MIT Academy advances to state competition in March

MIT Academy students cheer on the team during the Bay Region Academic Decathlon during the weekend. (COURTESY)

View Article from Vallejo Times-Herald 

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By: Robin Miller | Vallejo Times Herald

PUBLISHED: February 2, 2026 at 3:42 PM PST

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Students from across Solano County showed their academic prowess during the weekend, taking top honors in a number of categories during the 46th annual Bay Region Academic Decathlon at Solano Community College.

Students from MIT Academy High School in the Vallejo City Unified School District, Buckingham Charter Academy in the Vacaville Unified School District and Vanden High School in the Travis Unified School District each won individual and overall honors.

When final tallies were complete, MIT Academy finished as the second place team overall, securing a spot in the statewide academic decathlon competition which is scheduled for March 21-22 in Santa Clara.

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MIT Academy students cheer as they are announced the overall second place team during the Bay Region Academic Decathlon on Saturday. (COURTESY)

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Nearly 300 students from 17 high school from across northern California competed in the day long event held Saturday at Solano Community College.

The Academic Decathlon is a team competition that celebrates academic excellence and honors “athletes of the mind.” Students competed in 10 areas, including speech, interview, essay, and subject-area exams in art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, and social science. The event challenges students to demonstrate depth of knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills.

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Buckingham Charter Academy students Veronica Chou, Bree H., Nolan Landis and Breanna Perry show off their medals earned during the Bay Region Academic Decathlon. (COURTESY)

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Buckingham students were celebrate on the schools social media on Monday. “Buckingham Academic Decathlon Award Winners have done it again!,” the post announced. Noting medals in: Economics by students Veronica Chou (gold) and Nolan Landis (silver); Interview by Brenna Perry (gold); Science by Landis (sliver) and Perry (bronze); Social Science by Perry (bronze); and Speech by Bree H (silver) and Landis (bronze).

Participating schools represented Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Mendocino, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties, reflecting the strong regional commitment to academic achievement and rigorous scholarship, event organizers said.

Vanden High School, which took top honors last year, finished fourth overall this year, just missing the cutoff to compete in the statewide decathlon.

The first place overall honor this year went to Contra Costa County’s Campolindo High School. Third place went to Santa Clara County’s Evergreen Valley High School.

The top three teams have qualified to represent their counties at the State Academic Decathlon Competition.

“Academic Decathlon is such a meaningful experience for students,” said Solano County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nicola Parr in a press release announcing the overall results. “It brings them together to learn, collaborate, and challenge themselves. This competition really highlights each student’s determination, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. We’re proud of every student who chose to participate and deeply grateful to the educators, coaches, and volunteers who support them every step of the way.”

She extended thanks the volunteers, judges, coaches, and partners who made this year’s competition possible and to Solano Community College for hosting the regional event.