Woodland Hills : School Board Honors Decathlon Whiz Kids

The El Camino Real High School whiz kids--who won the district’s Academic Decathlon competition--were honored by the Los Angeles Board of Education Monday but officials from the second- and third-place schools warned that their teams will be even better next year.

The grueling academic competition, which tested students’ knowledge in 10 subject areas, was swept by the nine-member El Camino team. Marshall High in Los Feliz placed second and Taft High in Woodland Hills place third.

“Let me introduce our juniors who will be back next year--let that be a message to everybody,� said Steve Quon, Marshall’s principal.

Supt. Sid Thompson said the success of the teams in the so-called “battle of the brains,� was a shining example of the students’ knowledge and skills. And, he praised the students and their coaches.

Said board President Mark Slavkin: “I have great confidence that as we go on to Fresno [for the state championship] . . . this team will represent the district very well.