Expert Overview

The United States Academic Decathlon, first held in 1968, has nine-member high school teams, split evenly across three GPA bands, compete in ten events built around a yearly theme. Teams advance through local, regional, and state rounds, and state champions meet at the national finals.

Format

Team

Judging Format

Scoring based, Jurors

Recognition

Monetary

Grade Eligibility

Rising Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors

Geographic Eligibility

US, International

Discipline

LiteratureArtMathematicsScienceSocial Science

Entries

Not published

Percent Awarded

Not published

Important Dates

Regional deadlines vary (see website) /National Competition

April 29 - May 1, 2027

Passed

Open

Approaching: < 1 mo.

Priority: < 2 weeks

Urgent: < 1 week

Registration Cost

Club Fee

$35

Donations

up to eligible amount

About

Each student competes in all ten events: a prepared and an impromptu speech, an interview, an essay, seven multiple-choice exams (art, economics, literature, math, music, science, social science), and the Super Quiz relay. Only the top two scores in each GPA band count toward the team total. Students study a curriculum built around the year's theme.

Nationals award medals in every event and GPA band, overall individual scholarships, and team trophies in five divisions. A school must buy the $760 curriculum package, and states add their own fees. Students without a team can enter an individual competition through their state director.

This is a school-based team activity, and reaching nationals means winning a state title. No participation counts are published.