Granada Hills Charter High School Wins 2026 California Academic Decathlon
Granada Hills Charter High School secured the championship title at the 2026 California Academic Decathlon State Championship, held March 20-22 at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel. The team will now represent California at the national competition next month, aiming to extend California’s impressive streak of 22 consecutive national titles.
Competition Details and Participants
The 2026 California Academic Decathlon State Championship was hosted by the California Academic Decathlon Association. Following Granada Hills Charter High School’s victory, El Camino Real Charter High School, John Marshall High School, Hallmark Academy, and University High School were announced as other California schools advancing to the USAD National Competition.
California’s Dominance in the Academic Decathlon
El Camino Real Charter High School has been a formidable competitor, winning the last three U.S. Academic Decathlons. Since 2009, either El Camino or Granada Hills has consistently claimed the national championship, with Moorpark High School in Ventura County being the last school outside of these two to win in 2009. The competition was paused in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, a school from outside California has not won the national championship since 2002, when Waukesha West High School in Wisconsin achieved the feat.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 USAD National Competition
The 2026 USAD National Competition is scheduled to take place from April 23-25 in Garden Grove, California. The California Academic Decathlon challenges high school teams with a series of rigorous tests, speeches, and interviews. This year’s theme was “The Roaring Twenties.”
About Granada Hills Charter High School
Granada Hills Charter High School has a strong history in the Academic Decathlon, coming to prominence in the 2003-2004 competition season. The school has secured nine national championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022) and nine state championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022). More information about the school and its Academic Decathlon history can be found here.
“This enriching experience will instill life-long skills and lessons during your formative and foundational years, teamwork, determination and perseverance,” Michelle Chen, a California Academic Decathlon alumna and board member, said in a statement.