Debate is one of the best ways to build high school students’ communication and critical thinking skills. High school debate topics can vary from lighthearted fun (Is a hot dog a sandwich?) to downright controversial (Should we abolish the death penalty?), but they all give students a chance to build real-world experience in thinking critically, speaking clearly, and disagreeing with respect.

Our wide-ranging list of debate topics for high school students ranges from lighthearted and fun (perfect for new debaters) to complex and ethical (ideal for students with experience). The subjects cover ideas that really appeal to students this age, from school and education issues to pop culture and technology. You’ll also find tips for choosing topics, prepping students for debate, and more, plus free graphic organizers!

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Teacher Tip: Use our links to give students a jump-start!

Each one of our debate topics for high school students includes a link to a trusted, reliable source that provides pros and/or cons on the topic, plus evidence and information for students to consider. This will help even reluctant students make a good start, especially when paired with our free printables!

School and Education Debate Topics

1. It’s better to be good at academics than to be good at sports.
2. Final exams should be abolished.
3. Students should be required to wear school uniforms.
4. Private schools are better than public schools.
5. Year-round school is better for students.
6. Standardized tests are effective.
7. Every student should have to participate in athletics.
8. Single-gender schools are better for students.
9. Schools should be allowed to teach critical race theory.
10. Math is the most important school subject.
11. Schools should teach sex ed instead of abstinence only.
12. Letter grades should be abolished.
13. Teachers should be replaced by computers.
14. People who get better grades in school will be more successful in life.
15. Sometimes it’s OK to cheat on homework or a test.
16. Students who fail a test should be given the chance to take it again.
17. Outdoor recess is important at every grade level.
18. Students should be allowed to grade teachers.
19. Everyone should be able to bring their pets to school.
20. Shorter school days are better for students.
21. Schools should eliminate dress codes.
22. Everyone should be required to go to college.
23. College should be free for everyone who wants to attend.
24. Schools should install safe rooms in case of mass shootings or natural disasters.
25. Schools should be allowed to ban some books from their libraries.
26. Book smarts are better than street smarts.
27. Schools should teach life skills like cooking and personal finance.
28. School vouchers benefit students and schools.
29. Religion has no place in schools.
30. In-person school is better than online school.
31. Traditional school is better than homeschooling.
32. Charter schools should receive public school funds.

Government and Civics Debate Topics

33. The voting age should be lowered to 16.
34. Democracy is the best form of government.
35. All Americans should be required to vote.
36. The driving age should be raised to 18.
37. The drinking age should be lowered to 18.
38. Supreme Court judges should be appointed for fixed terms.
39. Parents should be punished for their children’s crimes.
40. A progressive income tax is better than a flat tax.
41. All students should be required to volunteer in their community.
42. The United States isn’t ready to accept a woman president yet.
43. Police funding should be redirected to social services.
44. The United States should implement a universal basic income.
45. We should require people of all genders to register for the draft.
46. Gun safety laws infringe on the Second Amendment.
47. Anyone over 12 should be tried as an adult in court.
48. We should require people to take drug tests before receiving government aid like welfare.
49. The government should provide funding for public art programs.
50. There are reasonable limits to freedom of speech.

Science and Technology Debate Topics

51. Plastic bottles should be banned.
52. It’s important to spend money exploring space.
53. Developing countries have to meet the same environmental standards as more developed nations.
54. GMOs are more helpful than harmful.
55. Human cloning should be legal.
56. We should ban fossil fuels.
57. Nuclear weapons should be banned worldwide.
58. Testing on animals should be illegal.
59. Macs are better than PCs.
60. Androids are better than iPhones.
61. We should replace all paper documents with electronic versions.
62. Parents should use their kids’ cell phones to track them.
63. There is intelligent life on other planets.
64. We should use stem cells from human embryos for scientific research.
65. People rely too much on technology.
66. Net neutrality should be mandatory for internet service providers.
67. Expanded use of artificial intelligence will be good for humanity.
68. Technology is creating more jobs than it eliminates.
69. Schools should have surveillance cameras in classrooms and hallways.
70. The United States should provide free internet access for everyone.
71. Cryptocurrencies should replace cash.
72. Scientists should try to develop a way for everyone to live forever.
73. Pluto should still be considered a planet.
74. Governments should subsidize technologies like electric cars and solar panels for houses.

Health and Lifestyle Debate Topics

75. Humans should not eat animals.
76. Cigarette smoking and vaping should be banned entirely.
77. Drug addicts should receive help instead of punishment.
78. Euthanasia should be legal.
79. Vaccines should be mandatory.
80. White-collar jobs are better than blue-collar jobs.
81. Abortion rights and other reproductive rights should be protected under the law.
82. Marijuana should be legal everywhere.
83. Junk food should be banned in school cafeterias.
84. Schools should provide free mental health services to students and teachers.
85. All drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed, like alcohol.
86. Healthcare should be universal.
87. Beauty pageants are sexist.
88. People should have to take a parenting class before having a child.
89. Doctors should not be allowed to prescribe psychiatric drugs like Ritalin or SSRIs to children.
90. Organ donation should be mandatory after death.

