Questions? Please email: AJHDCentral@gmail.com
National Academic Junior High Decathlon Coordinator
How to Register a Team?
Registration closes on December 1, 2020 (deadline extended)
1. Fill out online form
2. Send payment of $250 per team.
3. Coaches will receive confirmation email once registration is complete.
4. Coaches – register for the National Basecamp if not a member
A limited number of Scholarships are available – please email AJHDCentral@gmail.com to apply. Include your school name, arch/diocese and contact information.
Registered Teams (as of 12/8/20)
Nativity: Faith & Reason | Denver |
Our Lady of Loreto | Denver |
St. Mary Littleton | Denver |
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic STEM School | Denver |
Our Lady of Mercy School | Fresno |
Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Fresno |
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Clovis | Fresno |
St. Anne’s | Fresno |
St. Anthony School | Fresno |
St. Anthony School – Fresno | Fresno |
St. Francis Parish School | Fresno |
St. Joachim School | Fresno |
St. Lasalle | Fresno |
American Martyrs School | Los Angeles |
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Los Angeles |
Christ the King | Los Angeles |
Holy Family School | Los Angeles |
Holy Redeemer – St. James Catholic School | Los Angeles |
Incarnation Parish School | Los Angeles |
Mayfield Junior School | Los Angeles |
Our Lady of Guadalupe School | Los Angeles |
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish School | Los Angeles |
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School | Los Angeles |
Our Lady of the Assumption School | Los Angeles |
Our Lady of the Rosary | Los Angeles |
Precious Blood School (Blue Team) | Los Angeles |
Precious Blood School (Red Team) | Los Angeles |
Sacred Heart Elementary | Los Angeles |
Ss. Felicitas and Perpetua School | Los Angeles |
St. Catherine Laboure – 1 | Los Angeles |
St. Catherine Laboure – 2 | Los Angeles |
St. Cyril of Jerusalem | Los Angeles |
St. Dominic Savio School | Los Angeles |
St. Francis Xavier School-Team 1 | Los Angeles |
St. Francis Xavier-Team 2 | Los Angeles |
St. John Baptist De La Salle | Los Angeles |
St. Joseph | Los Angeles |
St. Lawrence Martyr School | Los Angeles |
St. Louise de Marillac School | Los Angeles |
St. Lucy School | Los Angeles |
St. Martin of Tours School | Los Angeles |
St. Mel School – Black Team | Los Angeles |
St. Mel School – Red Team | Los Angeles |
St. Philip the Apostle School | Los Angeles |
St. Thomas Aquinas School | Los Angeles |
St. Timothy School | Los Angeles |
The Notre Dame School | Los Angeles |
Cathedral Chapel School | Los Angeles |
Holy Trinity School Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School | Los Angeles |
St Anastasia School | Los Angeles |
St. Dominic School | Los Angeles |
St. Francis de Sales School | Los Angeles |
St. Philomena School | Los Angeles |
Lumen Christi Academies | Oakland |
St. Perpetua | Oakland |
Mission Basilica School | Orange |
Saint Anne School, Santa Ana | Orange |
St. Cecilia Catholic School | Orange |
St. Edward the Confessor Parish School | Orange |
St. Francis of Assisi School | Orange |
St. Norbert Catholic School | Orange |
St. Junipero Serra Catholic School | Orange |
Father John V. Doyle School | Providence |
Monsignor Clarke School | Providence |
Red Cloud Indian School | Rapid City |
St. Benedict Catholic School | Richmond |
Notre Dame School – Gold Team | Sacramento |
Notre Dame School – Green Team | Sacramento |
Our Lady of Grace School | Sacramento |
St. Catherine of Siena School | Sacramento |
St. Charles Borromeo | Sacramento |
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton | Sacramento |
St. Ignatius | Sacramento |
St. John Vianney | Sacramento |
St. Mel School | Sacramento |
St. Robert Catholic School | Sacramento |
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School | San Bernardino |
Sacred Heart | San Bernardino |
Sacred Heart Academy | San Bernardino |
Sacred Heart Parish School – Rancho | San Bernardino |
St. Edward School | San Bernardino |
St. Margaret Mary/Our Lady of Lourdes Team 1 | San Bernardino |
St. Margaret Mary/Our Lady of Lourdes Team 2 | San Bernardino |
Our Lady of the Assumption | San Bernardino |
Good Shepherd | San Diego |
Mater Dei Juan Diego Academy | San Diego |
Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy (OLGA) | San Diego |
Our Lady of Mount Carmel | San Diego |
Sacred Heart Parish School | San Diego |
Saint Joseph Academy | San Diego |
St John of the Cross | San Diego |
St. Didacus Parish School | San Diego |
St. Gregory the Great Catholic School | San Diego |
St. Michael’s School | San Diego |
St. Patrick Catholic School – Carlsbad | San Diego |
St. Pius X School | San Diego |
St. Rita’s School | San Diego |
Stella Maris Academy | San Diego |
All Souls Catholic School | San Francisco |
Immaculate Heart of Mary School | San Francisco |
Our Lady of Angels School | San Francisco |
Our Lady of Mount Carmel | San Francisco |
Our Lady of the Visitacion School | San Francisco |
St. Charles School | San Francisco |
St. Gabriel | San Francisco |
St. Timothy School | San Francisco |
Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires | San Francisco |
Nativity School | San Francisco |
St. Raymond | San Francisco |
St. Apollinaris Catholic School | Santa Rosa |
Frequently Asked Questions
Resource books are selected each year for each subject area. The Resource List is posted in October on the Academic Junior High Decathlon National Public Coach Basecamp site. In addition, study guides are available for purchase from the test writers, with information also available on the Basecamp.
