Editing It's Academic

{{Short description|American quiz show}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = It's Academic 2009-12-12.jpg
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| caption              = ''It's Academic'' being taped, Studio A at NBC-owned WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., December 12, 2009
| alt_name             = 
| genre                = [[Student quiz show]], [[game show]]
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| country              = United States
| language             = English
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| first_aired          = {{Start date|1961}}
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}}
[[Image:Mac McGarry - It's Academic.jpg|thumb|right|Mac McGarry hosts ''It's Academic'' in Washington, D.C. on December 12, 2009]]
'''''It's Academic''''' is the name for a number of [[Television|televised]] academic [[student quiz show]]s for high school students through the United States and internationally. ''It's Academic'' programs have notably aired on [[NBC]]-owned [[WRC-TV]] (and, as of October 29, 2022, exclusively on [[PBS]] member station [[WETA-TV]]) in [[Washington, D.C.]], [[NBC]] affiliate [[WVIR-TV]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], and [[CBS]]-owned [[WJZ-TV]] in [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]].{{update inline|date=January 2024}}

The Washington, D.C. version of the show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, and is recognized by the ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the longest-running quiz program in TV history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-running-tv-quiz-show|title=Longest running TV quiz show|publisher=Guinness World Records}}</ref> The program was created for WRC by Sophie Altman, who continued as executive producer until her death on May 24, 2008. [[Mac McGarry]] hosted the Washington shows from the beginning until June 25, 2011. [[Hillary Howard]], formerly a news anchor for Washington radio station [[WTOP-FM]], took over as host subsequent to McGarry's official retirement in November 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2617677|title = WTOP &#124; Washington's Top News &#124; DC, MD & VA News, Traffic & Weather}}</ref> The program is sponsored by philanthropist investor [[David Rubenstein]] and by the McLean, Virginia-based [[Mitre Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesentinel.com/mont/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=668:blake-high-school-sets-an-academic-record&Itemid=766|title=Blake High School sets an academic record|date=10 Jul 2014|first=Bonnie|last=Katz|website=The Sentinel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114149/https://www.thesentinel.com/mont/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=668:blake-high-school-sets-an-academic-record&Itemid=766|access-date=August 7, 2021|archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref>

==Format==
The single-elimination tournament features 81 schools in the [[Washington metropolitan area]], 81 schools in the [[Baltimore metropolitan area]] (including Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore), and nine schools in the Central Virginia region.{{update inline|date=January 2024}} The winners in each region go on to battle each other in the Super Bowl.

Each contest is composed of five rounds. Round 1 is a category round with eight themed questions (e.g. "the letter B" or "famous paintings"). Questions do not appear on the players' monitors but do appear for the home viewers. Each team is given 100 points before this round and teams receive 10 points for each correct answer and lose 10 for each incorrect answer.

In Round 2, each team is individually asked five questions and receive 20 points each for a correct answer, but do not lose points for an incorrect answer.

Round 3 is a toss-up visual round. The monitor displays an image and the host provides a question accompanying the image. Teams receive 20 points for each correct answer and lose 20 for each incorrect answer (10 until April 19, 2014 in Washington, Baltimore, and starting with the 2014 season in Charlottesville; other cities' visual rounds are still 10 points up or down). Eight questions are used. The fourth question is always a math question.

Before Round 4 the captain of each team introduces the sponsors and school administrators and coaches. Teams then select from three question packets. The team to the immediate left of the team that is supposed to answer chooses which packet the answering team will use. Eight questions are given to each team, with 20 points for a correct answer and no penalties. A 25-point bonus is given if a team correctly answers all eight questions, for a total of 185 points in this round. The fourth question is always a science question and the seventh question is always a math question (data from both those questions are displayed on the monitor or team's screen).

Round 5 features quick-fire toss-up questions, each worth +/-20 points. Visual questions are worth +/-30 points. The number of questions varies depending on the time left in the game. The game ends when the buzzer sounds, home viewers may realize that the game will come to a close while the countdown clock appears on the television screen. If a team has buzzed in prior the buzzer sounding, the team is required to answer the question before the game is considered over. If there is a tie in the knockout round (e.g. the final), the presenter may ask one last tie-breaker question to determine the winner.

