Alachua County Students Shine in Civics Challenge

Westwood Middle School takes top honors in annual competition

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:06am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeating grid of textbooks, conceptually representing the educational focus of the Alachua County Civics Challenge.The Alachua County Civics Challenge celebrates students' mastery of government, history, and civic engagement.Gainesville Today

Westwood Middle School students emerged victorious in the ninth annual Alachua County Civics Challenge, a competition that tests local students' knowledge of government, history, and civic engagement.

Why it matters

The Civics Challenge reflects a statewide emphasis on strengthening civic education, which aims to empower the next generation of engaged citizens and community leaders in Florida.

The details

The Alachua County Civics Challenge is an annual competition that challenges middle and high school students to demonstrate their understanding of topics like the U.S. Constitution, the branches of government, and current events. This year, Westwood Middle School took first place, showcasing the depth of civic knowledge among Alachua County students.

  • The ninth annual Alachua County Civics Challenge took place this week.

The players

Westwood Middle School

The winning school in the ninth annual Alachua County Civics Challenge.

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What’s next

The winning Westwood Middle School team will now advance to the statewide civics competition later this year.

The takeaway

The success of the Alachua County Civics Challenge underscores Florida's commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to be engaged, informed citizens, which is crucial for the health of our democracy.