The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), welcomes 14 high school teams to the 2024 Academic Showdown finale, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the West Virginia Culture Center. Each represents the first- and second-place winners that advanced from seven regional matchups throughout the state.
More than 90 teams signed-up to participate this year, an increase from 71 teams last year and 21 the inaugural year in 2022. The growth reflects the interest high school scholars have taken in the academic competition. This year’s field comes from 50 high schools and 31 counties.
As the last stop of the 2024 Academic Showdown season, students, coaches and families will be greeted with a festive atmosphere including high school bands, cheerleaders and décor throughout the Culture Center Great Hall and State Theater designed for the occasion.
The first-round matchups are as follows:
| Team Name | Team Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Mills High School Team 1 | vs | Morgantown High School Team 1 |
| George Washington High School Team 1 | vs | Bridgeport High School Team 2 |
| Westside High School Team 1 | vs | Huntington High School Team 1 |
| Winfield High School Team 1 | vs | Spring Mills High School Team 2 |
| Bluefield High School | vs | James Monroe High School Team 1 |
| Morgantown High School Team 2 | vs | Grafton High School Team 1 |
| Wheeling Park High School Team 1 | vs | Buffalo High School |
Past winners include:
- 2022 George Washington Team 1
- 2023 Morgantown High School Team 1
The Showdown finale will be livestreamed courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) on the WVPB YouTube Channel. Additionally, the WVDE will share the livestream on its platforms.
The Academic Showdown was created in 2022 at the request of West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair who advocated for academics to be celebrated as athletics are in our schools. The program is a partnership between the WVDE, the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, WVPB, and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.
Learn more about the Academic Showdown on the WVDE Academic Showdown page.
