The 60th Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton on May 27–28, 1987, sponsored by the E.W. Scripps Company.
The winner was 13-year-old Stephanie Petit of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, prevailing on the word "staphylococci". Second place went to 14-year-old Rachel Nussbaum of Ithaca, New York, who fell on "dyscalculia".
There were 185 spellers this year, 92 boys and 93 girls. Pennsylvania sent the most, with 15. Twenty-nine were appearing at their second bee, and five were there for a third visit. After the first day of competition, the field was reduced to 123 after four rounds of spelling. One hundred eight spellers fell in two rounds on the morning of day two, leaving 15 spellers at the lunch break; nine girls and six boys.