What’s a fun way to see local high school students face off in a battle of academic skill? It’s the “Super Quiz” at the 2016 Ventura County Academic Decathlon this Saturday evening in Oxnard. Much like the game show Jeopardy, the Super Quiz tests students’ knowledge in a variety of academic subjects. The Super Quiz is open to the public and everyone is invited to watch the action unfold.

WHAT: Super Quiz at the 2016 Ventura County Academic Decathlon
WHEN: Saturday, February 6 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
WHERE: Pacifica High School Gymnasium - 600 E. Gonzales Road in Oxnard

Prior to the Super Quiz, students from 15 Ventura County high schools will spend the day competing in ten academic events; essay writing, speech, interview, art, economics, language and literature, mathematics, music, science and social science. The theme of this year’s competition is “India.” Members of the media are invited to cover any portion of the competition, which runs from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (only the Super Quiz is open to the public).

The winning Ventura County School will be announced at an awards ceremony, which is open to the public and the media, at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 9 at the Pacifica High School Performing Arts Center. The county winner will advance to the state Academic Decathlon in March. The awards ceremony is open to the public and media coverage is welcomed.

Ventura County Teams have made it to the national competition six times, placing second in 2000 and 2002, and taking first place in 1999, 2003, 2008 and 2009.

High schools fielding teams this year are: Adolfo Camarillo, Buena, Channel Islands, Fillmore, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Oxnard, Pacifica, Rio Mesa, Royal, Santa Susana, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Westlake.

More about the Academic Decathlon
The Academic Decathlon is a unique opportunity for high school students in Ventura County to compete against like teams of students countywide. The top Ventura County team participates in the statewide Academic Decathlon competition. A California team then participates in the United States Academic Decathlon which is the premier scholastic competition for students in America from both public and private high schools. The Academic Decathlon consists of ten academic events.

A particularly unique aspect of this ten-event scholastic competition is that it is designed to include students from all academic backgrounds. A team consists of nine full-time students from the 9th through 12th grades of the same high school. Each nine-member team is comprised of three students whose grade point average falls into the “A” category, three students in the “B” category and three students in the “C” category.

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.