After the host has announced the teams' final scores, the studio audience is invited down from the stands to join the contestants on camera during the closing credit sequence. In the Washington version from about 1976 to June 2017, the song heard under the credit roll (if there are no musicians from any of the competing schools) was "T.L.C. (Tender Loving Care)" by the band [[MFSB]] (a new theme was introduced in Washington for the 2017–18 season, entitled "Just Let Go", by Marti Amado and Ron Bolton, music production by Network Music which is used throughout the show).

As a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.]], later episodes in the 2019–2020 season were played in a remote format, with teams in separate locations, and without buzzers. Teams were recorded separately, and were not aware of other teams' scores.  The competition will return to the studio in late winter/early spring 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meyer|first=Jacob Calvin|title=Centennial High School wins first virtual 'It's Academic' competition for Baltimore region|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-centennial-wins-virtual-its-academic-20200625-emptho6rwrgp7apsjievbhgvdm-story.html|access-date=2020-08-30|website=baltimoresun.com|date=25 June 2020 }}</ref>{{update inline|date=November 2023}}

===Discontinued rounds===
Prior to the adoption of the current format, there were several other formats of play.

====Category round====
The "very fast"<ref name="washington-1983">[[WRC-TV]] (Washington) in association with Altman Productions. 23rd season premiere. ''It's Academic''. Presented by [[Mac McGarry]]. Featuring Churchill, Mount Vernon and Northwestern. Original airdate 1983-09-25.</ref> category round consisted of questions pertaining to the same category. In some cases, the question was the same throughout the round:  teams were given different items, and had to answer the common question on the basis of each item (e.g., given a state, name either senator from that state<ref name="buffalo-1979">[[WIVB-TV]] (Buffalo) in association with Altman Productions. 1978–79 championship. ''It's Academic''  Presented by [[Van Miller]]. Featuring Grand Island, Iroquois, and Jamestown. Original airdate 1979.</ref>). In other cases, all the answers in the category round shared an announced characteristic in common (e.g., geographical locations whose names begin and end with "A"<ref name="washington-1983" />). Teams used their buzzers in this round, earning 10 points for a correct answer, but losing 10 points<ref name="buffalo-1979" /> (later 20 points<ref name="washington-1983" />) for wrong answers.

====Timed round====
In all forms, a team individually answers questions from a packet within a time limit. In one form, at the beginning of the game, teams get one minute to answer questions for 20 points each. In this form, teams are not penalized for wrong answers, in order to help the teams in "building score".<ref name="buffalo-1981">[[WIVB-TV]] (Buffalo) in association with Altman Productions. ''It's Academic'' Presented by [[Van Miller]]. Featuring Williamsville East, Bishop Timon, and Salamanca Central. Original airdate 1981.</ref> In another form, teams have one and a half minutes to answer questions for 20 points each. However, 20 points are deducted for a wrong answer. Teams may pass a question, losing 10 points; however, the other two teams may buzz-in to answer the passed questions (with a few exceptions) for plus or minus 20 points after the time runs out for the team's turn. Every question that is fully read must be answered or passed within a reasonable time. However, if a question is not finished when time expires, the team may reject it without penalty or answer the question at their own risk. In this form, getting all 10 questions (later eight) correct originally earned the team a 50-point bonus, later reduced to 25.<ref name="washington-1983" /><ref name="buffalo-1981" /><ref name="central-virginia-1988">Altman Productions. ''It's Academic''  Presented by [[Mac McGarry]]. Featuring Albemarle, St. Anne's-Belfield, and Madison County. Original airdate 1988.</ref>

====Scrimmage round====
A "scrimmage round" was once used during the 1977–78 Buffalo season championship, as well as in Washington and Baltimore through much of the 1970s, and also in Cleveland at about that time. Teams were instructed to "use [their] lights and buzzers" for a "one-minute scrimmage round." 10 points were scored for a correct answer, with no penalties.<ref name="buffalo-1978">[[WIVB-TV]] (Buffalo) in association with Altman Productions. 1977–78 championship. ''It's Academic'' Presented by [[Van Miller]]. Featuring Nichols, Lancaster, and Williamsville East. Original airdate 1978.</ref>

