Six middle schools and six high schools from Orange County will advance to the 2025 Southern California Science Olympiad, set to take place on April 12 at Caltech.
The competition brings together top-performing teams from across the state to showcase their skills in science, technology, engineering and math.
Following months of preparation, the 12 teams earned their spots at the state competition based on their performances at the Orange County Regional Science Olympiad, which was hosted by the Orange County Department of Education and the University of California, Irvine. The regional event featured 75 teams and more than 1,000 students competing in hands-on engineering challenges, scientific problem-solving and written assessments.
The high school division saw Troy High School claim first place, with Northwood High School, Orange County School of the Arts, Portola High School, University High School and Sunny Hills High School also securing top finishes.
In the middle school division, Sierra Vista Middle School placed first, followed by Orange County School of the Arts, El Rancho Charter School, Jeffrey Trail Middle School, Kraemer Middle School and Rancho San Joaquin Middle School.
“These students have been preparing for months, and their dedication and enthusiasm were on full display,” said Zachary Pettitt, director of the OC Regional Science Olympiad. “This year’s competition went especially smoothly and is a clear testament to the incredible work of the OCDE team, the UCI team and the many schools that participated.”
Science Olympiad tournaments operate like academic track meets, with students competing in 23 STEM-focused events covering topics such as anatomy and physiology, engineering design, coding and experimental sciences. The program welcomes participants from public, charter and private schools, along with homeschool communities.
Winning teams from the state tournament will have the opportunity to compete in the Science Olympiad National Tournament in May at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Meanwhile, younger students will have their chance to compete when the Orange County Elementary Science Olympiad takes place on May 3 at El Rancho Charter School.
For more information on Science Olympiad and regional results, visit the OCDE’s webpage.