2023-24 Registration is OPEN!
ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
There are THREE options for Registration:
Option 1 is registering a full team of up to 10 students that participate in the full day, including the Logic Test, Individual Subject Tests and Super Quiz.
Option 2 is registering 1-5 students to each take an Individual Subject Test only, known as a POD (Part of Decathlon). Option 2 allows micro-schools or schools that want to see what the Academic Decathlon is about and participate without committing to a full team and all events. (No more than 1 student per subject)
Option 3 is registering TWO full teams of up to 10 students for each team that participate in the full day, including the Logic Test, Individual Subject Tests and Super Quiz.
REGISTRATION PRICES FOR TEAMS/PODs:
Sept 8 – Oct 6 —– Early Bird $250 Team / $150 POD
Oct 7 – Nov 3 —— Regular registration $300 Team / $200 POD
Nov 4 – Dec 1—— Late registration $350 Team / $250 POD
WHAT’S NEXT:
1. Complete the ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
2. Payment can be made in the online form OR by sending a check
3. Coaches/Principals – Register for the National Basecamp if you’re not already 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
Registrations are not refundable.
The Resource List (list of books and topics for the subjects) for the 2024 event will be available on September 25th on this website.
Questions? Contact AJHDCentral@gmail.com
Registered Schools (as of 9/22/23) –
Arch/Diocese | School |
El Paso | Most Holy Trinity Catholic School – El Paso |
Fresno | St. La Salle School |
Fresno | Our Lady of Perpetual Help School – Clovis |
Fresno | St. Anne’s School |
Fresno | Our Lady of Mercy School |
Fresno | St. Joachim School |
Fresno | St Francis Parish School |
Galveston-Houston | St. Anne Catholic School |
Galveston-Houston | St. John Paul II Catholic School |
Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region | Corpus Christi School |
Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region | Our Lady of the Rosary |
Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region | Cathedral Chapel School |
Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region | Christ the King |
Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region | Immaculate Heart of Mary School |
Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region | St. Martin of Tours School – Los Angeles |
Los Angeles – San Fernando Region | Our Lady of Lourdes Parish School |
Los Angeles – San Fernando Region | St. Jane Frances de Chantal School |
Los Angeles – San Fernando Region | St. Francis De Sales School |
Los Angeles – San Fernando Region | St. Cyril of Jerusalem School |
Los Angeles – San Fernando Region | St. Mel School – Woodland Hills |
Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region | Our Lady of the Assumption School, Claremont |
Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region | St. Philip the Apostle School |
Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region | SS. Felicitas and Perpetua |
Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region | Holy Name of Mary School |
Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region | Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School |
Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region | St John The Baptist School |
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region | St. Linus School |
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region | American Martyrs School |
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region | St. Barnabas School |
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region | St. Helen School |
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region | San Miguel School |
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region | Beatitudes of Our Lord School |
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region | St. Dominic Savio School |
Oakland | St. John Catholic School |
Orange | Saint Anne Elementary School |
Orange | Saint Norbert Catholic School |
Orange | Blessed Sacrament |
Orange | St. Joachim Catholic School |
Other – Salt Lake City | Saint Olaf Catholic School |
Sacramento | Sacred Heart Parish School |
Sacramento | Our Lady of Grace |
Sacramento | St. Catherine Of Siena School |
Sacramento | St. Basil School |
Sacramento | Notre Dame School – Vacaville |
Sacramento | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School |
Sacramento | St. Mel Catholic School |
Sacramento | St. Mary Parish School |
Sacramento | Notre Dame School – Chico |
San Bernardino | Sacred Heart School Palm Desert |
San Bernardino | St. Margaret Mary School |
San Bernardino | Sacred Heart Academy – Redlands |
San Bernardino | Our Lady of Perpetual Help School – Riverside |
San Diego | Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy |
San Diego | St. Didacus Parish School |
San Diego | Stella Maris Academy |
San Diego | St. Gregory the Great Catholic School |
San Diego | Our Lady of Mt Carmel |
San Diego | St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School |
San Diego | St. Rose of Lima School |
San Diego | Sacred Heart Parish School |
San Francisco | St. Raymond Catholic Elementary School |
San Francisco | Ecolè Notre Dame de Victoires |
San Francisco | Our Lady of Mount Carmel School |
San Francisco | Nativity School |
San Francisco | Saint Philip School San Francisco |
San Francisco | Our Lady of the Visitacion |
San Francisco | St. Charles School |
San Francisco | St. Gabriel School |
San Francisco | St. Dunstan |
Santa Rosa | St. Apollinaris Catholic School |
Frequently Asked Questions
We are offering THREE ways for schools to participate: Option 1 is registering a team of up to 10 students that participate in the full day, including the Logic Test, Individual Subject Tests and Super Quiz. Option 2 is registering 1-5 students to each take an Individual Subject Test only. Option 2 allows micro-schools or schools that want to see what the Academic Decathlon is about and participate without committing to a full team and all events. (No more than 1 student per subject) Option 3 is registering TWO TEAMS of up to 10 students that participate in the full day, including the Logic Test, Individual Subject Tests and Super Quiz.
At this point in time, we plan to have in-person Regional events for those arch/dioceses that have had in-person events in the past.
Tentative in-person events include the following arch/dioceses:
Denver (CO)
El Paso (TX)
Fresno (CA)
Galveston-Houston (TX)
Los Angeles – Our Lady of Angels Region (CA)
Los Angeles – San Fernando Region/Santa Barbara (CA)
Los Angeles – San Gabriel Region (CA)
Los Angeles – San Pedro Region (CA)
Oakland (CA) *
Orange (CA)
Phoenix (AZ) *
Raleigh (NC)
Sacramento (CA)
San Bernardino (CA)
San Diego (CA)
San Francisco (CA)
Seattle (WA) *
*new in-person locations
For those schools that are new or have less than 5 schools participating in their arch/diocese, we will offer a virtual Regional event and be a part of the Independent League. We will also work with new arch/dioceses that want to have an in-person event. Please email AJHDCentral@gmail.com to start that conversation.
The National event will once again be a virtual event this year in order to minimize travel.
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. Fifth graders are allowed to participate – typically this happens at micro-schools or those starting a 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 recent survey of Decathlon coaches, the majority of teams practice for an average of three to five hours per week. Typically, teams meet once or 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 Region, 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 shortly 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, or on their team if they cannot field a full team of 10. It is acceptable to have 5th grade students participate in the event. 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 may be a fee to pay online). Coaches should also join the National Coach Basecamp to receive communications on details of the event.
There are many ways for parents to be supportive of their decathlete:
- 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.
- Ask the Coach or Principal how you can help!