In collaboration with the
National Catholic Educational Association
National Catholic Academic
Junior High Decathlon
Sponsored by
Archangel Education + Technology
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.
NEWS:
Congratulations to our 2023 National Winning Teams!
1st – St. Edward the Confessor Parish School – Diocese of Orange
2nd – St. Joseph Academy – Independent League – (San Marcos, CA)
3rd – Cathedral Chapel School – Archdiocese of Los Angeles- Our Lady of Angels Region
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Congratulations to our 2023 Regional Winning Teams!
*Denver – Nativity: Faith & Reason
*El Paso – Most Holy Trinity Catholic School
*Fresno – St. Francis Parish School – Bakersfield
*Galveston-Houston – St. Theresa Catholic School – Sugar Land
*Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region – Cathedral Chapel School
*Los Angeles – San Fernando Region/Santa Barbara – St. Mel School – Woodland Hills
*Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region – Holy Family School
*Los Angeles – San Pedro Region – St. Catherine Laboure School
*Orange – St. Edward the Confessor Parish School
*Raleigh – The Franciscan School
*Sacramento – St. Ignatius
*San Bernardino – St. Margaret Mary School
*San Diego – Good Shepherd Catholic School
*San Francisco – St. Raymond School – Menlo Park
*Independent League – St. Joseph Academy (San Marcos)
*Independent League – St. Thomas the Apostle (Phoenix)
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A big thank you to St. Augustine High School in San Diego for producing a short marketing video for the Academic Junior High Decathlon. They have been a host for the last several years of the Diocese of San Diego event. Check it out here:
A special thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum Level
Gold Level
Silver Level
Bronze Level
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 October.
- Study Guides (practice tests and guidance) are available for purchase separately, also 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).
Participating Dioceses:
Participating Dioceses