After months of rigorous preparation, students from 11 local school districts gathered at Folsom High School on Saturday, February 1, to showcase their knowledge and skills in the 45th annual Sacramento County Academic Decathlon. This year’s competition centered around the theme, “Our Changing Climate,” highlighting the scientific, historical, and societal impact of environmental shifts.
The event’s most anticipated segment, the Super Quiz, kicked off at 1:30 p.m. in the Folsom High School Gymnasium. Students faced off in a fast-paced, team-based academic challenge, demonstrating their mastery across seven different subject areas: art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, and social science. Families, teachers, and community members cheered enthusiastically as teams responded to complex questions in real time. Four teams from Placer County joined the competition but were scored separately.
Following the Super Quiz, the Awards Ceremony recognized individual and team achievements from a series of challenging events that took place one week prior, including multiple-choice tests across six disciplines, as well as mathematics, prepared and impromptu speeches, written essays, and interviews with a panel of judges. Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon addressed the participants, stating, “Through your efforts, you’re not only expanding your academic knowledge but also cultivating the skills and sense of responsibility needed to address issues that will define your generation and beyond.”
Folsom High School emerged as the overall winner, earning the top spot and securing a place in the upcoming California Academic Decathlon, set to take place in March. The high score earned by Vista del Lago High School (Folsom Cordova USD) will also allow them to compete in the state competition. The winning California team will advance to the U.S. Academic Decathlon Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa, this May.
Beyond the academic rigor, the event underscored the importance of teamwork, goal setting, planning, and leadership—skills that will serve students well beyond the competition. Xanthi Soriano, Executive Director of Communications for the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), served as this year’s Quiz Reader and emcee for the Awards Ceremony.
In addition to the main competition, there is an artistic component celebrating students’ creativity. Vy Nguyen, a senior from Destiny Christian Academy, was recognized on stage as the winner of the 2025 Sacramento County Academic Decathlon Student Art Competition. The striking mixed-media artwork—titled “Self-Apocalypse”—depicts the pressing realities of climate change.
Now in its 45th year, the Academic Decathlon is a testament to the power of education, inspiring students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and engage meaningfully with some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Photos and Multimedia
Rankings and Results
Top-Scoring Teams
- 1st Place: Folsom High School (Folsom Cordova USD)
- 2nd Place: Vista del Lago High School (Folsom Cordova USD)
- 3rd Place: Mira Loma High School (San Juan USD)
- 4th Place: St. Francis High School (Diocese of Sacramento)
- 5th Place: Sheldon High School (Elk Grove USD)