California Academic Decathlon
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Welcome to the Decathlon

The California Academic Decathlon organizes events for high school students to compete in ten academic disciplines, promoting teamwork, learning, and personal growth.

Students competing in the California Academic Decathlon
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Decathlon student in focus

Find Your Way

Begin your Decathlon journey through one of three competition formats — the Decathlon for ten-event teams, the Heptathlon for a focused seven-event challenge, or the Octathlon built for middle schools stepping into competition.

The Decathlon

Ten Subjects · Grades 9–12

The Heptathlon

Seven Subjects · Grades 9–12

The Octathlon

Eight Subjects · Middle School

State Competition

March 19–22, 2026 · Santa Clara

What makes the Decathlon different?

A program designed to challenge every student — not just the top of the class.

Distinctive
Curriculum

Ten
Disciplines

Inclusive
Team Format

Statewide
Reach

This year's theme: The Roaring Twenties

A dynamic exploration of one of the most transformative decades in modern history. Students dive into the Jazz Age through art, music, and literature — with The Great Gatsby as the featured long work — alongside algebra and trigonometry, electricity and magnetism, and the economics and culture that shaped the era.

Explore the Theme
The Roaring Twenties — 2025–2026 Academic Decathlon theme

Our Stories

Hear from students who've found their way through the Decathlon.

Decathlete portrait
"Decathlon taught me how to study what I didn't already love — and that's where the real growth happened. I came in for the medals; I stayed for the team."
Honor Student · Decathlon
Decathlete portrait
"I was a C student who got placed on the Varsity team. By the end of the year I'd given a speech in front of three hundred people. The program changed how I see myself."
Varsity Student · Heptathlon

Help shape the next generation of scholars

Your support fuels California's Decathlon teams — from regional scrimmages to the state stage — helping students discover what they're capable of.

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