The 2026 Modoc County Academic Decathlon was a resounding success, showcasing strong participation and impressive academic achievement from all three county school districts.
In individual competition, Modoc High School’s Kaitlin Nield earned top honors as the highest-scoring student overall, finishing with 6,714 points. Surprise Valley High School’s Juba Mefford followed with 4,506 points, while Tulelake High School’s Yaritza Silva rounded out the individual leaders with 3,795 points.
Team standings reflected a competitive and well-represented field. Modoc High School claimed first place with a total team score of 32,375 points. Surprise Valley High School placed second with 26,598 points, and Tulelake High School earned third place with 21,767 points.
The highlight of the event came with Modoc High School meeting the district point requirement to qualify for the California State Academic Decathlon. The team will advance to the state competition in Santa Clara, scheduled for March 19–22, 2026.
The Modoc High School Academic Decathlon team includes Jayden Main, Miles Murray, Kaitlin Nield, Ella Morris, Sierra Reeves, Nathaniel Schulz, Briauna Dearing, Seth Motheral, and Stephanie Reeves. Team members are pictured in a photo shared following the event.
The Modoc County Office of Education congratulates all participating students and extends best wishes to the Modoc High School team as they prepare for the state competition. The Office also expressed appreciation to the coaches, volunteer judges and graders, staff, and all others whose efforts contributed to the success of this premier academic event.
Background:
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- Theme: The Roaring Twenties
- National Competition: April 23–25, 2026, in Garden Grove, CA
- California State Competition: March 19–22, 2026, in Santa Clara, CA
- Subject Areas:
Art, Economics, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science, Speech, Interview, and Essay
- Key Topics: Jazz Age art, electricity and magnetism, 1920s U.S. economy, and The Great Gatsby
