• Introduction to Academic Decathlon
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    .5 Credits
    Grade 9
    This class is for students who have a love for reading and competition. It prepares students for competition at the local level through the Pennsylvania State Academic Decathlon, and at the regional, state, and national level through the United States Academic Decathlon (USAD). The course is a compilation of ten areas important to college-bound high school students: Language and Literature, Science, Mathematics, Social Science, Economics, Art, Music, Speech (prepared and impromptu), Interview, and Essay. Students are divided into three levels: Honors, GPA 3.75 and above; Scholastic, 3.0–3.74; and Varsity, below 3.0. These divisions allow students to compete with other students of similar ability. Although the same ten areas are studied every year, the specific material within those subjects will vary. The science may be biology, chemistry, or physics; the social sciences may be a specific time period or a specific geographical area; the language and literature may include a novel, play, or poetry; and the fine arts may focus on a specific period or genre. Students enrolled in this course sign up with the expectation that they will participate in all competitions in which they qualify.