CALIFORNIA BRIEFING

Granada Hills wins Academic Decathlon

Granada Hills Charter High School won the national 2015 Academic Decathlon on Saturday, marking the fourth time in the last five years the San Fernando Valley school has claimed the honor.

The school earned 53,592 points out of 66,000 in the scholastic contest, beating out 46 other high school teams for the title.

More than 450 students gathered in Garden Grove this week to compete in the three-day decathlon, whose theme was alternative energy.

Members of the championship team included Peter Cho, Jenean Docter, Natalie Gonzalez, Jasmin Kim, Irene Lee, Tanthai Pongstien, Fernando Sanchez and Jorge Zepeda. Julia Howelman is the administrator, and the coaches are Matt Arnold and Jon Sturtevant.

“I’m always amazed by the incredible dedication of the Academic Decathlon’s students and coaches, and for the sacrifices they and their families make in preparing for the competition,” said L.A. Unified school board member Tamar Galatzan.

“I’m very grateful to all of them and so proud to have Granada Hills Charter representing Los Angeles Unified.”