Granada Hills Charter High School Claims California Academic Decathlon Championship

Granada Hills Charter High School Claims 2026 California Academic Decathlon Title

Granada Hills Charter High School emerged victorious in the 2026 California Academic Decathlon this past weekend, setting the stage to continue California’s impressive streak of 22 consecutive national titles next month.

The state championship, organized by the California Academic Decathlon Association, took place from March 20-22 at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel.

Michelle Chen, a California Academic Decathlon alumna and board member, emphasized the importance of this experience, stating, "This enriching experience will instill lifelong skills and lessons during your formative and foundational years: teamwork, determination, and perseverance. Embrace the opportunity to acknowledge all your hard work and effort. It is a tremendous honor to compete at this prestigious level."

During an awards ceremony held on Sunday, state officials announced the other California schools that will advance to the national competition: El Camino Real Charter High School, John Marshall High School, Hallmark Academy, and University High School. Notably, El Camino Real Charter High School has won the last three U.S. Academic Decathlons, with either El Camino or Granada Hills clinching every national title since 2009, the year when Moorpark High School from Ventura County won.

The 2020 competition was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The last time a non-California school claimed the national championship was in 2002 when Waukesha West High School from Wisconsin took the title.

The 2026 U.S. Academic Decathlon National Competition is set to be held from April 23-25 in Garden Grove. The competition brings together elite high school teams from across the state, engaging in a series of tests, speeches, and interviews. This year’s theme was "The Roaring Twenties."