SBCSS News and Press Releases

County Academic Decathlon To Be Held Jan. 26, Feb. 2

2013-01-22

SAN BERNARDINO - More than 370 students from San Bernardino County will compete in the 30th annual Academic Decathlon to be held on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 at Arroyo Valley High School.

The scholastic contest features 42 teams of high school students representing 24 high schools from nine school districts and one private school. Students receive points by competing in 10 academic events. There are written tests in the areas of math, economics, music, art, language/literature, science and social science. Students also write an essay, face a panel of interviewers and give impromptu and prepared speeches.

For the finale, teams compete in a Super Quiz, a college bowl-style event consisting of 36 multiple-choice questions. This year's overall competition theme is "Russia."

Teams consist of nine students, three from each grade-point category: "A" (Honors), "B" (Scholastic) and "C" (Varsity). Students compete for individual and team awards.

This year's participating high schools and their districts are: Alta Loma High, Chaffey High, Colony High, Etiwanda High, Los Osos High, Montclair High, Ontario High and Rancho Cucamonga High, Chaffey Joint Union High; Chino High, Chino Valley Unified; Grand Terrace High, Colton Joint Unified; Summit High, Fontana Unified; Citrus Valley High, Redlands East Valley High and Redlands High, Redlands Unified; Eisenhower High and Rialto High, Rialto Unified; Arroyo Valley High, Cajon High, Pacific High, San Bernardino High and San Gorgonio High, San Bernardino City Unified; Upland High, Upland Unified; and Victor Valley High, Victor Valley Union High. Aquinas High, a private school in San Bernardino, also is a participant.

The public is invited to attend the Super Quiz, which will take place on Feb. 2, beginning about 2:30 p.m.

Winners and finalists from the Academic Decathlon will be announced at an awards banquet on Feb. 7 at the National Orange Show Events Center. The winning team and possible other qualifiers will represent the county at the statewide Academic Decathlon competition on March 14-17 in Sacramento.