The High School Circuit refers to the ecosystem of Model UN conferences hosted primarily for secondary school delegations, along with the coaching infrastructure, traveling teams, and informal rankings that surround it. It is distinct from the college circuit, which operates on a separate calendar, uses different procedural conventions, and is generally staffed (rather than attended) by university students.
Most major high school conferences in North America are hosted by universities and run by their collegiate MUN teams. Long-running examples include ILMUNC (Ivy League Model United Nations Conference, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania since 1983), HMUN (Harvard Model United Nations, since 1953), BMUN (Berkeley Model United Nations, since 1952), NHSMUN, and GCIMUN. Outside North America, conferences such as THIMUN in The Hague and HMUN India anchor strong regional circuits.
Procedurally, the high school circuit tends to lean on THIMUN-style or Harvard-style rules of procedure, with heavy emphasis on moderated and unmoderated caucuses, working papers, and draft resolutions. Awards typically include Best Delegate, Outstanding Delegate, and Honorable Mention, with some conferences also recognizing Best Position Paper and Best Small Delegation.
The circuit is competitive and somewhat hierarchical: schools track results across the season, and informal best delegate rankings (such as those published by Best Delegate Media) attempt to aggregate performance across conferences. Top-performing programs frequently travel internationally and field delegates in both GA-style committees and crisis committees, which have become a defining feature of the higher-intensity end of the circuit.
Critics note that the circuit can be resource-intensive, favoring schools with travel budgets and dedicated faculty advisors, and that award culture sometimes overshadows substantive learning. In response, organizations like UNA-USA and various nonprofits run accessibility-focused conferences and scholarship programs to broaden participation.
Example
In November 2023, more than 3,000 high school delegates attended ILMUNC at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the largest stops on the North American high school circuit.
Frequently asked questions
High school conferences are usually hosted by universities for secondary students and use simpler procedure, while college conferences are inter-university competitions with longer committee sessions, more complex crises, and a separate award culture.
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