Catholic Schools
Academic Junior High Decathlon

National Catholic Academic
Junior High Decathlon

In collaboration with the
National Catholic Educational Association

The National Catholic Schools Academic Junior High Decathlon (or AJHD) strives
to cultivate academic talents, collaboration and organization, and celebrate them
in the context of spirit-filled competition.

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NEWS:

Congratulations to our 2024 National Winning Teams!

1st  – St. Edward the Confessor Parish School – Diocese of Orange
2nd – St. Joseph Academy – Independent League – (San Marcos, CA)
3rd  – Nativity: Faith & Reason – Blue– Archdiocese of Denver

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Congratulations to our 2024 Regional Winning Teams!

*Denver: Nativity: Faith & Reason – Blue
* El Paso – St. Pius X Catholic School – El Paso
* Fresno – St. Francis Parish School – Bakersfield
* Galveston-Houston – St. John Paul II Catholic School – Houston
* Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels – Cathedral Chapel School
* Los Angeles – San Fernando/Santa Barbara – St. Mel School  – Black
* Los Angeles – San Gabriel – Our Lady of the Assumption – Gold
* Los Angeles – San Pedro – St. Philomena School – Burgundy
* Oakland – Corpus Christi School – Piedmont
* Orange – St. Edward the Confessor – Varsity
* Phoenix – St. Mary-Basha Catholic School
* Rockford (IL) – St. Mary Catholic School – Woodstock
* Sacramento – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School – Blue
* San Bernardino – St. Margaret Mary School – Black
* San Diego – Stella Maris Academy
* San Francisco – St. Raymond Catholic School – Menlo Park
* Seattle – St. Alphonsus Parish School – Green
* Washington DC/Arlington – St. Bernadette Catholic – Class of 2025
* Independent League – St. Joseph Academy – Gold

AJHD Marketing Video (Sacramento 2023) AJHD Marketing Video (San Diego 2020)

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What is the Catholic Academic Junior High Decathlon?

  • The Academic Junior High Decathlon is a one-day competition for Catholic School students in grades 6-8. This year the event will be in-person where available and online/virtual for schools not in the vicinity of an in-person event.
  • Schools register online – 2 options – 1.) with 10 students on a team participating in the full day, or 2.) with 1-5 students competing in Individual Subject tests only as a POD (Part of Decathlon)
  • There are 10 events:
    • Two are collaborative team efforts – a Logic Quiz with 20 rigorous thinking problems, and a Super Quiz with 50 multiple choice questions on five broad academic themes.
    • The remaining eight events test individual knowledge of the Roman Catholic doctrine, English, Literature, Science, Mathematics, Current Events, Social Studies, and Fine Arts (Art and Music).
  • Topics for these events are available on a Resource List in September.
  • Study Guides (practice tests and guidance) are available for purchase separately, in October.
  • Awards are given for individual and team performance, and the winning school team from each geographic arch/diocese, and winners of individual subject tests competes in a National championship which is held shortly after the main competition.

History

The Catholic Schools Academic Decathlon was founded in September of 1989 by Dr. Mark Ryan who was then a junior high teacher at St. Aloysius School in south-central Los Angeles. Dr. Ryan had a vision for an academic event to parallel the athletic competitions so prevalent in schools. What began as a tiny competition involving a handful of schools from the greater Los Angeles area has grown to become a statewide event involving Catholic junior high students from across the United States.

The Decathlon is under the guiding jurisdiction of the California Catholic State Superintendents Curriculum Committee (CCSSCC).

 

Arizona
   Phoenix

California
Fresno
Los Angeles
Monterey
Oakland
Orange
Sacramento
San Bernardino
San Diego
San Francisco
Santa Rosa

Colorado
Denver

Georgia
Atlanta

Participating Dioceses

Iowa
Dubuque

Illinois
Rockford

Massachusetts
Fall River

Rhode Island
Providence

Texas
El Paso
Galveston-Houston
San Antonio

Utah
Salt Lake City

 

Virginia
Arlington

Washington
Seattle

Wisconsin
Milwaukee

Washington, D.C.

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