The Scottsdale Unified School District is hosting the Maricopa County Region II spelling bee Friday, Feb. 9, at the Coronado High School auditorium, 7501 E. Virginia Ave.

There will be 36 contestants from spelling bees in Cave Creek, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale school districts, as well as northeast Valley private, charter and homeschools.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the bee begins at 9 a.m.

The spellers, from grades 3-8, were the winners and top finishers of local spelling bees. Spellers will take part in an introductory round before the judged bee begins. SUSD teaching and learning coaches will serve as the bee’s officials.

Regional and county bees lead to the Arizona Educational Foundation’s Arizona Spelling Bee March 16 at the Madison Arts Center, 5601 N. 16th St. The champion of the state competition is Arizona’s representative in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee that takes place the week of Memorial Day (May 26–June 1) in National Harbor, Maryland.