- What
is the California Academic Decathlon program?
The California Academic Decathlon partners with
the education community and California
county/district offices of education to provide
an effective academic
enrichment program in which ninth through
twelfth grade students compete as individuals
and as team members in a series of ten academic
tests and demonstrations that are based on an
advanced curriculum. The purpose is to
encourage, acknowledge and reward academic
excellence by preparing and motivating high
school students to achieve at a significantly
advanced level through highly-competitive, cross-disciplined scholastic events. The competition
components are Art, Music, Language &
Literature, Social Science, Science,
Mathematics, Economics, Speech, Interview and
Essay.
- Is
it a new program?
The Academic Decathlon originated in Orange County in 1968.
- How
did the Academic Decathlon begin?
In 1968, a gifted educator and
Superintendent of Schools in Orange County, Dr.
Robert D. Peterson, put in place a local
academic competition for high school students.
The idea was to provide a forum for celebrating
and acknowledging scholastic achievement and
academic excellence in the context of a team
environment much like 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.
- Is
the program only for "A" students?
Quite the contrary, a nine-member
Academic Decathlon team is required to have
three categories of grade point averages,
including three "C" students (2.99 or below).
The experience impacts all of the students'
lives, but the most dramatic change is typically
seen in the inevitable improvement of the "C"
students.
- How
has California performed at the national level?
Since its inception in 1982, the California state champion has come in first or second place every year at nationals except for in 1992. In 27 years of national competition, California has placed first place 15 times and second place 11 times. It has placed in the top two every year but one (1992). California currently holds the highest team score in the nation (2008: 53,119.4 points) and is currently the National Champions for the last 6 years! (5/08).
Click Here For USAD National Champions PDF
- How
is the California Academic Decathlon Association
funded?
The Decathlon is indebted to the generous
contributions of the following (partial list):
|
PAYNE & FEARS LLP |
ALL Student Loan |
| DemiDec & The World Scholars Cup |
College Access Foundation of California |
| Hilton Hotels |
Los Angeles
Unified School District |
|
California County
Superintendents |
California State Universities |
|
FunnelBrain |
Private Donors & AD Alumni |
| Toyota USA Motor Sales |
Milken Family Foundation |
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- How
many teams are there?
There is an average of thirty-nine counties, two districts, and more than 500 high schools (many with multiple teams) involved across the state. The county/district winners plus an additional number of at-large teams invited by CAD make up the 60 schools that will compete at the state championship in March every year. CAD continues to expand its program and welcomes interested businesses, organizations and corporations willing to partner with CAD and help make the Academic Decathlon experience available to students in every high school in California.
- What
awards are given?
Olympic style Gold, Silver and Bronze
medals are presented to the top three students
in each category in every event. Medals are also
awarded to overall individual winners in each of
three divisions. Team awards are presented to
the top three Super Quiz teams. The top three
overall teams are presented with Division
Awards. Many of the county programs offer
scholarships to winning individuals and CAD
awards various scholarships to graduating seniors who demonstrate financial barriers that prevent them from attending college.
- What
is the contact information?
You may contact Ken Scarberry, CAD Executive Director, for further information.
The mailing address is:
California Academic Decathlon
4522 Abernathy Road
Fairfield, California 94534
(707) 646-7600 Main, (707) 646-7603 Direct
(707) 438-2667 Fax
The email address is
kscarberry@solanocoe.net
Visit our web page at
www.academicdecathlon.org
More information may be found at the United
States Academic Decathlon web page
www.usad.org
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