==Guest questions==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2014}}
Beginning in 2008, telecasts on the [[WRC-TV]] version have included "guest questions" from notable persons in government, business, sports, and the arts. Among those seen in pre-recorded videos are:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Stephen Breyer]], US [[Supreme Court Justice]]
* [[Lynda Carter]], Actress
* [[Elaine Chao]], US [[Secretary of Labor]]
* [[G. Wayne Clough]], director of the [[Smithsonian Institution]]
* [[John R. Dailey|Gen. Jack Dailey]], director of the [[National Air and Space Museum]]
* [[Tom J. Donohue|Tom Donohue]], president of the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]]
* [[David Gregory (journalist)|David Gregory]], host of ''[[Meet the Press]]''
* [[José Miguel Insulza|Miguel Insulza]], Secretary-General of [[Organization of American States]]
* [[Tim Kaine]], governor of Virginia
* [[Ted Leonsis]], owner, [[Washington Capitals]] and [[Washington Wizards]]
* [[Carl Levin]], U.S. Senator from Michigan
* [[Chris Matthews]], [[NBC News]]
* [[Barbara Mikulski]], U.S. Senator from Maryland
* [[Earl A. Powell III|Rusty Powell]], director of the [[National Gallery of Art]]
* [[Cal Ripken Jr.]], member of [[Baseball Hall of Fame]]
* [[Tim Russert]], television journalist and moderator on ''[[Meet the Press]]''
* [[Chuck Schumer]], U.S. Senator from New York and Senate Majority Leader
* [[Leonard Slatkin]], music director of Washington and Detroit orchestras
* [[Margaret Spellings]], U.S. [[Secretary of Education]]
* [[John Sweeney (labor leader)|John Sweeney]], president of [[AFL–CIO]]
* [[Clarence Thomas]], Supreme Court Justice
* [[Jim Webb]], U.S. Senator from Virginia
* [[Elias Zerhouni]], director of the [[National Institutes of Health]]
{{div col end}}

==Spin-offs==
[[File:It's Academic WMAQ TV 1967.JPG|thumb|180px|''It's Academic'' show at WMAQ-TV in 1967. The team is from Chicago's Kennedy High School.]]
<!--Please include miscellaneous quiz bowl programs on [[List of academic quiz competitions programs]], rather than here-->

An [[It's Academic (Australian game show)|Australian version]] of the show aired on [[Network 10]] and the [[Seven Network]] from 1968 to 1975, and was revived by [[TVW|Seven's Perth affiliate]] in 2001. Seven took the show national in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://au.tv.yahoo.com/b/its-academic/|title = Yahoo Australia &#124; News, email and search}}</ref><ref name="History">{{Cite web|url=http://www.itsacademicquizshow.com/history/|title=History}}</ref>

A [[It's Academic (New Zealand game show)|New Zealand version]] was also screened by [[TVNZ]] in the 1980s, with [[Lockwood Smith]] and John Hayden as hosts.

[[WNBC]] in New York aired a local edition of ''It's Academic'' from September 15, 1963<ref>{{Cite news |date=Sep 15, 1963 |title=Television Programs |pages=146 |work=New York Times}}</ref> through July 1, 1972,<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jul 1, 1972 |title=Television |pages=49 |work=New York Times}}</ref> hosted most of the time by [[Art James]], with [[Lee Leonard]] filling in for a year.

[[WMAQ-TV]] in Chicago had a version in the 1960s and 1970s under the ''It's Academic'' name, hosted by [[Ed Grennan]]. The show debuted on September 29, 1962, with [[Arlington High School (Illinois)|Arlington High School]] facing off against [[Homewood-Flossmoor High School]].<ref name="chicago-debut">{{cite news|last=Wolters|first=Larry|title=Teen-Agers to Match Wits in Quiz Series|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=1962-09-17}}</ref>

[[WLWT]], [[WCPO-TV]] and [[WCET (TV)|WCET]] in [[Cincinnati]] aired a local ''It's Academic'' from October 13, 1963 to May 30, 1982.  The Cincinnati hosts included Dave Manning, Lloyd Baldwin, Steve Douglas and Claire Slemmer.

