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Cooper Middle School · McLean, VA
Building tomorrow's leaders through the power of argument
Who We Are
The Cooper Debate Team develops middle school students into confident, critical thinkers and effective communicators. Through the discipline of Public Forum debate, we equip students with skills that extend far beyond the debate round.
We believe every student has something important to say — and the power to say it well. Our team competes at the highest levels while fostering collaboration, curiosity, and mutual respect.
"The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress." — Joseph Joubert
What We Stand For
We develop voices that are articulate, persuasive, and grounded in evidence.
Critical thinking, research, and logical argumentation are the heart of what we do.
We compete fiercely and always with sportsmanship, respect, and honesty.
The Benefits
Debate is one of the most transformative academic activities a student can pursue. The research is clear — debaters outperform peers in critical thinking, academic achievement, and career outcomes.
Overcome stage fright and develop the poise to speak confidently in front of any audience.
Analyze complex issues, evaluate evidence, and construct logical arguments under pressure.
Learn to find, evaluate, and cite credible sources on real-world policy issues.
Build the self-assurance to lead, persuade, and make a difference in any field.
Public Forum Debate
Public Forum (PF) is a two-on-two debate format focused on current events and policy issues. Teams alternate arguing both sides of a resolution — developing intellectual flexibility and a deep understanding of real-world issues.
Each team presents their initial case arguments.
Both teams question each other's arguments directly.
Teams attack the opposing case and defend their own.
Each team crystallizes the most important voting issues.
Last chance to persuade the judge — usually 2-3 key arguments.
Our Circuit
The Washington Area Competitive Forensics League (WACFL) is the premier middle and high school debate circuit in the DC/Northern Virginia region. Cooper Debate competes at WACFL tournaments throughout the fall and spring seasons, culminating in the Metro Finals championship.
Multiple WACFL tournaments throughout the year with varsity and junior varsity divisions.
The regional championship — Cooper won it in 2025 to advance to NSDA Nationals.
The national championship — we placed 4th, our best finish in program history.
The Team Behind the Team
Debate coach with years of experience developing competitive PF programs. Passionate about helping students find their voice and argue effectively.
Specializes in research methodology and evidence analysis. Helps students build rigorous, evidence-driven cases for every tournament.
Cooper Middle School faculty sponsor who supports the team's administrative needs and helps coordinate tournament logistics.
Get Involved
No experience necessary. We welcome any Cooper Middle School student who is committed, curious, and ready to work hard. Here's how to get started:
Come to one of our open practice sessions at the start of the school year to learn what debate is all about.
Fill out the short application form describing why you want to join and what you hope to gain from the experience.
Participate in a short practice debate so coaches can assess your current skills and potential.
Once accepted, you'll begin practicing and compete in your first WACFL tournament!
About This Website
Designed & developed by Hannah Shiv, Cooper Debate '26
Built as a volunteer community-service initiative to serve the Cooper Debate community — students, coaches, and families — at no cost to the team.