Sierra Vista Middle School, Jeffrey Trail Middle School, Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, Northwood High School, Portola High School and University High School Science Olympiad teams placed among the top teams in their division levels at the highly competitive 2026 OC Regional Science Olympiad competition.
These exceptional teams will now advance to the State Competition, scheduled to take place on April 11 at Caltech. IUSD secured the highest number of teams advancing to the State Competition from Orange County.
Middle School Division
In the middle school division, Sierra Vista Middle School sent three teams to the Science Olympiad tournament, out of 38 total teams, the biggest regional competition to date. Showcasing their dominance, the top three teams from the competition were from Sierra Vista. This marks the fifth consecutive year Sierra Vista has captured the first-place regional title.
“The dedication these students show—spending countless hours after school and on weekends to master complex scientific concepts—is truly inspiring,” said coach Shaun Evola. “Their success at the Orange County Regionals is a testament to their hard work, the guidance of their coaches, and the support of the entire Sierra Vista community.”
Jeffery Trail and Rancho San Joaquin secured their spot by placing fourth and fifth overall, leading to IUSD being the highest-ranked District in all of Orange County in the middle school division.
All teams competed in physics, anatomy, astronomy, chemistry, meteorology, coding, and engineering events like 'Hovercraft' and “Boomilever,' which tested their technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
High School Division
At the high school level, teams tackled 23 rigorous events covering subjects such as chemistry, ecology, astronomy and engineering. Out of 48 total teams, University and Portola High Schools achieved impressive second- and third-place finishes. Northwood also demonstrated strong performances, placing among the top teams and securing their spots at the State Competition.
Science Olympiad Competition
During the Olympiad season, some teams may compete in up to 20 Olympiad competitions leading up to the regional, state and national competitions.
The State Competition will bring together the top middle school and high school teams from each Regional Tournament, vying for the coveted title of State Champion. The winners will be able to represent Southern California at the National Tournament in May. Annually, over 7,500 middle and high school teams from around the country participate in the Science Olympiad at multiple levels of competition, including regionals, states and nationals.
Congratulations to all the teams who competed in the middle school and high school competitions, including Turtle Rock Elementary School, Westpark Elementary School, University Park Elementary School, Venado Middle School, Solis Park School, Vista Verde School, Lakeside Middle School, and Woodbridge High School.
Good luck at the State Competition, IUSD!
