Elite Scholars Academy Caps 2023 Georgia Academic Decathlon as State Champion – Again

By Dolly Purvis

Coached by PAGE member Jack Smith, Elite Scholars Academy of Clayton County Public Schools earned a rare Georgia Academic Decathlon three-peat, capturing the Howard Stroud Championship trophy this spring at the state competition at Kennesaw State University. The team also took top honors in 2021 and 2022.

With the win, Elite Scholars Academy won the right to compete as the Georgia representative to the annual United States Academic Decathlon® (USAD®) National Competition in Frisco, Texas.

Going into the final round of competition, the eventual outcome was uncertain. Elite Scholars Academy had to make up significant ground against Muscogee County’s Columbus High School – coached by Maribeth Hood. Though Columbus fell short in the final score tally, as the next highest-scoring team in a division other than the state champion’s division, the team was also invited to attend USAD’s Nationals to represent Georgia.

High school students from throughout the state competed in this unique academic event composed of nine-member teams divided into three groups based on grade point average.

Each year, the program features a different overall curriculum topic, and this year’s curriculum is The American Revolution and the New Nation.

From this subject matter, students are tested in seven content areas (economics, art, literature, mathematics, science, social science, and music), participate in three communication events (public speaking, personal interview, and written essay), and battle for a year’s worth of bragging rights – in addition to team points – in the Super Quiz, comprised of questions from all seven testing areas.

Three other teams earned bids for the Online National Competition held in conjunction with the national finals:

• Carroll County’s Villa Rica HS (Large School Online Competition), coached by Russell Bennett and Sarah Triplett

• Catoosa County’s Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe HS (Medium School Online Competition), coached by Lisa Beck and Jessica Chandler

• Floyd County’s Armuchee HS (Small School Online Competition), coached by Melanie Floyd and Tammy Boston

The top three finishers at state in Division I (large school) were:

• Champion — Columbus HS

• First Runner-up — Villa Rica HS

• Second Runner-up — Muscogee County’s WH Shaw HS

The top three finishers at state in Division II (small school) were:

• Champion — Elite Scholars Academy

• First Runner-up — Armuchee HS

• Second Runner-up — Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe HS

Winners in the Super Quiz competition were:

• Champion — Columbus HS

• First Runner-up — Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe HS

• Second Runner-up — Model HS

For a complete listing of all awards and individual medal winners, visit www.pageinc.org/gad/gadstatewinners/. n

PAGE Board member Lamar Scott, right in photo at left, receives an award for his many years of services to Georgia Academic Decathlon from PAGE GAD Coordinator Michelle Crawford. PAGE Foundation President Dr. Hayward Cordy presents medals to Decathletes in the top photo below. Students celebrate a correct answer during the Super Quiz portion of the state GAD competition in the middle photo below, A student greets a judge during the interviews at GAD state competition in the bottom photo below. Photos by Dolly Purvis.