The 42nd annual Riverside County Academic Decathlon ended with the same result as the last two years as Western Center Academy defeated teams from 10 Riverside County high schools and will represent Riverside County at the California Academic Decathlon March 20-23 in Santa Clara.
Featuring the theme, “Our Changing Climate”, the competition started virtually with essay writing and objective tests on January 16. All teams proceeded to the speech and interview competition and Super Quiz on Saturday, February 1, held for the first time at the Riverside County Office of Education Conference Center in downtown Riverside.
Beaumont High School’s Team A finished second while its Team B finished third. Great Oak High School finished fourth and Valley View High School was fifth overall. Western Center Academy and Beaumont Team A finished in a tie as the winner of the Super Quiz.
“All of the students who participated in this year’s Riverside County Academic Decathlon epitomize the excellence of their respective schools while serving as outstanding examples of teamwork, collaboration, and academic focus,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Congratulations to Western Center Academy as they prepare to compete at the California Academic Decathlon next month and proudly represent Riverside County.”
If Western Center Academy can repeat last year’s performance at the state competition, they will advance to the United States Academic Decathlon competition set for May 1-3 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Academic Decathlon, like its ancient Greek counterpart, is a 10-event contest. Participants demonstrate their academic strength by completing seven written tests, writing an essay, delivering a prepared and an impromptu speech, and participating in an interview. The Super Quiz is a team event held before a live audience. Each team is composed of nine students, three from each grade point category, and includes three Honor (GPA 3.80 - 4.00), three Scholastic (GPA 3.20 - 3.799), and three Varsity (GPA 0.00 - 3.199) students.
Riverside County Academic Decathlon historical results:
· 2025 - Western Center Academy
· 2024 – Western Center Academy
· 2023 – Western Center Academy
· 2022 – Elsinore
· 2021 – Elsinore
· 2020 – Elsinore
· 2019 – Elsinore
· 2018 – Elsinore
· 2017 – Elsinore
· 2016 – West Valley
· 2015 – West Valley
· 2014 – Hemet
· 2013 – West Valley
· 2012 – West Valley
· 2011 – West Valley
· 2010 – West Valley
· 2009 – West Valley
· 2008 – Hemet
· 2007 – Hemet
· 2006 – Hemet