Two IUSD high schools have earned recognition in the 2012 Orange County Academic Decathlon – and one will be advancing to compete at the state level in March. Woodbridge High took third place in Division 1 of the competition and recently found out that it earned the right to compete in Sacramento next month as a wildcard entry, according to Principal Jason Viloria. Northwood High School also turned in a stellar performance, placing second in Division 3. Securing the top spot for the second time in four years was Valencia High School, according to results released Thursday by the Orange County Academic Decathlon Association and the Orange County Department of Education. (The Orange County Register has the story here.) As the name suggests, the academic decathlon is a 10-event battle of intellect staged at the county, state and national levels. Each nine-member squad must include three “A” students, three “B” students and three “C” students, all of whom are challenged in math, economics, language and literature, science, music, art, social science, speech, interview and essay. This season's competition theme, as determined by the United States Academic Decathlon Association, is “The Age of Empire.”