Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most from students, coaches, and families new to Texas Academic Decathlon.
General
The Texas Academic Decathlon is a statewide academic competition that brings together students of all academic levels to compete as a team in ten subject areas, including Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, and Speech, plus the live Super Quiz round. Teams are made up of students from three GPA divisions — Honors, Scholastic, and Varsity — so participation rewards effort and improvement at every academic level, not just top grades. The program also includes related competitions for other grade levels: the Octathlon (high school freshmen & sophomores), the Pentathlon (6th–8th grade), and the Texas-exclusive Lone Star Challenge.
Eligibility is based on grade level and school enrollment. The Decathlon and Octathlon are open to students at participating Texas high schools, while the Pentathlon is open to students at participating Texas middle schools (6th–8th grade). The Lone Star Challenge is limited to students in 4th through 6th grades; for elementary schools which do not include a 6th grade, you may have two 5th grade teams. All competitors must also meet the GPA requirements for their division and complete enrollment verification through their coach.
Each nine-member Decathlon team includes three students from each of three GPA divisions: Honors (3.85–4.00 GPA), Scholastic (3.50–3.8499 GPA), and Varsity (0–3.4999 GPA). This structure ensures that students of every academic background can contribute meaningfully to their team's success.
Competition Format
Most Decathlon teams progress through Scrimmage Meets, Regional Competition, and State Competitions, with top state teams advancing to the national United States Academic Decathlon competition. The Lone Star Challenge and Octathlon compete at the Region/ISD level only. See the Events section for level-by-level details on each program.
Super Quiz is a live, audience-facing relay-format round where teams answer questions together on the year's designated theme. It's typically the most exciting event of competition day and is open to spectators, families, and the public.
Results for each event are posted on the relevant event page under its "Results" section after each competition level concludes. You can also check the Events Calendar for upcoming result-posting dates.
Coaches & Teams
Visit the Coaches' Page to review competition manuals and register your team. New coaches are encouraged to attend a Coaches' Clinic before the season begins — these cover program logistics, scoring, and best practices. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our How to Get Started guide.
Required forms vary by program and competition level, including team registration, student enrollment verification, and division eligibility documentation. Find the full list on each event's "Forms & Documents" tab.
Volunteers & Community
Visit our Volunteers page to learn about open roles — Interview Judges, Speech Judges & Timekeepers, Test Proctors, and Super Quiz Proctors — and register for an upcoming competition. No prior experience is required; training is provided.
Visit the Alumni page to share your story or register to volunteer at a future competition. Many of our most dedicated volunteers and coaches are former competitors themselves.
We offer several sponsorship tiers that help fund scholarships, materials, and competition operations statewide. Visit our Sponsorship Opportunities page for details, or reach out through our Contact page.