A version of ''It's Academic'' aired on [[CBS]] affiliate [[WIVB-TV|WBEN-TV]] in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] from January 27, 1968 through 1986. Initially hosted by [[National Football League]] [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] radio broadcaster of the [[Buffalo Bills]], [[Van Miller]], the first season concluded on April 20, 1968. The show was later revived for a few months in 2008 by [[NBC]] affiliate [[WGRZ]], with Kevin O'Neill as host. The show returned to the area starting January 12, 2013 and was hosted by O'Neill and produced by [[Full Circle Studios]] for broadcast on WGRZ.

A show using the ''It's Academic'' name aired in [[Richmond, Virginia]] on the [[NBC]] affiliate, [[WWBT]] Channel 12, from November 22, 1975 to June 26, 1976 (the Richmond championship aired on May 16, 1976), which was also hosted by Mac McGarry and sponsored by Giant. That was replaced by ''[[Battle of the Brains]]''. ''Battle of the Brains'' has also replaced a version of ''It's Academic'' that aired in [[Hampton Roads]].

The World Affairs Council, in conjunction with the [[United States Department of State]], hosted an ''It's Academic International'' event in 2002, also hosted by Mac McGarry.

[[KHII-TV]] in [[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]] aired a local version titled ''It's Academic Hawaii'' hosted by Billy V (from Hawaii News Now-Sunrise). It was previously hosted by Rick Hamada and Keahi Tucker.

[[WEWS-TV|WEWS]] in Cleveland has had a version of the series since 1964. It was originally titled ''It's Academic'' and hosted by Don Cameron. In 1972, the series changed its name to ''Academic Challenge'' with host [[Don Webster (media personality)|Don Webster]], later replaced by Lou Maglio; the series later reverted to its former title during the mid-1990s, at which time Webster also returned as emcee. After a 35 consecutive year run and a brief hiatus, ''Academic Challenge'' returned to the WEWS airwaves in 2003 with host [[Adam Shapiro (television reporter)|Adam Shapiro]]. Danita Harris hosted the 2006 season; from 2007 to 2016, Jason Nicholas was the host, succeeded by Hakem Dermish in December 2016 after Nicholas left WEWS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsnet5.com/news/education/academic-challenge/history|title=Academic Challenge|access-date=March 21, 2016|work=[[WEWS-TV|WEWS]]|date=12 February 2010 |publisher=[[E. W. Scripps Company]]}}</ref> Dermish was succeeded by [[WCLV|WCPN]] host Rick Jackson on April 28, 2018 after Dermish left WEWS for [[CBS Sports]] in New York, while Jackson was subsequently replaced by Rob Powers for the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/education/academic-challenge|title = Academic Challenge}}</ref>

==Similar shows==
A similar show predating ''It's Academic'' ran in the [[United Kingdom]] for many years featuring teams from British [[secondary school]]s. ''[[Top of the Form (quiz show)|Top of the Form]]'' which ran on [[BBC Radio]] from 1948 to 1986 with a television version airing on [[BBC 1]] from 1962 to 1975.

A Canadian quiz show, ''[[Reach for the Top]]'' was modelled on ''Top of the Form'' and began on [[CBUT]] in [[Vancouver]] in 1961 with locally produced versions airing across Canada on [[CBC Television]] from 1966 to 1985. The Toronto edition of the show on [[CBLT]] was hosted for several years by [[Alex Trebek]], who later went on to be the long-term host of ''[[Jeopardy!]]''.

