RIVERSIDE – Today’s students are growing up in the age of artificial intelligence and seeing firsthand how it interacts with the human experience. The reality of this moment in history is reflected in the theme of the 41st annual Riverside County Academic Decathlon, “Technology and Humanity,” that started with virtual competition Saturday, Jan. 13, and will end with the in-person Super Quiz and awards ceremony Saturday, Jan. 17.
Riverside County students from 11 high schools are set to compete in the multi-day event sponsored by the Riverside County Office of Education. 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 with GPA 3.80-4.00, three Scholastic with GPA 3.20-3.799 and three Varsity with GPA 0.00-3.199 students.
The first day of this year’s competition was Jan. 13, where students participated in essay writing and objective tests. Teams will participate in the speech and interview portion of the competition Saturday, Jan. 27, followed by the popular Super Quiz, the only event open to the public other than the awards ceremony.
Super Quiz begins at 1 p.m., and the awards ceremony will follow at 4 p.m. Both events will be held at Canyon Springs High School, 23100 Cougar Canyon Road, in Moreno Valley.
The awards ceremony will feature individual accolades and the announcement of the team that will represent Riverside County at the California Academic Decathlon, March 22-23, in Santa Clara. The California state champion advances to the United States Academic Decathlon April 25-27, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In the 2023, Riverside County Academic Decathlon, Western Center Academy from the Hemet Unified School District was named the champion for the first time in school history. Finishing second was Elsinore High School, followed by Corona High School in third, Beaumont High School in fourth and Hemet High School in fifth.
For 2024, the 11 Riverside County high school teams competing are Beaumont High School, Corona High School, Hemet High School, Western Center Academy, Elsinore High School, Temescal Canyon High School, Valley View High School, Vista Del Lago High School, Heritage High School, Great Oak High School and John W. North High School.
Submitted by Riverside County Office of Education.
