While the NFL prepares to crown a champion in Miami, hundreds of Sacramento-area students will go head-to-head in the Super Bowl of academics, the 27th Annual Sacramento County Academic Decthlon.
More than 200 Sacramento-area high school students will go up against each other in the annual Super Quiz — a fast-paced multiple-choice test of knowledge. The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) will host the annual Sacramento County Academic Decathlon Super Quiz on Saturday, February 3, in the Valley High School gym starting at 4 p.m.
The public is invited to attend the live, suspense-filled Super Quiz, which caps a full day of rigorous academic competition by students from 23 area high schools. Super Quiz answers will be posted to screams of excitement (or groans of disappointment) by more than 1,200 spectators and participants.
The theme for this year's Academic Decathlon is "China and Its Influence on the World." The topic for the Super Quiz is "An Introduction to Climatology." Serving as Super Quiz-Master is Fox 40 News Chief Meteorologist, Kristina Werner.
Admission to the Super Quiz is free. [Map and driving directions]
Each high school Academic Decathlon team is comprised of nine students — three with "A" grade averages, three with "B" averages and three with "C" averages — who compete against those with the same grade average. Coaches are local high school teachers. Academic "Decathletes" not only grow in academic achievement; they learn about teamwork, goal-setting, planning and leadership.
In fall 2006, the Decathletes began "training" before, after and during school in Academic Decathlon events such as economics, fine arts, science, social science, language, literature, mathematics, music, essay, interview and speech. On Saturday they will compete starting at 8 a.m., competing for top individual and team scores. Medal winners will be announced at the awards banquet on Wednesday, February 7, at 6 p.m., in the University Ballroom at California State University, Sacramento.
The local team with the most points goes on to compete in the California Academic Decathlon, which takes place March 15-18 in Los Angeles. California's winning team is eligible to advance to the U.S. Academic Decathlon April 25-28 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
High schools sending teams to the 2007 Sacramento County Academic Decathlon:
- Bella Vista High School* (San Juan Unified School District)
- Center High School (Center Unified School District)
- Del Campo High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Encina High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Folsom High School (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
- Franklin High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Galt High School (Galt Joint Union High School District)
- Inderkum High School (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- John F. Kennedy High School (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Laguna Creek High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Luther Burbank High School (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Mira Loma High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Monterey Train High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- New Technology High School (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Rio Americano High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Rio Linda Union High School (Grant Joint Union High School District)
- Rio Vista High School (River Delta Unified School District)
- San Juan High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Sheldon High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- St. Francis High School (Catholic Diocese of Sacramento)
- Valley High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- West Campus (Hiram Johnson) High School (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Yuba City High School (Yuba City Unified School District)
*2006 overall team winner
Now in its 27th year, the Sacramento County Academic Decathlon is presented by staff and dozens of volunteers from the Sacramento County Office of Education. Additional information about the Sacramento County Academic Decathlon is available by calling the Sacramento County Office of Education at (916) 228-2660.