Folsom High School has successfully defended its championship title at the 45th annual Sacramento County Academic Decathlon, earning first place for the fourth consecutive year. The local team claimed 41 individual medals across 10 categories in the recent 2025 event and dominated the Super Quiz event. Vista del Lago High School also delivered an exceptional performance, earning second place with 44 medals in 10 categories.
The highly anticipated competition, centered on the theme, “Our Changing Climate,” challenging students to showcase their understanding of the scientific, historical, and societal impacts of environmental change.
Both Folsom High School and Vista del Lago High School secured spots in the upcoming California Academic Decathlon, scheduled for March. The winner of the state competition will advance to the U.S. Academic Decathlon Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa, this May.
The event drew students from 11 local school districts to Folsom High School for a day of academic challenges and celebration. The thrilling Super Quiz, which saw students compete in a rapid-fire, team-based showdown. Participants demonstrated their knowledge in seven subject areas: art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, and social science. The audience, composed of family members, teachers, and community supporters, cheered as teams answered challenging questions in real time. Four teams from Placer County participated but were scored separately.
An awards ceremony followed the Super Quiz, recognizing individual and team accomplishments from a series of rigorous events, including multiple-choice tests, prepared and impromptu speeches, essays, and interviews with a panel of judges. Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon commended participants for their dedication, stating, “Through your efforts, you’re not only expanding your academic knowledge but also cultivating the skills and sense of responsibility needed to address issues that will define your generation and beyond.”
Xanthi Soriano, Executive Director of Communications for the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), served as the Quiz Reader and emcee for the awards ceremony.
In addition to academic achievements, the competition celebrated artistic expression. Vy Nguyen, a senior from Destiny Christian Academy, was honored as the winner of the 2025 Sacramento County Academic Decathlon Student Art Competition. Nguyen’s mixed-media artwork, titled “Self-Apocalypse,” vividly depicted the harsh realities of climate change.
The top five team standings for the 2025 Sacramento County Academic Decathlon were:
- Folsom High School (Folsom Cordova USD)
- Vista del Lago High School (Folsom Cordova USD)
- Mira Loma High School (San Juan USD)
- St. Francis High School (Diocese of Sacramento)
- Sheldon High School (Elk Grove USD)
Both Folsom and Vista del Lago High Schools now set their sights on the California Academic Decathlon, where they will continue to showcase their academic excellence and vie for a chance to represent California on the national stage. Congratulations to the students, coaches, and supporters whose dedication and hard work made this achievement possible.