The 2011 Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon: Three-Peat for West High in Academic Decathlon

South Bay School Sweeps to 3rd Straight Title

Keppel HS of Alhambra Leads a Contingent of 7 Teams That Also Qualify for the State Contest Next Month

News provided by

Los Angeles County Office of Education

Feb 10, 2011, 05:00 ET

MONTEBELLO, Calif., Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- West High School of Torrance has scored a hat trick in winning the 2011 Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon (LACAD) team title, county education officials announced today.

West, a perennial top contender, won its third consecutive decathlon with a tally of 44,467 points (out of a possible 60,000). Mark Keppel High School of Alhambra, with its third straight runner-up finish to West,  took second with a total of 41,550 points.

By winning the LACAD, West automatically advances to the California Academic Decathlon March 12-14 in Sacramento. But because their scores were high enough to qualify as statewide "wild-card" entrants, Keppel and six other teams have also won berths in the state contest.

Those six other teams, in order of finish, are: Alhambra HS (41,495), Torrance HS (41,267), Burbank HS (40,605), El Rancho HS of Pico Rivera (40,509), South HS of Torrance (40,002) and West Ranch HS of Stevenson Ranch (38,665).  

The 2011 LACAD results were announced by L.A. County Interim Superintendent of Schools Jon R. Gundry in ceremonies at the Quiet Cannon Country Club. Nearly 400 students from 45 teams participated in the decathlon that is annually presented by the Los Angeles County Office of Education in partnership with the California Credit Union and USC.

The top-scoring individual decathlete overall was Shao Yi Qian of Alhambra, a senior, who tallied 8,514 points (out of a possible 10,000). He was followed by Aaron Cheng, a senior from West, who totaled 8,328 points, and Lisa Beckman, a junior and also from West, with 8,235 points.

The LACAD competition, which this year focused on the study theme of The Great Depression, took place Jan. 29 at El Rancho HS and Feb. 5 at USC's Galen Center. The LACAD is open to public high schools in the county that are outside of the Los Angeles Unified School District, which holds a separate Academic Decathlon competition and awards ceremony.

The Academic Decathlon is a local-county/state/national honors program designed to promote self-assurance, academic enrichment and teamwork among students from a diversity of academic backgrounds.

Decathlon teams are comprised of students from all grade-point averages. Decathletes are challenged to use analytical skills, performance abilities and test-taking and writing aptitude in 10 subjects: Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Language & Literature, Math, Music, Social Science, Speech and Super Quiz (Science).

The state winner earns a trip to the U.S. Academic Decathlon slated for April 27-30 in Charlotte, NC.  

Team & Top Individual Scores and Special Awards

Overall Team Scores (out of a possible 60,000 points):

1.   West HS (Torrance) — 44,467

2.   Keppel HS (Alhambra) — 41,550*

3.   Alhambra HS — 41,495*

4.   Torrance HS — 41,267*

5.   Burbank HS — 40,605*

6.   El Rancho HS (Pico Rivera) — 40,509*

7.   South HS (Torrance) — 40,002*

8.   West Ranch HS (Stevenson Ranch) — 38,665*

9.   Beverly Hills HS — 38,285

10.  Redondo Union HS — 37,151

11.  Saugus HS — 36,873

12.  Arcadia HS — 36,594

13.  North HS (Torrance) — 36,093

14.  El Segundo HS — 35,569

15.  San Marino HS — 34,528

16.  Rosemead HS — 33,847

17.  Rowland HS — 33,185

18.  PV Peninsula HS — 32,161

19.  La Canada — 30,663

20.  Cal Academy Math & Sci (Carson) — 29,907

21.  Azusa HS — 29,881

22.  Los Altos HS (Hacienda Heights) — 29,731

23.  Arroyo HS (El Monte) — 28,975

24.  Glendora HS — 28,957

25.  Burroughs HS (Burbank) — 28,805

26.  Monrovia HS — 28,566

27.  West Covina HS — 28,370

28.  Lakewood HS — 27,896

29.  Pioneer HS (Whittier) — 27,856

30.  Hawthorne HS — 27,626

31.  Vasquez HS (Acton) — 27,091

32.  San Gabriel HS — 26,884

33.  Firebaugh HS (Lynwood) — 26,298

34.  El Monte HS — 26,015

35.  Gladstone HS (Covina) — 25,802

36.  Montebello HS — 25,174

37.  Edgewood HS (West Covina) — 25,146

38.  La Puente HS — 24,811

39.  Jordan HS (Long Beach) — 23,441

40.  Mountain View (El Monte) — 22,855

41.  Pasadena HS — 22,827

42.  Inglewood HS — 22,815

43.  Lancaster HS — 20,895

44.  Palos Verdes HS — 20,170

45.  Bell Gardens HS — 15,017 23.  Arroyo HS (El Monte) — 28,975

* Teams that have qualified as wild-card entrants for the California Academic Decathlon

Top 3 Overall Individual Scorers (out of a possible 10,000 points):

Shao Yi Qian, Alhambra HS, 12th-grade — 8,514 points

Aaron Cheng, West HS, 12th-grade — 8,328 points

Lisa Beckman, West HS, 11th-grade — 8,235 points

Schools With Most Improved Scores (compared to last year):

Lancaster HS  — 17,553 point improvement

Inglewood HS — 16,891 point improvement

Glendora HS — 9,635 point improvement

Rookie School of the Year:

Monrovia HS — 28,566 points (26th Place Overall)

Roberta Kordich Coach Award (for commitment & dedication):  

Coach Thomas Riley, Mark Keppel HS

SOURCE Los Angeles County Office of Education

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