Great Oak High School Wins 3rd Place In 2026 Riverside County Academic Decathlon

Beaumont High School takes championship, will represent Riverside County at state competition.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 6:39pm

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For the first time in Beaumont High School's history, the Cougars have clinched the Riverside County Academic Decathlon championship title, but the Great Oak Wolfpack was not far behind, taking third place overall. The competition featured nine high school teams from across Riverside County competing in a 10-event academic contest.

Why it matters

The Academic Decathlon is a prestigious academic competition that showcases the intellectual talents of high school students. Great Oak High School's third-place finish demonstrates the strength of its academic programs and the dedication of its students, while Beaumont High School's championship win will allow them to represent Riverside County at the state competition.

The details

This year's Academic Decathlon theme was "The Roaring Twenties." Participants demonstrated their academic strength by completing seven written tests, writing an essay, delivering prepared and impromptu speeches, and participating in an interview. Competition started virtually with essay writing and objective tests on Jan. 14, followed by the speech, interview, and Super Quiz competition on Jan. 31.

  • The Riverside County Academic Decathlon competition took place on January 14 and January 31, 2026.
  • Beaumont High School will represent Riverside County at the California Academic Decathlon on March 20-22, 2026, in Santa Clara.
  • The California state champion will advance to the U.S. Academic Decathlon held April 23-25, 2026, in Garden Grove.

The players

Beaumont High School

A high school in Riverside County that sent two teams to the Academic Decathlon competition, with Team A winning the championship.

Great Oak High School

A high school in Riverside County that finished in third place in the Academic Decathlon competition.

Western Center Academy

A high school in Riverside County that sent two teams to the Academic Decathlon competition, with Team A finishing second overall and Team B finishing fourth.

Dr. Edwin Gomez

The Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, who praised the students for their academic excellence and focused collaboration.

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What they’re saying

“Every student who participated in this year's Riverside County Academic Decathlon is a powerful example of academic excellence and focused collaboration.”

— Dr. Edwin Gomez, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

What’s next

Beaumont High School will now represent Riverside County at the California Academic Decathlon on March 20-22, 2026, in Santa Clara. The California state champion will advance to the U.S. Academic Decathlon held April 23-25, 2026, in Garden Grove.

The takeaway

The strong performance of Riverside County high schools in the Academic Decathlon, particularly Great Oak High School's third-place finish and Beaumont High School's championship win, highlights the academic excellence and dedication of students in the region. This competition showcases the intellectual talents of these students and the strength of their school's academic programs.