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CLAYTON’S ELITE SCHOLARS ACADEMY CAPTURES THIRD CONSECUTIVE STATE ACADEMIC DECATHLON TITLE
Elite Scholars Academy won the state championship at the Georgia Academic Decathlon, sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) in partnership with Kennesaw State University. First row (from left) Maya Uk, Angelica Jones, Kristina Nguyen, Nataly Barahona, Kayla Sheriffe. Second row (from left) C. Jack Smith (coach), Jayla Jennings, Evan Laing, Rodney Monette, Reyli Olivo, Delaney Reese, Ellen Crews, Deborah Gadri.
ATLANTA – Feb 28, 2023 – Clayton County Public Schools’ Elite Scholars Academy captured its third consecutive PAGE Georgia Academic Decathlon (GAD) State Championship. The competition was held on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 at Kennesaw State University. The team scored the highest points overall in Division I and II, earning the Howard Stroud Championship Trophy.
Elite Scholars Academy is a Division II, or small-school (based on school population size) participant, and will be submitted as the Georgia representative to the annual United States Academic Decathlon® (USAD®) National Competition, April 27-29, 2023. This year’s National competition will be held in Frisco, Texas.
In addition, Muscogee County’s Columbus High School is invited to attend USAD’s Nationals to represent Georgia in the National Division IV competition. To qualify, the team was the next highest-scoring team in a division other than the state champion’s division.
The U.S. Academic Decathlon also sponsors an Online National Competition for Small, Medium, and Large Schools, based on school enrollment, which will be held in conjunction with the national finals. The representatives from Georgia in this category are:
- Carroll County’s Villa Rica High School (Large School Online Competition)
- Catoosa County’s Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School (Medium School Online Competition)
- Floyd County’s Armuchee High School (Small School Online Competition)
In overall scoring, Division I (large school) winners include:
- Champion — Muscogee County’s Columbus High School, coached by Maribeth Hood;
- First Runner-up — Carroll County’s Villa Rica High School, coached by Russell Bennett, Sarah Triplett and Carl Jordan;
- Second Runner-up — Muscogee County’s WH Shaw High School, coached by Jordan Hatch.
In overall scoring, Division II (small school) winners include:
- Champion — Clayton County’s Elite Scholars Academy, coached by Jack Smith;
- First Runner-up — Floyd County’s Armuchee High School, coached by Melanie Floyd and Tammy Boston;
- Second Runner-up — Catoosa County’s Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School, coached by Lisa Beck and Jessica Chandler.
More than 140 high school students from across the state competed in the academic event. The program is unique because each nine-member team is made up of three honors students; three scholastic students; and three varsity students as determined by their USAD grade point averages. Each year the program features a different overall curriculum topic, and this year’s curriculum is The American Revolution and the New Nation. The 10 events that compose the decathlon are:
- Testing in seven content areas (economics, art, literature, mathematics, science, social science, and music).
- Three communication events (public speaking, personal interview, and written essay).
- Super Quiz is the final event comprised of questions from all seven of the testing areas.
Winners in the Super Quiz competition were:
- Champion — Muscogee County’s Columbus High School
- First Runner-up — Catoosa County’s Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School
- Second Runner-up — Floyd County’s Model High School
For a complete listing of all awards and individual medal winners, please visit www.pageinc.org/gad/gadstatewinners/.
As the largest independent educator association in the state and nation, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) exists to support our members who serve in every Georgia public school. PAGE provides unparalleled legal coverage, legislative advocacy, professional learning, grants, and scholarships. PAGE honors and encourages educational excellence through student programs including Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR), Future Georgia Educators (FGE), Georgia Academic Decathlon (GAD), and Academic Bowl for Middle Grades.