GPA calculations and school closures due to COVID-19:
Click here for details on USAD’s updated eligibility guidelines which address how GPAs will be calculated from the impact of school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the Coronavirus, USAD is canceling all National Competitions for Academic Decathlon and Academic Pentathlon for teams and individuals, for the 2019-2020 school year. Click here for details.
The outlines for the 2020-2021 Academic Decathlon curriculum have been posted!
GPA Ranges for the 2020–2021 Competition Year
After careful consideration and evaluation of survey feedback from state directors and coaches, USAD has decided to revise the GPA ranges for the Honor, Scholastic, and Varsity categories for next year. The following revised GPA ranges will take effect for the 2020–2021 competition year:
Honor: 3.80 – 4.00
Scholastic: 3.20 – 3.799
Varsity: 3.199 and below
Please note that the following GPA ranges for the Honor, Scholastic, and Varsity categories will remain in place for the duration of the 2019–2020 competition year:
Honor: 3.75 – 4.00
Scholastic: 3.00 – 3.749
Varsity: 2.99 and below
Check out the video from the 2019 USAD Nationals in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Check out the video from 2019 USAP Nationals in Nashville, Tennessee.
United States Academic Decathlon®
The United States Academic Decathlon® is a ten-event scholastic competition for teams of high school students.
Each high school enters a team of nine students: 3 Honor students (3.80 - 4.00 GPA), 3 Scholastic students (3.20 - 3.799 GPA), and 3 Varsity students (0.00 - 3.199 GPA).
The theme for the 2020–2021 Academic Decathlon is The Cold War.
United States Academic Pentathlon®
Get ready for the Decathlon: the rapidly-growing Pentathlon program allows middle school students a chance to start experiencing the benefits of Academic Decathlon ahead of schedule.
Academic Pentathlon is comprised of five academic events: Literature, Mathematics, Fine Arts, Science and Social Science.
Click here for more information.
USAD Individual Competition
The United States Academic Decathlon Individual Competition has been created to help individuals achieve their individual academic goals.
Home school students, alternative school students, team alternates, and Academic Decathlon team members, this competition is for you!
USAD International Competition
USAD continues to recruit new schools for the International Competition. All English speaking International Schools are encouraged to participate. Teams for the International Academic Decathlon are created in the same manner as for the Academic Decathlon. Click here to find out how to get involved!