The United States Academic Decathlon® is a ten-event scholastic competition for teams of high school students. Each high school enters a team of nine students.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
Our academic athletes compete in weekly matches to answer challenging math, literature, history, science, and popular culture questions. High school teams are always looking for more players and you are invited to watch a match anytime to learn more.
United States Academic Pentathlon® is a five-event scholastic competition for middle school students, providing the benefits of Academic Decathlon® along with the challenges of rigorous team and individual competition.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
Advanced Placement offers both courses and exams. There are over 35 options. Courses can be taken online or in-person. Exams are offered every May. Scholars can take the exam as a "self-study" or as part of an AP course.
A free, comprehensive guide for families to support scholars through high school and beyond. Offers step-by-step recommendations starting in 9th grade.
INTERESTED?
Click the "LEARN MORE" link to access the guide.
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AVID
AVID - Advancement Via Individual Achievement - is a class that started at Clairemont High in 1980 before spreading worldwide! Students will learn how to connect with others, organize their things/thoughts, and strategies to successfully study.
INTERESTED?
Talk to your school counselor about enrolling in AVID .
CCGI (California College Guidance Initiative) provides free tools and resources for students, educators, and parents/guardians to plan and apply for college and career in California.
INTERESTED?
Click the "LINK TO CLEVER" link to access the resources.
The State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), marked by a gold seal on the diploma or transcript, recognizes high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English. For more information, visit https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/er/sealofbiliteracy.asp
INTERESTED?
Talk to your counselor to confirm if you meet the requirements.
High-quality college and career pathways vary by school site but all include four key components: Academic Rigor, CTE Sequence of Courses, Work-Based Learning, and Comprehensive Student Supports.
INTERESTED?
Talk to your counselor about enrolling into CCTE classes.
FIRST® LEGO® League guides youth through STEM learning and exploration at an early age. From Discover, to Explore, and then to Challenge, students will understand the basics of STEM and apply their skills in an exciting competition while building habits of learning, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
FIRST® Tech Challenge students work together with their mentors to design and build dynamic robots to compete in an exciting game released every September. On and off the field, students develop STEM skills, engage in community outreach, practice engineering innovation, and build confidence to help them succeed.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
Starting with a Kit of Parts, teams of high school students design, program, and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game, released in January. They compete on a themed field as part of a three-team alliance in the spirit of Coopertition®. In 360-degree learning guided by adult mentors, each FIRST® Robotics Competition team also creates a team identity, raises funds to meet its goals, and advances appreciation for STEM in its community.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
Honors courses are courses that offer students more challenging, in-depth study of a topic. In order to give the weighted (GPA boost), students must complete an end-of-course exam or project.
INTERESTED?
Talk to your counselor about honors course enrollment.
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International Baccalaureate
SDUSD proudly offers 8 International Baccalaureate schools, which are world-famous rigorous whole-child educational programmes. The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.
INTERESTED?
Visit the IBO website for full details on all their programmes - https://ibo.org/
You are invited to visit any of the IB schools to learn more and inquire about enrollment.
JROTC courses are another way for students to show progress on the college and career readiness indicator. Their motto: “Motivating young people to become better citizens!”
INTERESTED?
Talk to your counselor about enrolling into JROTC.
A national middle school mathematics competition that builds problem-solving skills and fosters achievement through four levels of fun, in-person "bee" style contests.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
The mission of the San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition is to foster understanding and respect for the American legal system and for the rule of law. The competition seeks to develop high school students into better citizens by familiarizing them with our Constitution and Bill of Rights enhancing students’ ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and work as a team as well as with other members of society.
The Competition is administered by the San Diego County High School Mock Trial Committee, representing local law agencies and organizations and the state and federal courts. Committee members devote hundreds of hours of volunteer time, as well as resources and expertise, to organize and conduct the annual competition.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
Through public speaking, critical thinking, and in-depth research, the Model UN experience allows students to cultivate skills and enrich their global affairs knowledge. UNA-USA is dedicated to empowering young Americans with tools and experiences that prepare them to be the next generation of global leaders. Our local chapters encourage students in their communities to participate in Model UN programming.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
The NOSB is an academic competition and program that addresses a national gap in environmental and earth sciences in public education by introducing high school students to and engaging them in ocean science, preparing them for ocean science-related and other STEM careers, and helping them become knowledgeable citizens and environmental stewards.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
For scholars fluent in Portuguese, Russian, Arabic and Korean - there is a world language exam for you! Modeled after Advanced Placement exams, scholars can earn college credit by scoring well on the exam. SDUSD will process the registrations but all testing will be done at San Diego State University LARC center in late April. Practice exams begin in March.
