Fourth-grader Wins RPS City Wide Spelling Bee

Curtis Ready from Mary Munford Elementary takes the title after 21 rounds of competition.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 7:15am

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Fourth-grader Curtis Ready from Mary Munford Elementary School was crowned the winner of the Richmond Public Schools (RPS) City Wide Spelling Bee on Thursday evening. The competition featured 31 spellers from across the district, with Ready emerging victorious after 21 rounds of spelling.

Why it matters

The RPS City Wide Spelling Bee is a long-standing annual event that celebrates academic excellence and showcases the spelling prowess of the district's top students. Ready's win continues a family tradition, as his mother also won the district spelling bee in 1994.

The details

In the first round, all 31 spellers correctly spelled their words, with no eliminations. By round five, only five spellers remained, including the previous year's champion and runner-up. The final three spellers battled it out for seven rounds before the field narrowed to two. It took an additional eight rounds for Ready to clinch the championship, correctly spelling 'uvula' and 'Medusa'.

  • The RPS City Wide Spelling Bee was held on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
  • Ready's mother won the district spelling bee in 1994.

The players

Curtis Ready

A fourth-grader at Mary Munford Elementary School who won the 2026 RPS City Wide Spelling Bee.

Emmy Ready

Curtis Ready's mother, who won the RPS district-wide spelling bee in 1994.

Deanna Allbrittin

The 8News anchor who served as the moderator for the 2026 RPS City Wide Spelling Bee.

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What they’re saying

“His win is reportedly a continuation of a family tradition, as his mother, Emmy Ready said she won the 1994 RPS district-wide spelling bee wearing the same shirt her son where when he won his school be and again on Thursday.”

— Emmy Ready, Curtis Ready's mother

What’s next

The winner, Curtis Ready, will represent Richmond Public Schools in the statewide spelling bee competition.

The takeaway

The RPS City Wide Spelling Bee showcases the academic excellence of the district's students, with Curtis Ready's win continuing a family legacy of spelling prowess.