Twenty-two elementary school teams from Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) participated in the 2026 Battle of the Books Elementary School District Competition. The event brought together 185 fourth- and fifth-grade students who demonstrated their reading knowledge and teamwork.
Battle of the Books is a statewide competition for students in grades 4 through 12. Participants are required to read books from a list covering various genres, which is established by state committees. Each team must read 20 books and then compete in a quiz-bowl-style tournament to test their understanding of the material.
Kaye Menjivar, JCPS Digital Learning & Media Specialist, said, “Our Elementary Battle of the Books Competition allows fourth- and fifth-grade students to not only continue to build their reading skills, but also to grow their love of reading. Students enjoy this early opportunity to learn valuable team skills while celebrating the communal joy of sharing important stories with others.”
The competition saw all teams ready to demonstrate what they had learned from the assigned books. While three teams were recognized as winners, organizers noted that every student at the event benefited from participation. One student commented, “I participate in Battle of the Books because I enjoy reading and showing my love for books.” Another added, “I do it to read and have fun with friends.”
River Dell Elementary secured first place in this year’s competition. Corinth-Holders Elementary finished second, followed by Riverwood Elementary in third place.
The River Dell Elementary team will advance to represent JCPS at the Region 3 Battle of the Books Competition on March 21, 2026, hosted at Corinth-Holders Elementary.
Johnston County Schools serves more than 37,000 students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across communities in Johnston County, North Carolina (official website). The district fosters cultural diversity with families representing over 45 languages (official website), features modern facilities supported by community involvement (official website), and is committed to empowering students for success in a global society (official website). It is also noted as the largest employer in Johnston County while providing essential services such as transportation and nutrition programs (official website).
