Superlatives are the most-flipped-to page in most yearbooks — the section people photograph and text to each other for years. They're also where a lot of staffs lose weeks to a messy paper ballot, a tie nobody planned for, and a category the principal pulls the week before deadline. Here's how to run them cleanly, start to finish.
What yearbook superlatives are (and why they matter)
Superlatives — "Most Likely to…," "Best…," "Class…" — are peer-voted awards that capture the personality of a class. Done well, they're a keepsake; done in a rush, they're a liability. The two things that separate a great superlatives section from a stressful one are starting early and deciding the rules before you publish the ballot: who's eligible, how many times someone can win, and what happens in a tie.
A two-page superlatives spread comfortably holds 16–20 categories with a photo, the winners' names, and a short quote each. Pick your number first, then build the ballot to it — not the other way around.
The fall timeline that beats your deadline
Superlatives have a hidden dependency: you can't shoot the winners until voting closes, and you can't design the spread until you've shot them. Work backward from your printer's deadline and you'll almost always land here:
- Early SeptemberDraft the category list with your editors. Send the final list to administration for a quick appropriateness review before anyone votes.
- Late SeptemberBuild the ballot (digital is easier to tally). Decide eligibility and the one-or-two-wins cap. Announce it to the class.
- First week of OctoberOpen voting for exactly one week. A hard close date keeps it from dragging.
- Mid OctoberTally, resolve ties, and privately notify winners. Collect photo consent now, not later.
- Late October – NovemberRun the superlatives photo shoot in one or two sessions with a consistent style and props.
- NovemberDesign the spread while the shoot is fresh. Leave a buffer week before your submission deadline.
60+ superlative category ideas
Mix classics with a few modern, personality-first categories — and keep every one about who a person is or what they'll do, never how they look. Here's a deep bench to draw from:
The classics
- Most Likely to Succeed
- Most School Spirit
- Class Clown
- Most Involved
- Most Athletic
- Most Artistic
- Most Musical
- Most Likely to Brighten Your Day
- Best Laugh
- Most Dependable
Personality & future
- Most Likely to Change the World
- Most Likely to Start a Business
- Most Likely to Be Famous
- Most Likely to Win a Debate
- Most Likely to Become a Teacher
- Most Likely to Travel the World
- Future Politician
- Most Likely to Invent Something
Modern & fun
- Best Playlist
- Biggest Foodie
- Most Likely to Go Viral
- Best Study Buddy
- Human Golden Retriever
- Most Likely to Be Late
- Best Sneaker Game
- Most Likely to Reply "On My Way" From Bed
Whole-school & staff
- Most School Spirit (all grades)
- Best Class Duo / Dynamic Duo
- Most Likely to Be Found in the J-Room
- Best Yearbook Staffer (staff-voted)
- Most Likely to Make Deadline
- Teacher Who Feels Like Family
- Best Section (club/team superlatives)
Our Senior Superlatives Kit ships a ready-to-print ballot, a tally sheet, and winner certificates with these categories already laid out in the Varsity-keepsake style — so you can skip building the form and go straight to voting.
Running a fair vote
The mechanics are simple, but write them down before you open voting or you'll be making rulings under pressure:
- Eligibility. Decide up front whether it's senior-only (typical) or whole-school for certain categories. State it on the ballot.
- One vote per student. A digital form with school-login restriction stops ballot-stuffing; a paper ballot handed out in one class period works too.
- Win caps. Cap each student at one or two wins so the same three popular kids don't sweep the page. If someone wins two, award the next runner-up in the third.
- Ties. Decide in advance: co-winners (share the photo) or a same-day runoff. Never leave it to a coin flip you have to explain later.
- Moderation. Have an adviser or admin review both the category list and the winners before publishing. This is your insurance against the last-minute pull.
From votes to a spread people keep
Winners are only half of it — the section lives or dies on the photos. A few things that consistently make superlatives look intentional instead of thrown together:
- One consistent style. Same background, same lighting, same crop for every pair. A superlatives page reads as a set.
- Props that tell the joke. "Best Playlist" holding headphones; "Biggest Foodie" mid-bite. One clear prop beats a busy set.
- Short quotes. A one-line reaction from each winner adds voice without eating your word count.
- Book the shoot as one event. Two 90-minute sessions with a sign-up sheet beats chasing 20 seniors down individually.
The Senior Superlatives Kit
Printable ballot, tally sheet, and keepsake winner certificates — categories from this guide, already designed. Print, vote, hand out. Part of the Yearbook Adviser Bundle.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Appearance- or body-based categories. "Best Hair," "Best Dressed," and anything about looks invite comparison and complaints. Keep it about personality and contribution.
- Relationship categories. "Cutest Couple" ages badly and gets awkward fast — skip it.
- Starting in November. The single most common mistake. You lose the runway to shoot and design; start the ballot in September.
- No consent plan. Collect photo permission when you notify winners, not the day of the shoot.
- Unmoderated ballots. Open write-ins without review are how an inside joke ends up in a printed book. Always review winners.
FAQ
How many superlatives should a yearbook have?
Most high-school yearbooks run 10–25 superlatives. Pick a number that fits your spread — a two-page superlatives section comfortably holds about 16–20 categories with photos, quotes, and headers.
Who votes on senior superlatives?
Usually the senior class votes on senior superlatives, one vote per student. Some schools open a few all-school categories (like Most School Spirit) to the whole student body. Decide eligibility before you publish the ballot.
When should we run yearbook superlatives?
Run them in early fall — build the ballot in September, vote in early October, and shoot winners in late October or November. Starting early gives you time to schedule the photo shoot and design the spread before your printer deadline.
How do you keep superlatives fair and inclusive?
Avoid appearance-, body-, or relationship-based categories, get administration to review the final list, cap each student to one or two wins, and have a plan for ties (co-winners or a quick runoff). Keep categories about personality, contribution, and future plans.