LAUSD's El Camino Real, Granada Hills Charter High Schools Headed to US Academic Decathlon

In 32 years of national academic decathlons, California schools placed first or second every year but one

Los Angeles’ El Camino Real Charter High School is the winner of the 2014 California Academic Decathlon, officials in Sacramento announced Sunday.

The school beat out 64 other schools in the weekend competition with a score of 57,747.3 out of a possible 65,400 points, officials said.

Another Los Angeles Unified School District school, Granada Hills Charter High, placed a close second with 57,214.1 points.

Both schools, along with three others from the state, will head to Honolulu in April for the national academic competition, in which California has established itself as a powerhouse.

In 32 years of decathlons, California schools placed first or second every year but one. Fifteen of the past 18 championships were brought home to the Golden State.

Granada Hills Charter High won its third consecutive national title in 2013, and the LAUSD’s 14th overall.

El Camino Real High has won six national championships.

El Camino's nine-member team is: Justin Chau, Neelem Sheikh, Thasneem Syed, Melissa Cheng, Sandra Vadin, Eric Yun, Jose Apolaya, Rohan Boone and Brandon Slater. The coach is Stephanie Franklin.

Granada Hill's is: Seung Wok Baek, Kailin Li, Yeun Ah Lee, Peter Cho, Christian Ual, Jiyoung Kim,
Savanah Rios, Jenean Doctor and Siwoo Lee. Their coach is Matthew Arnold.

LAUSD's Marshall High won the large school category with 56,963 points. That, however, was only good enough for third place in the overall competition.

City News Service contributed to this report
 

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