| The
California Academic Decathlon is a statewide
non-profit organization that promotes an
educational experience providing a format in
which teams of nine high school students
compete in academic events. All California
public and private high schools are eligible
to compete. The Academic Decathlon embodies
a partnership of business, foundations and
individuals in cooperation with the
education community and county offices of
education.
There are an estimated 500 high schools, approximately 13,000 students, in 42
counties and districts participating in the
California Academic Decathlon. The makeup of
each of the nine member teams must include
three A students, three B students, and
three C or below students.
Academic
Decathletes take 30 minute multiple choice
tests in the subjects of Economics, Art,
Music, Language and Literature, Mathematics,
Science, and Social Science. In addition,
each team member gives a planned 4 minute
Speech and a 2 minute impromptu Speech, sits
through a 7 minute Interview, and has 50
minutes to write an Essay. The only event
open to the public is the Super Quiz Oral
Relay which deals with either the Science or
Social Science topic.
The Academic
Decathlon season involves 4 rounds of
competition. The
United States Academic
Decathlon
publishes the curriculum in May. Round 1 is
a non-scoring scrimmage typically held in
November. Round 2 consists of district and
county competitions held on the first
Saturday in February. The winners of Round 2
plus a limited number of invited teams then
compete in Round 3 which is the CAD State
Finals held sometime in mid-March. The State
Champion then represents California in Round
4, the USAD Nationals held in late April.
Since
national competition began in 1982,
California has performed in a superior
manner, winning 16 national titles and
posting 11 second place finishes. |
