United States Academic Decathlon National Championship Explained

The United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) is an American academic competition for high school students. The United States Academic Decathlon National Championship, first held in 1982, pits winners at the state level against each other for a national title.[1] The Academic Decathlon consists of 10 events: art, economics, essay, interview, language and literature, math, music, science, social science, and speech.[2] The Super Quiz replaces one of the seven objective events; since 2003, it has alternated between replacing science and social science.[3] The Academic Decathlon requires participation from students of all levels of academic ability; teams generally consist of nine members, who are divided into three divisions based on grade point average: Honors (3.80–4.00 GPA), Scholastic (3.20–3.79 GPA), and Varsity (0.00–3.19 GPA). Though teams consist of nine members (three from each category), only the top two individuals from each category are counted in the final team score.[4] Each student has the possibility of scoring up to 10,000 points, for a combined team score of 60,000.

At the national competition, Schools compete based on size and are divided into three divisions (I, II, and III). However, this separation is only limited to overall team score and overall individual score. Nine overall team medals are awarded: gold, silver and bronze for each division. Similarly, 27 overall individual medals are awarded: gold, silver and bronze for Honors, Scholastic, and Varsity in each division. The rest of the medals—for example, gold in art for Honors, or silver in math for Varsity—are awarded to the top scoring persons regardless of division.[5] In addition, winning teams have often been invited to meet the President of the United States.[6] [7]

In April 1982, the first Nationals was held at Loyola Marymount University in California—16 states and the District of Columbia participated. However, the competition's founder, Dr. Robert Peterson, was inspired by the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He hoped to make Academic Decathlon an international event,[8] and so at the 1984 Nationals, Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand fielded teams in addition to teams from 32 U.S. states.[9] The inclusion of foreign countries did not become a regular occurrence, however. There was no more international participation until 1989, when teams from Northern Ireland and Rio de Janeiro competed.[10] Since then, no more than a few teams a year have competed at Nationals.[11] Since the first national event in 1982, only three states have ever won the National Competition: California, Texas, and Wisconsin, with California having won the majority of the National Competitions. The current National Champion is El Camino Real Charter High School from Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.

In 2006, the small school virtual competition was created for schools with 650 or fewer students.[12] Two years later, the medium school virtual competition was added to accommodate schools with a student population between 650 and 1300.[13] In 2010, the virtual competition was expanded to include large schools by allowing the second-highest performing school in each state to compete in a large school e-Nationals.[14] These contests are held via the internet and as such, the interview and speech events are excluded. The remaining eight tests are completed on the computer and results are submitted electronically to USAD for scoring. Because only the seven multiple choice tests and essay are used, team scores are out of 48,000 points instead of 60,000. Despite it being a virtual competition, winning schools are awarded trophies and medals for their efforts.[15] According to USAD, the goal of the small and medium school competitions is to "enhance learning, growth and recognition" for more schools participating in Academic Decathlon.

