Academic Decathlon Program Information


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WHAT IS ACADEMIC DECATHLON?

Academic Decathlon is an educational competion for high school students from various academic achievement levels to demonstrate their knowledge, and proficiency of a specific theme. Each year, the United States Academic Decathlon chooses a new theme, with this year's theme being Technology & Humanity.

Since its inception, Academic Decathlon has provided students the opportunity to experience challenging and rigorous team and individual competitions. Designed to include students with varying achievement levels, each 9 member Academic Decathlon team is divided into 3 divisions based on student's GPA: Honors (A's), Scholastic (B's) and Varsity (C's).

Students match wits in several individual and team competitions, culminating in an exciting Super Quiz oral relay, that is open to the public. At the conclusion of the relay, Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals, as well as scholarships are awarded for individual events and total scores. Overall individual winners are recognized as champion teams, and advance to the next level of competition.

The success of the Academic Decathlon is shared by the students, coaches and teachers, the supportive administrators at their schools, and their understandably flexible families. Countless hours are spent learning, researching, and practicing for the competition.

The 2019-20 competition was historic as it was the first time being held online, and Bell High School winning their first ever Academic Decathlon. Unfortunately, State and National Competitions were canceled due to COVID-19.

Benefits

Strengthen students’ self-esteem
Improve students’ academic achievement and skills
Develop school pride
Foster a team spirit and spirit of cooperation
Build students’ perseverance and dedication
Prepare students for college and life

THE TEAM

Each school is to have a team consisting of nine members, all of whom are to be full-time students (four or more classes) from the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and/or twelfth grades. The members are to include three students from each of the categories listed below.

Category	Grade Point Average
Honor	3.8 - 4.00
Scholastic	3.2 - 3.79
Varsity	3.199 and Below

COMPETITION Overview

Each team member will compete in the following :

MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS

30-minute multiple-choice test in each of the following subjects:

Art
Economics
Music
Language and Literature
Mathematics
Science
Social Science

SPEECHES

One 4-minute planned speech on the topic of choice
One 2-minute impromptu speech on yet to be chosen topic

INTERVIEW

7-minute interview on a variety of topics

ESSAY

Team members will have 50 minutes for the essay portion to demonstrate their ability to powerfully argue an idea, as well as express what they have learned.

SUPER QUIZ RELAY

A competition open to the public, team members will take turns solving challenges from the subjects studied.

Super Quiz Relay Pictures

HISTORY

Los Angeles Unified School District's accomplishments in the Academic Decathlon are unmatched. The District holds the record for wins with 23 state titles and 19 national championships.

2020: Bell HS first time ever winner of Academic Decathlon. State and National Competitions were canceled due to Covid-19.

2019: Franklin HS, as the local Academic Decathlon winner, and eight additional LAUSD teams, selected for an at-large berth thanks to their high scores in the regional competition, were invited to make up the 60 schools that competed at the state championship. Grant HS ranked third in the State Division 1 competition, behind Granada Hills CHS and El Camino Real CHS. Bell HS won the State’s Division 2, and Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences won Division 3.

2018: A record fourteen LAUSD teams were invited to the State Championship after being selected for an at-large berth thanks to their high scores in the LAUSD regional competition.