Social Justice and Ethics Debate Topics

91. Girls face more peer pressure than boys.
92. Giving is better than receiving.
93. Animals should not be kept in zoos.
94. Happiness is more important than success.
95. If you find money on the ground, it’s automatically yours to keep.
96. It is better to be kind than to be truthful.
97. We should do away with gender-specific public bathrooms.
98. Learning about history can stop us from repeating past mistakes.
99. Ethical hunting and fishing is possible.
100. Men should not be allowed to make laws that affect women’s bodies.
101. The death penalty should be abolished.
102. Security is more important than freedom.
103. The government should pay reparations to descendants of enslaved people.
104. Religion does more harm than good.
105. We will never achieve world peace.
106. We should make the path to American citizenship easier.
107. A strong middle class is vital to the economy.
108. Transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in sports according to their gender identity.
109. Criminal profiling is inherently racist.
110. We should return control of ancestral lands to Indigenous communities.
111. The American justice system is inherently racist.
112. Ageism is a major problem in our society.
113. Felons should be allowed to vote after serving their time in prison.
114. The UN should require all member countries to accept a minimum number of refugees each year.

Entertainment and Technology Debate Topics

115. Reality television depicts real life.
116. Schools should allow students to use phones in class.
117. Social media is making us less social.
118. Social media does more harm than good.
119. Video games are better than board games.
120. Video gaming is a sport.
121. Reading books is better than watching TV.
122. The book is always better than the movie.
123. Playing video games makes you smarter.
124. Paper books are better than e-books.
125. All museums and zoos should be free to everyone.
126. Everyone should play on the same sports teams, regardless of gender.

Fun and Easy Debate Topics

127. Dogs are better pets than cats.
128. A taco is a sandwich.
129. Summer is better than winter.
130. Coke is better than Pepsi.
131. Pepperoni is the best pizza topping.
132. Fruit counts as dessert.
133. The number 13 is not unlucky.
134. People should eat to live, not live to eat.
135. Monday is the worst day of the week.
136. Clowns are more scary than funny.
137. Modern music is better than classical music.
138. Aliens live among us here on Earth.
139. It’s OK to put ketchup on a hot dog.
140. Was Robin Hood a thief or a rebel hero?
141. It would be better to be able to fly than to be able to turn invisible.
142. It’s better to be too hot than too cold.
143. We should allow people to go barefoot anywhere if they want to.
144. Fiction is better than non-fiction.
145. Using profanity is good for your mental health.
146. Leftover pizza is better cold than reheated.
147. It’s OK to wear socks with sandals.
148. Being famous is actually not all that great.
149. GIF should be pronounced “JIFF,” not “GIFF.”
150. People shouldn’t have to go to school or work on their birthdays.

High School Debate Topics FAQs

What academic skills do high school students learn from debating?

Debates teach students to research their topic, make informed choices, and argue effectively using facts instead of emotion. Participating in formal debate activities like groups or clubs has been shown to have real academic benefits. Students who join debate teams are 12% more likely to graduate high school. One study also showed that debate improved language arts achievement nearly three times more effectively than traditional reading interventions.

How can debate teach students to disagree respectfully?

Some teachers shy away from debate in the classroom, afraid it will become too adversarial. But debates teach respectful communication, showing students how to disagree with ideas—not people. They practice using critical thinking to support their viewpoints with facts and evidence, and build listening skills that encourage empathy and tolerance. Constructive debate helps us exchange ideas and points of view rationally, moving discussions forward into progress.

How do I choose the right high school debate topic for my class?

Consider your students’ interests, background knowledge, and skill level. For new debaters, start out with easy topics that will engage them right off the bat—try silly but controversial questions like “Does pineapple belong on a pizza?” As kids gain confidence, dig into topics relevant to their own lives, such as “Should schools eliminate dress codes?” Experienced debaters are ready for advanced topics like “Should we make the path to American citizenship easier?”

What can teachers do to support students who are nervous about public speaking?

Start small, and build confidence gradually. Begin with team debates, where students work together to prepare and defend their point of view. Pair kids with a partner for a debate-style private discussion, rather than asking them to perform in front of the entire class. Show them how to prepare and rehearse their opening statements and key points, using notes to stay focused. Congratulate them for their efforts, and remind them that everything (even public speaking) gets easier with practice.

How can teachers help prepare students to debate successfully?

Successful debaters rely heavily on critical thinking skills. Start by teaching students to think critically, learning to sort fact from opinion. Help them understand reliable primary sources and how to recognize bias and misinformation. Then, guide them as they build opening and closing statements, prepare to rebut counterarguments, and find the right rhetorical language to sway their audience. If it seems like a lot, don’t worry! Our debate graphic organizers will guide students and teachers along the way.

Grab your free Debate Graphic Organizer printables today!

These free organizers are the perfect way to support students as they build debate skills! You’ll also get a handy list of rules to remind debaters of the best ways to argue an idea and disagree with respect.

Did we miss one of your favorite high school debate topics? Come share your ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out these additional high school debate resources!