National winners

width=60 Year !width=150Location !width=200Winner School !width=65Score !Notes width=100Reference
align=center 1982Palo Alto, California align=center — The District of Columbia and 17 states participated at the inaugural competition. align=center [16]
align=center 1983Palo Alto, California align=center — align=center — align=center
align=center 1984J.J. Pearce, Texas align=center — This is the first year that drew competitors from other countries. Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and South Korea all participated. align=center
align=center 1985J.J. Pearce, Texas align=center 46,976 align=center — align=center [17]
align=center 1986J.J. Pearce, Texas align=center 46,435 align=center — align=center [18]
align=center 1987† John Marshall, California align=center 49,369 Varsity David Florey of John Marshall records an individual score of 8,936 points, the highest score of that year's competition. align=center [19]
align=center 1988J.J. Pearce, Texas align=center 46,669 align=center — align=center [20]
align=center 1989W.H. Taft, California align=center 45,857 align=center — align=center [21]
align=center 1990Lake Highlands, Texas align=center 46,627 align=center — align=center [22]
align=center 1991J.J. Pearce, Texas align=center 48,946 align=center — align=center [23]
align=center 1992J. Frank Dobie, Texas align=center 49,710 Tyson Rogers, an Honors from Mountain View Mesa, scores 9,100 points and is the first individual to break the 9,000 point barrier.[24] align=center [25]
align=center 1993Plano East, Texas align=center 47,485 align=center — align=center [26]
align=center 1994W.H. Taft, California align=center 49,372 align=center — align=center [27]
align=center 1995John Marshall, California align=center 49,935 Honors Stephanie Camacho of John Marshall records an individual score of 9346 points, the highest score of that year's competition in mathematic and highest individual score team contribution.[28]
align=center 1996J. Frank Dobie, Texas align=center 49,835 align=center — align=center [29]
align=center 1997† James E. Taylor, Texas align=center 52,260 align=center — align=center [30]
align=center 1998El Camino Real, California align=center 52,131 align=center — align=center [31]
align=center 1999Moorpark, California align=center 50,225 align=center — align=center [32]
align=center 2000† James E. Taylor, Texas align=center 52,470 align=center — align=center [33]
align=center 2001El Camino Real, California align=center 46,547 align=center — align=center [34]
align=center 2002Waukesha West, Wisconsin align=center 48,871 align=center — align=center [35]
align=center 2003Moorpark, California align=center 51,423.5 align=center — align=center [36] [37]
align=center 2004El Camino Real, California align=center 50,656.8 align=center — align=center [38]
align=center 2005El Camino Real, California align=center 49,009.4 align=center — align=center [39] [40]
align=center 2006W.H. Taft, California align=center 51,659.7 align=center — align=center [41]
align=center 2007El Camino Real, California align=center 52,148.4 align=center — align=center [42]
align=center 2008† Moorpark, California align=center 53,119.4 Moorpark records the highest team score ever and beats the Wisconsin team, Waukesha West, by 23 points. Additionally, Alli Blonski of Waukesha West scores 9,321, then the highest individual score in the National Competition's history.[43] align=center [44]
align=center 2009Moorpark, California align=center 51,289.5 align=center — align=center [45] [46]
align=center 2010El Camino Real, California align=center 49,951.7 align=center — align=center [47]
align=center 2011Granada Hills Charter, California align=center 52,113.5 align=center - align=center [48] [49]
align=center 2012†Granada Hills Charter, California align=center 54,081 Granada Hills wins for the second year in a row, breaking 54,000 points for the first time. Jimmy Wu of Granada Hills is the first Varsity student to break the 9,000 point barrier. His teammate Sean Wejebe scores 9,441,[50] a new record for the National Competition. align=center [51]
align=center 2013Granada Hills Charter, California align=center 51,319.6 Granada Hills wins for the third year in a row. They are the second public school (after JJ Pearce from Richardson, TX in 1984-1986) to win the national title three years in a row. align=center [52]
align=center 2014El Camino Real, Californiaalign=center 52,601.1 El Camino Real's 7th title. align=center [53]
align=center 2015†Granada Hills Charter, California align=center 53,592.30 Granada Hills's fourth title in five years. align=center [54]
align=center 2016†Granada Hills Charter, California align=center 54,195.1 Granada Hills Charter wins fifth title in six years, and beats all-time record for highest score in the National Championship. Team member Melissa Santos also beats the record for highest individual score in the National Competition, with 9,511.3 points out of 10,000. align=center [55]
align=center 2017†Granada Hills Charter, California align=center 54,507.7 Granada Hills Charter wins sixth title in seven years. Team member Melissa Santos beats her own record for highest individual score in the National Competition, with 9,551.4 points out of 10,000.align=center [56]
align=center 2018†El Camino Real, California align=center 54,531.1 El Camino Real wins their eighth title with the highest ever team score. [57]
align=center 2019†Granada Hills Charter, California align=center 53,108.5 Granada Hills Charter High School wins their seventh title. align=center [58]
align=center 2020Cancelled (Originally Anchorage, Alaska)N/Aalign=center N/AN/Aalign=center [59]
align=center 2021Online (Originally Des Moines, Iowa)Granada Hills Charter, Californiaalign=center 52,656.7Granada Hills Charter High School wins their eighth title.align=center
align=center 2022Online (Originally Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)Granada Hills Charter, Californiaalign=center 52,383.2Granada Hills Charter High School wins their ninth title.align=center
align=center 2023Frisco, TexasEl Camino Real, Californiaalign=center 49,121.6El Camino Real wins their ninth title.align=center
align=center 2024Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaEl Camino Real, Californiaalign=center 51,068.4El Camino Real wins their tenth title.align=center

