LOS ANGELES, CA - Alhambra High School, led by coach Jose Sanchez, is the champion of the 42nd Annual Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon. The team displayed exceptional academic prowess across ten subject areas to claim the top prize among 37 competing schools. 

“Congratulations to Alhambra High School and their coach for an outstanding performance in the Academic Decathlon,” said Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. “Their hard work, dedication, and passion for learning have paid off, and we are incredibly proud of all the decathletes for their accomplishments.”  

More than 460 students in 63 teams from across the county participated in the competition, which started on January 18, 2024, and ended on February 3, 2024. The Los Angeles County Office of Education held a banquet today to recognize and honor all decathletes for their success.  

The top placement in the competition are as follows: 

1. Alhambra High School 

2. El Rancho High School

3. West High School

4. PV Peninsula High School

5. North High School

All top five teams, along with Beverly Hills High School, Redondo Union High School and South High School will advance to the California Academic Decathlon. That competition starts on March 6, 2024, and concludes with an awards ceremony on March 24, 2024 in Santa Clara. Winners will advance to the National Academic Decathlon, which takes place from April 25-27 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Coach Matthew Cole from Rowland High School received the Roberta Kordich Coach Award. The award is presented annually to the coach who best exemplifies going beyond instructing the fundamentals of the competition in motivating students to a higher level of learning and excellence.

California Credit Union serves as a longtime sponsor of the Academic Decathlon and awarded 15 students with scholarships ranging from $200 to $500 at the banquet.