What is the United States Academic Decathlon?
The United States Academic Decathlon (USAD) is a team-based academic competition for high school students. It emphasizes academic excellence across a wide range of subjects. Here are some key features of the competition:
1. Team Composition: Each team typically consists of nine students, categorized into three groups based on their grade point averages: Honor, Scholastic, and Varsity.
2. Curriculum: The competition covers ten categories: Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Language and Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, and Speech. Each year, these subjects are integrated into a central theme, such as "The Cold War" or "The 1960s."
3. Testing and Performance: Students are tested in multiple-choice exams, essays, and performances. They also participate in interviews and deliver speeches as part of the competition.
4. Scoring: The competition is scored with an emphasis on academic tests and performances, rewarding in-depth knowledge, analytical skills, and the ability to think critically under pressure.
5. Levels of Competition: USAD features local, state, and national levels of competition, culminating in the national finals where teams from across the country compete for top honors.
The Academic Decathlon provides students with an opportunity to excel academically, develop teamwork skills, and gain recognition for their intellectual accomplishments.
12/1/25 Announcement: USAD is adopting the following two important changes to the GPA calculation process, effective starting with the 2026–2027 competition season.
1. Adoption of Accumulated Unweighted GPA:
Student classification will be based on accumulated unweighted GPA, which provides a standardized, objective, and comprehensive measure of academic performance. This change eliminates subjective course selection judgments, streamlines eligibility verification, and ensures a holistic assessment of each student’s academic record.
2. Updated GPA Classification Ranges:
GPA categories for eligibility classification have been updated to align with the accumulated unweighted GPA system. The new GPA ranges for eligibility are:
Varsity: 0.00 – 3.499
Scholastic: 3.50 – 3.8499
Honor: 3.85+
Here is the link to the USAD Eligibility Guidelines that will be effective for the 2026–2027 decathlon season, as well as the USAD Unweighted GPA Calculation Worksheet, which may be used when a student’s unweighted GPA is not available from official school transcripts or district records.
WELCOME TO USAD
Academic Decathlon® isn’t about mastering a single event, but ten different skills and disciplines. Every Academic Decathlon competition, whether it’s a local round or the national finals, will follow the same multidisciplinary format.
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