USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)

The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) is a nationally recognized competitive programming organization that identifies and trains pre-college students in algorithmic problem-solving. The organization conducts online contests and produces extensive open training materials. USACO operates a four-division contest structure (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) with monthly online contests held from December through March, followed by the US Open in late March or April. Top performers from the United States advance to the summer training camp that selects the four-member team representing the USA at the International Olympiad in Informatics. The contests are open to pre-college students worldwide, including students from India, who can participate in all monthly rounds and progress through divisions, although only US residents are eligible for the IOI team. The free USACO Guide and past problem archive are widely used by competitive programmers globally.