the contests. These include:
Online Practice
The USACO website offers interactive coding problems and past contest problems for students to solve online.
Summer Training Program
Each summer, the USACO holds an intensive training program for top-performing students, providing expert instruction and practice.
Local Contests
Local USACO contests are held at participating schools across the United States and internationally, allowing students to compete with peers in their area.
Mentoring
The USACO supports a mentoring program that pairs experienced contestants with aspiring students, providing guidance and encouragement.
Past Contest Problems
Past USACO contest problems are available online, offering a valuable resource for students to practice and learn from previous challenges.
Competitive Programming Websites
Students can also practice competitive programming on websites such as Codeforces, CodeChef, and Hackerrank to sharpen their problem-solving and coding skills.
Online Judges
Online judges like SPOJ, UVa Judge, and HackerEarth allow students to submit code and receive feedback on their solutions, helping them identify errors and improve their code.
Mock Contests
To simulate the actual contest experience, students can participate in mock contests hosted by organizations like the USACO Training Team and Codeforces.
Online Forums and Communities
Online forums and communities like the USACO Training Camp Forum provide students with a platform to ask questions, discuss problems, and learn from others.
USACO Guide
The USACO Guide is a comprehensive resource that provides in-depth explanations of concepts, practice problems, and strategies for success in the contests.
Future Outlook of USACO
December Silver League Finals
This contest was held on December 14th, 2023. It was a 4-hour contest with 3 problems. The top 200 finishers in this contest qualified for the Platinum division in the January contest.
January Platinum Division Contest
This contest was held on January 19th, 2024. It was a 4-hour contest with 3 problems. The top 200 finishers in this contest qualified for the US Open.
US Open
This contest was held on February 16th, 2024. It was a 5-hour contest with 4 problems. The top 5 finishers in this contest qualified for the IOI.
IOI
The IOI will be held from July 13th to July 20th, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. The top 5 finishers in the US Open will represent the United States at this contest.
December Silver League Finals
This contest will be held on December 13th, 2024. It will be a 4-hour contest with 3 problems. The top 200 finishers in this contest will qualify for the Platinum division in the January contest.
January Platinum Division Contest
This contest will be held on January 18th, 2025. It will be a 4-hour contest with 3 problems. The top 200 finishers in this contest will qualify for the US Open.
US Open
This contest will be held on February 15th, 2025. It will be a 5-hour contest with 4 problems. The top 5 finishers in this contest will qualify for the IOI.
IOI
The IOI will be held from July 12th to July 19th, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The top 5 finishers in the US Open will represent the United States at this contest.
Impact of COVID-19 on USACO
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on USACO. The US Open 2020 and the IOI 2020 were both cancelled due to the pandemic. The US Open 2021 was held virtually, and the IOI 2021 was postponed and then held in a hybrid format in 2022.
USACO Dates 2024-2025
The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is an annual computer programming competition for high school students in the United States. The competition is organized by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and runs from October to April each year. The competition consists of four contests, each of which is held on a different Saturday. The contests are open to all high school students in the United States, regardless of their experience or skill level. The top-scoring students in each contest are invited to participate in the USACO Training Camp, which is held in June each year. The Training Camp is a two-week intensive training program for the top USACO competitors, and it prepares them for the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), which is held in July each year.
2024-2025 USACO Dates
The 2024-2025 USACO dates are as follows:
- Contest 1: Saturday, October 26, 2024
- Contest 2: Saturday, December 14, 2024
- Contest 3: Saturday, February 8, 2025
- Contest 4: Saturday, April 5, 2025
The USACO Training Camp for the 2024-2025 season will be held from June 22 to July 6, 2025, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
People Also Ask About USACO Dates 2024-2025
When do the USACO contests start?
The USACO contests start on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
When do the USACO contests end?
The USACO contests end on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
When is the USACO Training Camp?
The USACO Training Camp is from June 22 to July 6, 2025.
Who is eligible to participate in the USACO?
The USACO is open to all high school students in the United States, regardless of their experience or skill level.