INTERESTED?
There will be a short window in early March to register on their website for the practice or official exams.
Odyssey of the Mind (OM™) teaches students how to develop and use their natural creativity to become problem-solvers. Imagine being faced with a problem that requires an original solution. It can be frightening. Now imagine not being afraid to solve that problem – that is what OM members learn. This skill and self-confidence will carry over to all areas of their lives. OM brings the classroom to life as students apply what they learn and combine it with their interests and passions to solve our unique open-ended problems. OM also emphasizes teamwork, budgeting, time management, public speaking, and so much more. This international program is designed to help students at all learning levels grow as individual learners, grow as team members, and to reach their full potential.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
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PSAT 10 exam
This exam is ONLY for 10th graders. This is an official practice exam for the SAT. Exams are offered school days in March and April.
INTERESTED?
All sophomores will be registered for the exam and emailed with exam information in early February. Taking the exam is optional but strongly encouraged. Schools will want interested testers to RSVP so they can properly prepare the space with enough desks and hire enough proctors to meet requirements.
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PSAT / NMSQT exam
This exam is ONLY for 11th graders. This is an official practice exam for the SAT and the primary way to enter into the National Merit Scholarship. Exams are offered in October.
INTERESTED?
All juniors will be registered for the exam and emailed with exam information in early September. Taking the exam is optional but strongly encouraged. Schools will want interested testers to RSVP so they can properly prepare the space with enough desks and hire enough proctors to meet requirements.
Take a minute to answer 3 quick questions then the Roadmap tool will show you career possibilities you may have never imagined. Get matched to careers, stories, and advice that's personalized to you.
INTERESTED?
Click the "LEARN MORE" link to access the resources.
The San Diego Brain Bee is a live Neuroscience Q & A competition for local high school students. The Brain Bee is part of Brain Awareness Week, which was launched in 1996 by the Society for Neuroscience and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, with a mission to increase awareness of neuroscience in the general community. The Brain Bee is a not-for-profit neuroscience competition for high school students on the local, national, and international levels.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
Are You A 6th - 12th Grade Student Interested In Science, Technology, Engineering, And/Or Math? Are You Curious? Do You Like To Think Outside The Box? Do You Enjoy Building Or Creating Things? Do You Like To Come Up With Solutions To Problems? Do You Want To Make A Difference In The Future? If you said yes to any of these questions, participating in the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair is for you!
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
Juniors and Seniors may elect to take this exam because it may be needed by colleges or universities for admission.
INTERESTED?
This exam is not hosted by SDUSD; however, SDUSD schools are often used as a testing center with independent staff managing exam day. Students will register directly with SAT to take the exam - https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration
Science Olympiad (SO) is nationwide competition. Students compete in 23 events that include earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Science Olympiad is designed to increase a student’s interest in STEM fields and provide recognition for outstanding achievement in team events. Students compete in Science Olympiad with the top teams advancing from Regional to State to National levels.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
The San Diego County Scripps Regional Spelling Bee is open to students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in a public or private school with a combined enrollment of 30 or more children. The overall winner of the countywide Spelling Bee will be awarded the title of Spelling Bee Champion and go on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
INTERESTED?
Ask your school's front office if a team at your school already exists. If not, contact ramato@sandi.net
All scholars can reach their goals with the proper supports. Resources to support the whole-student are available to encourage conversations for scholars, families, and educators.
INTERESTED?
Click the "LEARN MORE" link to access the resources.
Basic and Plus courses are free to CA public school students! They are student-led (no instructor) courses that contain a blend of video lectures, tests, quizzes and other assignments, which combined, provides an A-G approved course.
INTERESTED?
Talk to your counselor to confirm if the credits can be added to your high school transcript.