Students from McGarvin Intermediate School pose with medals and trophies during an awards ceremony at the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of McGarvin Intermediate School) 
Students from McGarvin Intermediate School in the Garden Grove Unified School District pose for a photo during the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of McGarvin Intermediate School) 
Students and coaches from Gordon H. Beatty Middle School pose with medals and awards earned at the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Gordon H. Beatty Middle School) 
Family members and supporters cheer on students from Gordon H. Beatty Middle School during the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Gordon H. Beatty Middle School) 
Students from Fairmont Schools’ Historic Anaheim campus pose with coaches and awards after earning second place in the Eighth Grade Invited Division at the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Fairmont Schools) 
Students from Fairmont Schools’ Historic Anaheim campus gather during the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of Fairmont Schools)
Quick look: Four teams representing Orange County schools earned top placements at the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee, including a national championship for McGarvin Intermediate School’s seventh-grade team.
Middle school students representing Orange County delivered strong performances at the 2026 United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals, earning top team placements and dozens of individual medals during the national competition in Nashville, Tennessee.
Held May 15 and 16, the event challenged students in grades six through eight to demonstrate their knowledge across five academic subjects — literature, mathematics, science, social science and fine arts — through a series of written tests, essays and team competitions. This year’s theme was “The Roaring Twenties.”
Representing Orange County were sixth-grade students from Gordon H. Beatty Middle School in the Buena Park School District, seventh- and eighth-grade teams from McGarvin Intermediate School in the Garden Grove Unified School District and an eighth-grade team from Fairmont Schools’ Historic Anaheim campus.
The Orange County Academic Pentathlon competition also welcomed teams from outside the county, including Hosler Middle School in the Lynwood Unified School District, which advanced to the national finals after competing in the regional event coordinated by the Orange County Department of Education.
National results
Among the top finishers, McGarvin Intermediate School’s seventh-grade team captured first place in the 7th Grade Invited Division, earning a national championship.
Gordon H. Beatty Middle School placed second overall in the 6th Grade Champions Division, while McGarvin’s eighth-grade team finished second in the 8th Grade Champions Division. Fairmont Schools earned second place in the 8th Grade Invited Division.
Students from the participating schools also earned numerous individual medals across the competition’s academic categories. According to coaches, Fairmont students brought home 22 medals, Gordon H. Beatty students earned 14 medals and McGarvin students collected 51 medals.
The United States Academic Pentathlon is administered by the United States Academic Decathlon organization and is designed to promote academic achievement, teamwork and critical thinking among middle school students. Teams are composed of students representing three grade-point average categories — Honor, Scholastic and Varsity — creating opportunities for participation across a range of academic achievement levels.
Locally, the Orange County Department of Education facilitates the Academic Pentathlon through its Academic Events and Recognition Programs team.
For complete national results, including team standings and individual awards, visit usad.org.