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Scholarship is smart business . 29 . Industry Week . April 19, 1982.
  2. News: Erwin. Erica. Erie Team Snares Silver. 1. Erie Times-News. April 30, 2006.
  3. Web site: Quinn. Jessica. Super Quiz. Fresno County Academic Decathlon. August 14, 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040910115633/http://www.fcoe.k12.ca.us/spc_proj/acadec/topics.html. September 10, 2004.
  4. Book: USAD Study Guide 2003-2004 . United States Academic Decathlon . 2003 . 6–7.
  5. Web site: United States Academic Decathlon : 2008 Nationals Champs!. United States Academic Decathlon. https://web.archive.org/web/20090418194147/http://www.usad.org/competition/winners.asp. October 8, 2008. April 18, 2009. dead.
  6. News: Moorpark decathlon team meets President Obama. Collins. Michael. Ventura County Star. June 24, 2009. May 1, 2011. Washington. https://web.archive.org/web/20120113163841/http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/jun/24/moorpark-decathlon-team-meets-president-obama/. dead. January 13, 2012.
  7. News: El Camino's Decathlon Champs Get Half-Hour With Clinton. May 2, 1998. May 1, 2011. Los Angeles Daily News. Sherry Joe. Crosby. Up until 1993, national decathlon champs were rewarded with a trip to the White House. Taft High School of Woodland Hills, which placed second in the national finals in 1993, was the last local school to visit the White House..
  8. Move over Olympics; the thinkers are here. Industry Week. June 15, 1981. 102.
  9. News: Singer. Amy. The Schools; Academia's Bruising Super Bowls. 12, 19. The New York Times. April 14, 1985.
  10. News: Foster. Catherine. Decathlon for Mental Gymnasts. Christian Science Monitor. April 26, 1989. 13 (Ideas).
  11. News: Fausset. Richard. Los Angeles; El Camino Real Comes in 2nd in Super Quiz. Los Angeles Times. April 17, 2004.
  12. Web site: United States Academic Decathlon : Small Schools Competitions . United States Academic Decathlon . October 8, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202092729/http://usad.org/Competition/Small_Schools.asp . February 2, 2009 .
  13. Web site: United States Academic Decathlon : Medium Schools Competitions . June 20, 2008 . United States Academic Decathlon . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202092855/http://usad.org/Competition/Medium_Schools.asp . February 2, 2009 .
  14. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20100209232745/http://www.academicdecathlon.org/news.htm. February 9, 2010. live. USAD to Host Four National Competitions for 2010. Scarberry. K.. February 18, 2010. California Academic Decathlon.
  15. News: Vance . Christina . University High wins U.S. contest: Fresno students take Academic Decathlon in small schools category . . May 5, 2007 . July 23, 2008.
  16. Web site: USAD National Champs Since 1982 . California Academic Decathlon . pdf . August 3, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20110322120958/http://www.academicdecathlon.org/USAD%20Chronology_Champs08.pdf. dead . March 22, 2011.
  17. News: Graham . Nancy . Loses to Texas School Twice in 2 Years Beverly Hills 2nd in Academic Bout . Los Angeles Times . April 14, 1985 . 1 (Westside) . September 29, 2008 .
  18. News: Woo . Elaine . 2nd Again in Academic Meet Third Time Is Not a Charm for Beverly Hills . Los Angeles Times . April 5, 1986 . 1 (Metro 1) . September 29, 2008 .
  19. News: Gordon . Larry . John Marshall C Student Leads National Academic Decathlon L.A. School Smartly Outclasses the Field . Los Angeles Times. April 28, 1987 . 1 (Metro 1) . September 29, 2008.
  20. News: Pamela . Moreland . Texas School Wins Taft High Team Loses Bid for Academic Title . Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1988 . 8 (Metro 2) . fee required . September 29, 2008.
  21. News: Enriquez . Sam . Taft High Team Wins U.S. Title in Academic Competition . Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1989 . 1 (Metro 2) . fee required . September 29, 2008.
  22. News: Marcano . Tony . Laguna Hills 2nd in Battle of Scholars . Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1990 . A3 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  23. News: Sands . Shannon . Laguna Hills Takes 2nd in Decathlon . Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1991 . B1 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  24. News: Academic Decathlon Championship Teams Honored by President . PR Newswire . April 21, 1992 .
  25. News: Chu . Henry . El Camino is 4th in Academic Decathlon . Los Angeles Times. April 13, 1992 . B1 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  26. News: Chu . Henry . Taft Places 2nd in U.S. Academic Decathlon Competition . Los Angeles Times. April 26, 1993 . B1 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  27. News: Goldman . Abigail . Taft High Wins 2nd Academic Decathlon . Los Angeles Times. April 18, 1994 . A1 (Metro) . fee required . September 29, 2008 .
  28. News: Camacho. Stephanie. Decathlon Goes to L.A.'s Marshall . Los Angeles Times. April 24, 1995 . A1 (Metro) . September 29, 2008 .
  29. News: Tamaki . Julie . Valley School Is 2nd in Academic Decathlon . Los Angeles Times . April 22, 1996 . B1 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  30. News: Chuang . Angie . Supporters Hail El Camino's Academic Team . Los Angeles Times . April 21, 1997 . B3 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  31. News: Helfand . Duke . 'A Once-in-a-Lifetime Thing'; El Camino High's Academic Champs Return Home . Los Angeles Times . April 28, 1998 . B3 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  32. News: Gorman . Anna . Ventura County News; Moorpark Champs Bask in Heady Revelry . Los Angeles Times . April 21, 1999 . B1 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  33. News: Gorman . Anna . Simi Valley High Finishes 2nd in National Academic Decathlon . Los Angeles Times. April 17, 2000 . B9 (Metro) . https://web.archive.org/web/20110525075903/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/52698055.html?dids=52698055:52698055&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT . dead . May 25, 2011 . fee required . September 29, 2008.