Junior High Students (6th, 7th and 8th graders) are eligible to join the Team.
- love to learn!
- be dedicated.
- be a team player.
- be able to work collaboratively with a study partner and the team.
- be organized and able to manage time effectively.
- perform well under pressure.
- have excellent study skills and be attentive during practice.
If a student participates in the AJHD, keep in mind that:
- 10 students compete on the day of the Academic Junior High Decathlon.
- The remaining students are alternates/study partners.
- It is an honor to represent your school in an academic competition and to be a part of group of outstanding students!
- It helps students develop excellent study skills.
- It prepares students for the academic transition into high school.
- It improves test-taking skills, reasoning skills and teamwork.
- Decathletes develop lasting friendships with their teammates!
- Decathletes have tons of fun!!!
According to a 2015 survey of Decathlon coaches, the majority of teams practice for an average of three to five hours per week. Typically, teams meet twice a week, and often increase their practice sessions as the day of the competition nears. In addition, decathletes spend about the same amount of time (three to five hours per week) studying materials on their own outside of practice.
As soon as possible. Many AJHD teams begin the school year studying logic. Once the Resource List is released, usually in October, practices are split between Super Quiz, individual subject tests, and logic. There is a lot of material to study, so do not put off practices!
There are two AJHD competitions held each year.
The first competition is open to any Catholic school. Teams will compete against each other in groups of 20-30 schools, assigned to a hub made up of other schools in their arch/diocese or a group of similar sized schools. This event is typically held on the 1st Saturday of March. Check the website for current details.
The overall winning team from the Diocesan level Academic Decathlon competition and the winners of the individual subject tests continue on to compete at the National Catholic Schools Academic Decathlon. The National competition is typically held soon after the first competition. Check the website for details.
The National Academic Decathlon competition follows the same format as the Diocesan competitions.
To compete at the Academic Junior High Decathlon, a student must be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Some teams include 5th graders in their Academic Decathlon program as study partners to help develop teams for the future. The competition team consists of ten students. Typically, academic decathlon teams have between twelve and twenty students participating in their programs.
Students must be capable of processing large amounts of information and balancing the time commitment of an extracurricular activity with their normal classroom work. Ask the junior high teachers for recommendations of potential team members. Another way to determine potential team members is to look at student standardized test scores. It is also a good idea to specifically recruit 8th grade students for the Math and English individual subject tests.
Team members must also be self-motivated and have an interest in being a part of an academic team. This means that they should be able to work in a collaborative environment, be respectful of their teammates, and dedicated to making a positive contribution to their team.
To register a team, a school must complete an online registration form. Any Catholic school in the US can register a team (or two teams, or more). Once the online form is completed, payment can be made by check or online (there is a fee to pay online). Coaches should also join the National Coach Basecamp to receive communications on details of the event.
- Participate in proctoring at the Diocesan competition for Logic, Super Quiz and individual subject tests as needed.
- Support your decathlete by assuring that enough time is spent studying for their subjects and that they complete their homework packets.
- When possible, assist your decathlete in learning their specific subject materials.
- Some schools hold fundraisers and/or charge a participation fee to cover the costs of the program.
- Provide snacks for team practices.