The new year brings the excitement of academic competitions, where students can dive into challenges that test their knowledge of history, science, math, literature and beyond.
From January to June, these events provide platforms for showcasing skills, expanding knowledge and cultivating lasting connections — all while creating unforgettable experiences.
Below is our updated guide to the standards-based competitions and events that OCDE will play a role in from now until June.
January 25
Orange County Academic Decathlon, Day One. Founded by former Orange County Superintendent Dr. Robert Peterson in 1968, the Academic Decathlon is a 10-event scholastic contest staged at the county, state and national levels. Participants will kick off the communications portion of the event by presenting prepared and impromptu speeches and participating in personal interviews. ocde.us/Decathlon
February 1
Orange County Academic Decathlon, Day Two. Decathletes will take 30-minute tests in the subject areas of art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science and social science. This second day of this competition also features the Super Quiz Relay, a high-energy contest that feels like a sporting event. ocde.us/Decathlon
February 3
Orange County Science & Engineering Fair. The 70th annual event in March welcomes middle and high school students to showcase their projects spanning 18 diverse categories, from applied mechanics to biochemistry. Esteemed judges from the science and research community will evaluate each entry. Feb. 3 is the deadline for project registration and Feb. 24 is the deadline to submit. ocsef.org/
February 22
Orange County Regional Science Olympiad Tournament. Science Olympiads are like academic track meets, with a series of STEM-related team events connected to disciplines including biology, Earth science, chemistry, physics, astronomy and engineering. This year’s event will be held at UC Irvine. www.socalscioly.org/
February 24
Orange County Spelling Bee, written round. This first round includes the winners of school and district spelling bees throughout Orange County. The event will take place at OCDE, where students will write spelling words and answer vocabulary questions, which are also part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The top spellers from the written round advance to the final round the following Saturday. ocde.us/spellingbee
March 1
Orange County Spelling Bee, final round. One by one, students take turns stepping up to the podium to spell their given words over the course of several rounds. A winner is announced when all but one have been eliminated. The top speller will go on to represent Orange County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. ocde.us/spellingbee
March 8
National History Day-OC. This countywide competition will take place at Sierra Vista Middle School in the Irvine Unified School District. National History Day draws about 600,000 U.S. participants each year with contests at the district, county, state and national levels. Working individually or in teams, students in grades four through 12 conduct extensive research and develop elaborate projects, including original websites, documentaries, podcasts, performances and exhibits. The 2024-25 theme is “Rights & Responsibilities in History.” link.ocde.us/NHD
March 20 though 23
California Academic Decathlon. The winning teams from the Orange County Academic Decathlon will be joined by elite squads from other counties at this state-level competition. The 2025 competition will be held in Santa Clara. academicdecathlon.org
March 28 through 31
Gallaudet University’s Battle of the Books. Sponsored by Gallaudet University, this contest was created in 2012 to boost literacy, encourage critical thinking and promote sportsmanship for middle schoolers who are deaf and hard of hearing. The finals are typically in the spring, following local preliminary rounds in November and playoffs in December. gallaudet.edu/youth-programs/battle-of-the-books
May 1 through 3
United States Academic Decathlon. For Academic Decathlon competitors who advance beyond the state level, the national championships will be held in Des Moines, Iowa following a series of online tests earlier in the month. usad.org
May 3
Orange County Academic Pentathlon for grades seven and eight. This time it will be teams of seventh- and eighth-graders competing in the Academic Pentathlon, which will include a Super Quiz Relay event on May 3. ocde.us/Pentathlon/Pages/default.aspx
May 10
Orange County Academic Pentathlon for grade six. This time it will be teams of sixth-graders competing in the Academic Pentathlon, which will include a Super Quiz Relay event on May 10 at University High School. ocde.us/Pentathlon/Pages/default.aspx
May 15 through 17
The United States Academic Pentathlon. This is a five-event scholastic competition for middle school students, will take place this year in San Antonio, Texas. The program offers the benefits of Academic Decathlon while challenging participants through rigorous team and individual competition. usad.org/pentathlon.aspx
April 24
OC Civic Learning Celebration. Students will share their civic engagement projects and OCDE will honor recipients of the Civic Learning Pathway certificate, as well as schools that have earned Civic Learning Awards, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Orange County Department of Education in Costa Mesa. K-12 educators, students and their families are invited to register at no cost. ocde.us/civiclearning
June 8 through 12
The National History Day National Contest. Just as county-level winners move on to state competitions, the state-level NHD winners advance to the national finals, which is typically held in June at the University of Maryland, College Park. nhd.org/national-contest