Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is a Georgia-based reading initiative that brings students together to celebrate literature through friendly academic competition. Student teams read a designated collection of award-nominated books and compete by answering content-based questions in a quiz-bowl format. Participation is team-based and encourages students to read beyond assigned classroom texts, work collaboratively, and represent their schools in an academic setting.

The competition begins at the local school-system level, where school teams compete within their district. Qualifying teams advance to a regional competition, and top regional teams move on to the Georgia State Finals. This progression gives students meaningful opportunities to build reading stamina, comprehension, recall, collaboration, communication, and positive school pride.

For grades 4–5 and 6–8, teams are typically quizzed on the annual Georgia Book Award nominee titles. High-school teams read and answer questions about the Georgia Peach Teen Book Award nominees. The reading lists change each year, allowing students to encounter new authors, genres, perspectives, and literary experiences.

Notable Barrow County highlights:

• Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy was the 2025 Barrow County high-school champion, Eastern Regional Champion, and third-place state finisher.

• Austin Road Elementary won the 2025 Barrow County elementary division and placed second at the East Regional Competition.

• Russell Middle School won the 2025 Barrow County middle-school division and placed second at the East Regional Competition.

• Haymon-Morris Middle School earned third place at the 2022–23 Georgia State Finals.

• Winder-Barrow High School earned second place at the 2022–23 Georgia State Finals

• Bramlett Elementary was reported as fourth place in the K–3 Picturebook state division in the Barrow County 2025 HRRB news release.

Community support helps make the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl possible by assisting with competition materials, books, student recognition, hospitality, and other event needs. Businesses, organizations, families, and community members are invited to consider sponsoring the competition or making a donation to support participating student readers.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to contribute to the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, please contact Amy Wright.

Thank you to the Barrow Community Foundation for their donation and support of HRRB!