  34. News: Ritsch . Massie . Valley News; Real Genius; Competition: Woodland Hills' El Camino team captures the national Academic Decathlon title. It is the school's second title in three years . Los Angeles Times . April 22, 2001 . B1 (Metro).
  35. News: Klug . Foster . Flexing their brain muscles serious sport to decathletes . . April 15, 2002 . September 29, 2008.
  36. News: Sink . Lisa . No repeat for Waukesha West . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . April 27, 2003.
  37. News: Spirited Rally for Academic Champions. April 29, 2003. Amanda. Covarrubias. Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106183301/http://articles.latimes.com/2003/apr/29/local/me-rally29. November 6, 2012. live. April 29, 2011.
  38. News: Fausset . Richard . The Valley; El Camino Real Whoops It Up for National Champs . Los Angeles Times . April 22, 2004 . B3 (Metro) . September 29, 2008.
  39. News: Hetzner . Amy . Waukesha West takes 3rd at national contest . . April 17, 2005.
  40. News: Lisa M.. Sodders. National Academic Decathlon Champions El Camino Real Geniuses Take Title Again. Daily News. April 17, 2005. April 29, 2011. The El Camino team scored 49,009.4 points out of a possible 60,000.
  41. News: Reitman . Valerie . Woodland Hills School Wins 3rd U.S. Academic Decathlon . Los Angeles Times. April 30, 2006 . B3 (Metro).
  42. News: Landsberg . Mitchell . El Camino quiz kids win again . Los Angeles Times. April 29, 2007 . B1 (Metro).
  43. News: Michalets . Katherine . West takes second at Academic Decathlon . GM Today . September 20, 2008.
  44. News: Bakalis. Anna. National fame could await decathlon champions. Ventura County Star. May 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090429100502/http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/may/06/national-fame-could-await-decathlon-champions/. April 29, 2009. September 30, 2008. dead.
  45. News: Jonathan . Devin . Moorpark wins Academic Decathlon . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429101158/http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/26/no-headline---nxxfcacadecawrap26/ . dead . April 29, 2009 . . April 26, 2009 . April 26, 2009 .
  46. Web site: United States Academic Decathlon : 2009 Nationals Champs!:. https://web.archive.org/web/20090427113828/http://usad.org/Competition/Winners.asp. United States Academic Decathlon. April 27, 2009. April 28, 2009. dead.
  47. Web site: El Camino Real High wins National Academic Decathlon. Southern California Public Radio. April 24, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110622013357/http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/04/24/el-camino-real-high-wins-national-academic-decathl/. June 22, 2011.
  48. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20110520071331/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0431-decathlon-20110501,0,2962775.story. May 20, 2011. Rick. Rojas. Granada Hills Charter High School wins national Academic Decathlon. Charlotte, North Carolina. Los Angeles Times. April 30, 2011. April 30, 2011. dead.
  49. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20120331011322/http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17962897?nclick_check=1 . March 31, 2012 . Granada Hills High wins U.S. Academic Decathlon in first-ever appearance . Lin . C.J. . April 30, 2011 . April 30, 2011 . Contra Costa Times . dead .
  50. News: Granada Hills Charter High School wins national Academic Decathlon . April 28, 2012 . Rick . Rojas . Los Angeles Times . May 26, 2012.
  51. News: Granada Hills wins Academic Decathlon with record-breaking score . April 28, 2012 . Rick . Rojas . Los Angeles Times . May 26, 2012 . On Saturday, for the second year in a row, Granada Hills clinched the national title, outperforming 32 other teams. And this year — with a score of 54,081 points — the students claimed the highest score ever at the national competition..
  52. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20070321000825/http://usad.org/Competition/Upcoming.asp . March 21, 2007 . May 2, 2010 . Upcoming National Competitions . dead . United States Academic Decathlon .
  53. http://www.usad.org/USAD/media/Nationals2014/USADNationals2014Scores.pdf USAD Nationals 2014 Scores PDF
  54. Lozano, Carlos and Teresa Watanabe. Granada Hills Charter High School wins national academic decathlon. Los Angeles Times. April 18, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  55. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Granada-Hills-Charter-High-School-Wins-2016-US-Academic-Decathlon-377694731.html
  56. Lozano, Carlos Granada Hills Charter High School wins national academic decathlon. Los Angeles Times. April 22, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  57. United States Academic Decathlon https://usad.org/USAD/media/Nationals/2018%20Nationals/USAD-Nationals-2018.pdf. April 22, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
  58. https://www.usad.org/USAD/media/Nationals/2019/Results/2019-USAD-Nationals-Final-Report.pdf
  59. Web site: Nationals - AcaDec Scores and Information Center . 2023-05-08 . acadecscores.gilslotd.com.

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