Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: If you want to know how to publish a research paper in high school, start with a focused project and a mentor, then submit to a student journal such as the Journal of Emerging Investigators, The Concord Review, or the Columbia Junior Science Journal. Follow each journal’s guidelines exactly and expect at least one round of revisions.
If you’ve ever wondered how to publish a research paper in high school, you’re not alone. Getting published as a high school student shows initiative, academic curiosity, and writing skill. Whether your interests lie in science, history, or creative writing, publishing before college means you are contributing to a larger academic or creative community, not just completing work for class. In many cases, you can include a link to your published work in the activities or honors section of your Common App.
Why Publishing in High School Matters
Colleges value tangible achievements that show depth and dedication. A publication tells admissions officers three things at once: you pursued an idea beyond the classroom, you finished a demanding piece of work, and you accepted outside feedback to improve it. That last point matters. Most journals ask for revisions, and learning to respond to an editor is the same skill you will use in college seminars and research labs.
The venue matters less than the work behind it. A publication in a student journal will not carry the weight of a national competition result, but paired with a recommendation from a mentor who watched you work, or an essay about what the project taught you, it becomes clear evidence of intellectual curiosity.
What Makes a Paper Ready to Publish
Journals that publish student research look for the same qualities professional journals do, scaled to a high school level. A publishable research paper asks a focused question, explains how you tried to answer it, presents results honestly, and discusses what the results do and do not show. It does not need a groundbreaking discovery. A well-designed survey of your school’s sleep habits, a careful analysis of public climate data, or a history essay built on primary sources can all be publishable if the method is sound and the writing is clear.
Creative journals look for something different: a distinct voice, precise language, and work that feels finished. Before you submit, read your piece aloud, cut anything that does not earn its place, and ask a trusted reader where their attention drifted.
8 Journals That Publish High School Writers and Researchers
Submission windows and guidelines change, so confirm the details on each journal’s website before you submit.
1. The Concord Review
The Concord Review publishes history research essays written by secondary school students around the world, usually 5,000 words or longer. It is the best-known venue for student history research. Submissions are rolling with quarterly cutoffs. [1]
2. Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI)
JEI publishes peer-reviewed research in the biological, physical, and social sciences by middle and high school students. Papers need an adult senior author, such as a teacher or mentor, who submits the manuscript. Every paper goes through peer review, so plan for revisions before acceptance. [2]
3. Columbia Junior Science Journal
The Columbia Junior Science Journal accepts short original research papers of two to three pages and review articles of four to five pages from high school students only. It publishes one volume a year, so check the annual deadline, which falls in late September. [3]
4. Polyphony Lit
Polyphony Lit is a student-run literary magazine by and for high school writers ages 14 to 18. It publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art, and every accepted piece goes through several rounds of student editing. General submissions open in the fall. [4]
5. Teen Ink
Teen Ink publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, reviews, art, and photography by writers ages 13 to 19, and accepts submissions year-round. Its wide range of categories makes it a good first venue, and publishing here shows you can explain ideas clearly to general readers. [5]
6. Blue Marble Review
Blue Marble Review is a quarterly online journal for writers ages 13 to 22. It publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction and essays of up to 1,500 words, and art. Submissions are rolling. [6]
7. Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things
Ember publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction for readers and writers of all ages, and it especially encourages submissions from writers ages 10 to 18. Ember opens for submissions in set windows, such as October. [7]
8. The Louisville Review (Cornerstone)
The Louisville Review is a long-running literary magazine with a section called Cornerstone for poetry by students in grades K through 12. Submissions require parental permission and open in the fall. [8]
Writers ready for a greater challenge can also submit to AGNI, the literary journal at Boston University. It has no youth section, so teens compete with adult writers, but a publication there is a significant achievement. The Adroit Journal also runs the Adroit Prizes for high school and college writers.
Getting Started if You Don’t Have a Project Yet
If you do not yet have a paper to submit, start with a question you genuinely want answered. Look at the topics you keep returning to in class, in your reading, or in your activities. Then find a way to investigate it with the resources you have: public data sets, a school lab, interviews, library archives, or a summer research program. Many students begin with a class assignment and expand it over several months. Ask a teacher to act as your mentor early, because journals like JEI require an adult sponsor, and a mentor’s guidance on method will save you months of revisions. Plan backward from your goal. A paper you want published by the fall of senior year should be drafted by the winter of junior year.
How to Publish a Research Paper in High School
Once you have a finished draft, publishing comes down to three steps: choosing the right venue, preparing a submission that follows the journal’s rules, and responding well to feedback. Peer-reviewed journals such as JEI send your paper to reviewers, who may ask for new analysis, clearer figures, or a tighter discussion. Treat each request as a chance to improve the work, and answer every comment in a short response letter that explains what you changed. Keep your mentor involved at every stage, since JEI requires an adult senior author who submits the manuscript for you. If your paper grew out of a research opportunity or a passion project, mention that context in your cover note so editors understand how the work began.
How to Choose Where to Submit
- Match the journal to your work. Research papers belong in research journals like JEI or the Columbia Junior Science Journal; history essays in The Concord Review; poems and stories in literary magazines. Read several recent issues before you submit.
- Look for real editing or peer review. Journals that send feedback and ask for revisions carry more weight than those that publish nearly everything.
- Check deadlines and review times. Some journals publish only once a year, so plan around their calendars.
- Submit to one journal at a time when required. Some journals do not allow simultaneous submissions, so read the guidelines closely.
How to Prepare Your Submission
- Get feedback first. Ask a teacher, mentor, or research advisor to review your draft for clarity, evidence, and structure.
- Follow the guidelines exactly. Match the word count, citation style, file format, and any required sections. Editors often reject submissions that ignore instructions.
- Write a short, clear cover note. Introduce yourself, name your piece, and note any required information, such as your grade or your adult sponsor.
- Plan for time. Review can take months. If you want the publication on your college application, submit by the spring of junior year.
- Keep going after a rejection. Most published writers receive many rejections first. Revise and submit elsewhere.
For more research-focused options, see our list of research journals for high school students.
How to Show a Publication on Your College Application
Where you list a publication depends on what it represents. A research paper that grew out of months of work fits best in the Activities and Experiences section, where you can describe the project, your role, and the result in 150 characters, such as “Designed survey of 400 students on sleep and grades; paper published in JEI.” A selective creative publication or a prize can go in the honors section instead.
Your essays and recommendations can add the depth the lists cannot. A mentor who supervised your research can describe your persistence and thinking in a recommendation letter, and a supplemental essay about an academic interest can explain the question that drove the project. If a college allows an optional writing sample or portfolio, a published piece can be a natural fit. Whatever you include, make sure you can talk about the work with confidence in an interview.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Learning how to publish a research paper in high school takes patience, persistence, and the right support. Start by refining your topic, choosing a journal that fits your subject, and following its guidelines carefully. Even if your first submissions are not accepted, each one helps you grow as a writer and researcher.
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