Academic Decathlon is a respected, national competition in various subjects.  Its goals are to promote a broad grasp of different knowledge and skills to supplement existing courses.  Participation should better prepare students for college and enhance college applications.

Eligibility:  Any high school student meeting UIL eligibility standards can participate in Decathlon.  Generally, juniors and seniors compete in Decathlon, while sophomores and freshmen usually prefer the less-demanding Octathlon.

Qualifying for the Decathlon Team:  The composite scores from a Katy ISD district test in November determine the selection of the nine team members.  Students with lower scores who fail to make the team may still serve as alternates to the regional competition.

Competition Divisions:  Each team has an honors, scholastic and varsity division of three students each, based on their school grade point averages.  Students will only compete against other students within their same division.

Decathlon Events:  The Decathlon subject areas are art, music, science, social studies, math, language and literature and economics.  Students will also present a three to four minute speech, respond to interview questions, and deliver impromptu remarks.  There is, as well, an essay-writing competition concerning either the language and literature or Super Quiz topic.  The Super Quiz is both a written and public event of multiple-choice questions from one of the subject areas.

2009-2010 Theme:  The theme for the next academic year is the French Revolution.  Students will study the eighteenth and early nineteenth century French art and music, the economic history of revolutionary France, and chemistry.    The math subject area will include general math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and differential calculus. The Super Quiz topic will focus on the French Revolution.  The literature selection is the novel, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens .

Resources:  A general study guide provides an outline of the various subject areas.  Resource guides for art, music, economics, language and literature, science and social studies give specific subject information.  Research guides for art, music and social studies focus on independent research areas.  Basic guides for math, economics, and music as well as other supplementary materials are available to students who need a stronger general background.

Decathlon Preparation:  Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a pre-AP Humanities course offered through the English Language Arts department.  The course focuses on preparation for the district, regional and state competitions.  Extracurricular participation is open to those who are unable to take the course, but the workload can be heavy in light of other course, activity and family commitments.

2009-2010 Competitions: 

            Regional:   January 29 and 30

            State:          February 26 and 28 (San Jacinto College North Campus)

            National:     April 21 and 25 (Omaha, Nebraska)

             Awards:  At the regional and state levels, teams compete for first, second and third place based on overall scores.  They also compete for Super Quiz team awards.  Individual students may win first, second or third place medals in individual subject areas or for composite scores by competition division. Decathletes who are successful at the state level can qualify for scholarships.

Further Information:  E-mail Mr. Herzberg at jamesherzberg@katyisd.org or call (281) 237-3538.  E-mail Mr. Northcutt at jamesdnorthcutt@katyisd.org or call (281) 237-3588.