Southwest High School Crowned Academic Decathlon Champion
Imperial County – On Saturday, February 5, 2022, the Academic Decathlon team from Southwest High School was crowned the 2022 Academic Decathlon champion for Imperial County!
Congratulations to Brawley Union High School (2nd place) and Imperial High School (3rd place) for their dedication to the Academic Decathlon and exceptional performance!
The Academic Decathlon is a competitive event for high school students aimed at encouraging and honoring scholastic accomplishments. The students compete as individuals and teams in a series of ten academic events covering art, economics, language and literature, mathematics, music, science, essays, interviews, speeches (prepared and impromptu), and a “super quiz” (a team-relay event).
The decathletes dedicate the first half of the academic year to prepare for the decathlon, which is centered on a yearly theme. This year's theme was "Water: A Most Essential Resource."
"I am very proud of all our students and their achievements in these academic events. They have worked very hard and diligently, and these accomplishments are well deserved,” says Dr. Busse, Southwest High School Academic Decathlon Coach. “We should all take more time to appreciate the academic and artistic achievements of our students. Too often, we forget to acknowledge the contributions our students make in areas outside the realm of sports and popular culture. It is encouraging to continually work with such dedicated students and help them achieve their goals."
Southwest High School will now represent Imperial County in the state decathlon taking place virtually from March 1, 2022 to March 12, 2022.
“Student events such as the Academic Decathlon bring an enriching experience to the educational journey of our students,” says Dr. Todd Finnell, Imperial County Superintendent of Schools. “The decathlon gives students the ability to challenge themselves, push their limits, and develop skills that will prepare them for life, college, and career. We were fortunate to have 3 local high schools participate this year, but we will continue to encourage all high schools to participate in next year’s decathlon.”
Click here to view the final results by category. Click here to view all photos.
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About United States Academic Decathlon®
The United States Academic Decathlon® is a ten-event scholastic competition for teams of high school students. Each high school enters a team of nine students: 3 Honor students (3.80 - 4.00 GPA), 3 Scholastic students (3.20 - 3.799 GPA), and 3 Varsity students (0.00 - 3.199 GPA). The decathlon consists of 10 events including subject exams, essay-writing, speeches (impromptu and prepared), interviews, and a “super quiz” (a team-relay event consisting of questions from to the yearly theme).