The day before the National Football League crowns a new Super Bowl champion, hundreds of Sacramento County high school students will compete in the local "Super Bowl of Smarts." A total of 24 teams will compete for Academic Decathlon champion honors at Inderkum High School on Saturday, February 6.
Starting in the morning with individual and group tests, this year's Academic Decathlon concludes with a live Super Quiz showdown at 3:45 p.m. Super Quiz questions will cover the topic: "The French Revolution." Serving as the 2010 Super Quiz-Master is Fox40 LIVE Morning Host Paul Robins.
Admission to the Super Quiz at Inderkum High School is free and the public is invited to attend.
Hundreds of spectators and participants will scream in excitement as they witness triumphs and defeats during the fast-paced Super Quiz. Questions are read aloud, game-show style, and scores immediately posted. Each team's Super Quiz score will be added to points earned by its members throughout the day in a variety of subjects: economics, fine arts, science, social science, language, literature, mathematics, music, essay, interview, and speech.
Sacramento County's overall top scorers (who win Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals) will be announced at the countywide awards banquet Tuesday, February 9, at 6 p.m., in the ballroom at CSU Sacramento. SAFE Credit Union will provide $10,000 earmarked for scholarships to selected Sacramento County Academic Decathlon participants.
The local team with the most points goes on to compete in the California Academic Decathlon which takes place March 12-15 this year in Sacramento. California's winning team is eligible to advance to the U.S. Academic Decathlon April 21–24 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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.
The Sacramento County Academic Decathlon is presented by Sacramento County Office of Education staff and community volunteers. Additional information is available by phoning the Sacramento County Office of Education at (916) 228-2660 or emailing Craig Irish.
High Schools Sending Teams to the 2010 Sacramento County Academic Decathlon
- Bella Vista High School (San Juan Unified School District) 2009 Sac County Champion
- Cordova High School (Folsom Cordova School District)
- Del Campo High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Encina Preparatory High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Folsom High School (Folsom Cordova Unified School District)
- Foothill High School (Twin Rivers Unified School District)
- Franklin High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Galt High School (Galt Joint Union High School District)
- Highlands Academy of Arts & Design (Twin Rivers Unified School District)
- Inderkum High School (Natomas Unified School District)
- Laguna Creek High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Lutheran High School (Private School located in Elk Grove)
- McClatchy High School (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Mira Loma High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Monterey Trail High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Natomas High School (Natomas Unified School District)
- New San Juan High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Pleasant Grove High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- Rio Americano High School (San Juan Unified School District)
- Rio Linda High School (Twin Rivers Unified School District)
- Rio Vista High School (River Delta Unified School District)
- Rosemont High School (Sacramento City Unified School District)
- Sheldon High School (Elk Grove Unified School District)
- St. Francis High School (Catholic Diocese of Sacramento)