Homelessness is a growing problem in the Sacramento Region with statistics showing the homeless population in Sacramento increased 30% between 2015 and 2017. “Eliminating Homelessness” was the theme for the 2018–19 Sacramento County Academic Bowl, in which North Area Community School—a Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) program—won top honors.
The competition was held yesterday in the Rosemont High School auditorium (SCUSD). Other participating high schools were Elinor Lincoln Hickey, Gerber, and Leo A. Palmiter (SCOE), plus American Legion (SCUSD) and William Daylor (EGUSD).
The annual Academic Bowl is for students attending community, continuation, or special education schools. This year, students presented research on homelessness in Sacramento, which included ways to provide affordable and accessible housing.
Academic Bowl teams spend time in class and after school preparing for the demanding competition. Besides mastering the academic content (based on California’s content standards), students learn teamwork, computer and presentation skills, goal setting, and leadership.