Alhambra High is this year’s L.A. County Academic Decathlon champion for the third consecutive year (Photo – AUSD)
Alhambra Unified School District is celebrating a historic achievement: all three of its comprehensive high schools have qualified for the California Academic Decathlon state competition.
By News Desk
This marks the first time teams from the district will compete together at the in-person state level.
A special send-off is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, as teams from Alhambra High School, Mark Keppel High School, and San Gabriel High School prepare to depart for Santa Clara. Students will be picked up from their campuses before gathering at Mark Keppel High School at 7:00 am. There, they will be honored with a celebration, gifts, and a group photo before traveling together on one bus.
The milestone follows an exceptional showing at the 44th Annual Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon. Alhambra High School secured first place for the third consecutive year, earning 49,044 points in a highly competitive field of 61 teams and 475 students. Mark Keppel High School finished a close second with 49,041 points—just three points behind—while San Gabriel High School placed sixth. Notably, three of the nine teams representing Los Angeles County at the state level come from Alhambra Unified.
The competition, organized by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, concluded with an awards ceremony aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Students were tested across 10 disciplines: mathematics, science, literature, economics, art, music, social science, essay writing, speech, and interview.
County Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo praised participants for their dedication and perseverance, highlighting the extensive preparation and support behind their success.
Top individual honors included Mark Keppel High School’s Ivan Luu, who achieved the highest overall score of 9,190 points. He was followed by Tanner Donald of West High School and Amber Kuo of Mark Keppel High School.
In addition to team and individual awards, scholarships ranging from $200 to $500 were presented to outstanding competitors. A new recognition, the Four-Year Scholar Medal, was also introduced to honor students who participated in the program throughout all four years of high school.
More than 600 medals were awarded during the ceremony, celebrating academic excellence across the county. The nine qualifying teams will now advance to the California Academic Decathlon, where top performers will have the opportunity to compete at the national level.
As the teams head to the state competition, the district’s unprecedented achievement underscores its strong culture of academic excellence, collaboration, and student dedication.
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