A record breaking 1,107 teams participated in the 2026 American Rocketry Challenge but five state teams made the top 100  to advance to the National Finals on May 16 in Manassas, VA, for $100,000 in awards and the title of National Champion. The winning team will represent the United States and compete at the International Rocketry Challenge in July at the Farnborough UK International Airshow 2026.

The teams that made the cut were all from north Alabama: Bob Jones High School, Hackleberg H.S., Muscle Shoals H.S., Russellville H.S., and Tharptown H.S. Three of the schools, Muscle Shoals, Russellville and Tharptown were at the Nats last year with Russellville coming in seventh place. Bob Jones last went to the Finals in 2010 and came in third. Hackleberg placed 16th in 2023. Congratulations to these schools and a nod to the other 28 Alabama teams who built rockets for ARC.

The cutoff score for the top 100 was 23.28 which is the total of the two best flights submitted. Last year the break was at 28.6, showing this year was a tighter contest.