Los Angeles High School Wins U.S. Academic Decathlon

WOODLAND HILLS, CA -- El Camino Real Charter High School bested competition from across the country and around the world to win the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon in Friso Texas, school district officials announced Saturday.

In winning the title for the eighth time, El Camino Real beat out schools from the United States, Canada, China and the United Kingdom.

"Congratulations to El Camino Real Charter High School for another impressive victory," said Vivian Ekchian, interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. "Your academic stamina and competitive spirit to win is remarkable. The entire L.A. Unified family is so proud of you!"

The results were announced during an awards ceremony Saturday morning.

El Camino, which won the Los Angeles Unified School District Academic Decathlon in February, bested reigning national champion Granada Hills Charter High School in March to win the California competition and earn a trip to the national event. Granada Hills had won the state and national title six of the past seven years -- interrupted only by El Camino, which won the state and national crowns in 2014.

The nine members of the El Camino team are Inesh Ahuja, Ashtar Fayoumi, Matthew Fitzmorris, Briana Lincoln, Rachel Markenson, Nolan Origer, Avery Tamura, Maya Teitz and Trevor Winnard. They are coached by Stephanie Franklin.

The 37th Annual U.S. Academic Decathlon tested students from across the country in 10 categories: art, economics, music, language and literature, mathematics, science, social science, speech, interview, and essay. The contest culminated in the Super Quiz -- a 'Jeopardy'-style event that pulls from each subject. This year's questions focus on the theme of Africa.

The El Camino Real team scored 54,531.2 out of a possible 60,000 points. They also won the Super Quiz.
This is the 16th consecutive year that the national title has been won by a school from California.

--City News Service/Photo via Shutterstock