Thinking about having your school create a decathlon team to compete against other schools? Below is a list of most often asked questions and answers.
Why should my school have a decathlon team?
Benefits of Academic Decathlon include the academic growth of students, support of students as learners and people, engagement of students' interest and enthusiasm, multidisciplinary learning, teamwork development, life skill development, opportunities and success for students of varying achievement levels, value development of honesty and integrity, development of communication skills, respect for diverse points of view, and a 21st Century curriculum that provides students with the skills and preparation for college, work, and citizenship.
What is the Academic Decathlon?
The Academic Decathlon competition is comprised of ten scholastic events: Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Language and Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, and Speech. There are competitions at the local regional, state, and national levels. Each high school enters a team of nine students: three "A" or Honor students, three "B" or Scholastic students, and three "C" or Varsity students.
How did Academic Decathlon Begin?
In 1968, Superintendent of Schools in Orange County, Dr. Robert D. Peterson, created a local academic competition for high school students. The idea was to provide a competetion for celebrating and acknowledging scholastic achievement and academic excellence in the context of a team environment similar to high school sports. Dr. Peterson's idea proved to be so successful that it began catching on and eventually spread to other counties, culminating in the formation of the California Academic Decathlon Association in 1979. As other states became interested in competing, the United States Academic Decathlon was birthed in 1982, and has since grown into the premier scholastic competition in America.
