Academic Decathlon

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Nearly a dozen teams from high schools throughout Riverside County will compete this weekend in the 41st annual Academic Decathlon, working to gain points in multiple subjects for a chance at representing the county in the statewide contest.

This year’s theme is “Technology & Humanity,” and in that vein, the first day of the competition will be all-virtual, according to the county Office of Education.

The decathlon involves essays, speeches, videotaped interviews and related presentations, culminating in a Super Quiz, officials said.

“The Super Quiz is a team event held before a live audience,” according to an Office of Education statement. “Each team is composed of nine students, three from each grade point category, and includes three honor, three scholastic and three varsity students.”

It’s the only event open to the public and is set for the afternoon of Jan. 27 at Cougar Springs High School, 23100 Cougar Canyon Road, Moreno Valley.

Each team will be required to amass points based on completion of projects in art, economics, literature, math, science and social science, officials said.

This year’s teams hail from Beaumont High School, Corona High School, Elsinore High School, Great Oak High School, Hemet High School, Heritage High School in the Perris Union High School District, North High School in the Riverside Unified School District, Temescal Canyon High School in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, Valley View and Vista Del Lago high schools in the Moreno Valley Unified School District and the Western Center Academy in the Hemet Unified School District.

The California Academic Decathlon is slated for March 22-24 in Santa Clara, and the U.S. Academic Decathlon is scheduled for April 25-27 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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