Another similar British quiz show featuring competition by [[post-secondary]] teams is ''[[University Challenge]]'', which has been on air since 1962, making it only slightly younger than ''It's Academic''. It was featured in the British sitcom ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'' where one of the characters, Vyvyan, used a [[Stielhandgranate]] against another university team.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jess|last=Denham |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/rik-mayall-dead-actor-and-comedians-funniest-moments-9515759.html |title=Rik Mayall death anniversary: Funniest moments from Blackadder to The Young Ones &#124; Features &#124; Culture |work=The Independent |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref>

==Notable contestants==
Notable people who have competed on ''It's Academic'' include: 
* [[Matt Amodio]], former [[Jeopardy]] contestant{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
* [[Michael Chabon]], [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning author<ref name="History"/>
* [[Bruce Cohen]], Oscar-winning producer of ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''<ref name="History"/>
* [[David Ignatius]], journalist and novelist<ref name="History"/>
* [[Joshua Foer]], writer<ref name="History"/>
* [[Donald E. Graham]], chairman and chief executive officer of [[Graham Holdings]]<ref name="History"/>
* [[Angus King]], U.S. Senator from [[Maine]]<ref name="History"/>
* [[Laura Lippman]], author<ref name="History"/>
* [[Jon Callas]], cryptographer<ref name="History"/>
* [[Peter Salovey]], President of [[Yale University]]<ref name="History"/>
* [[Charles Schumer]], U.S. Senator from [[New York (state)|New York]]<ref name="History"/><ref name="Washington Post">{{Cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=2010-05-21 |title=Sen. Chuck Schumer is positioned to be the Senate majority leader |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en-US |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/20/AR2010052000759.html |access-date=2023-05-03 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* [[George Stephanopoulos]], political commentator<ref name="History"/>
* [[Michael Stryker (neuroscientist)|Michael Stryker]], neuroscientist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Stryker|first=Michael|date=2020|title=Chance and Choice: Recollections of a life in science|url=https://www.sfn.org/-/media/SfN/Documents/NEW-SfN/About/History-of-Neuroscience/20200731_HON_Stryker.pdf|journal=The History of Neuroscience in Autobiography|volume=11|pages=372–423}}</ref> 
* [[Ian Terry]], ''[[Big Brother 14 (U.S.)|Big Brother 14]]'' winner{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
* [[Mike D'Orso]], journalist/author{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
* [[Merrick B. Garland]], U.S. Attorney General under President [[Joe Biden]]{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
Other notable participants:
* [[Sandra Bullock]] appeared on the show as a [[cheerleading|cheerleader]].<ref name="History"/>
* [[Hillary Clinton]] was an alternate for [[Maine South High School]] in 1965 on WMAQ-TV (Chicago).<ref name="History"/>

In 1979, a charity special was held between a team of three Democratic senators ([[Daniel Patrick Moynihan|Patrick Moynihan]], [[Lloyd Bentsen]], and [[Alan Cranston]]), three Republican senators ([[Lowell Weicker]], [[John Danforth]], and [[John Heinz]]), and three members of the press ([[Jessica Savitch]], [[Art Buchwald]], and [[David Broder]]). The special was handily won by the press team.<ref name="who-is-mac-mcgarry">{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Gail A.|title=Quick! Hit the Buzzer! Who Is Mac McGarry?| newspaper=Washington Times|date=1989-12-14|quote=Both Mrs. Altman and Mr. McGarry point to a special charity version of ''It's Academic'' they did 10 years ago...That show pitted three Republican senators and three Democratic senators against the press.  Republicans Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, John Danforth of Missouri and H.J. Heinz III of Pennsylvania got more points than Democrats Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, Lloyd Bentsen of Texas and Alan Cranston of California, but the press still won.  The late Jessica Savitch, Art Buchwald and Washington Post political columnist David Broder handily whipped the pols...}}</ref>

==Champions==
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2023}}
(Note: '''bold''' denotes Super Bowl Champions (since 1972).)

{|class="wikitable" border="1
!Year !! Winners
|-
| 1961
| Washington: [[St. Albans School (Washington, D.C.)|St. Albans School]]
|-
| 1963
| Washington: [[Oxon Hill High School]]
|-
| 1964
| Washington: [[Oxon Hill High School]]
|-
| 1965
| Washington: '''[[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]'''<br>Cleveland: [[Magnificat High School]]
|-
| 1966
| Cincinnati: [[Wyoming High School (Ohio)|Wyoming High School]]
|-
| 1967
| New York, NY: [[Plainview – Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School|Plainview - Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School]]<br>Cincinnati: [[Walnut Hills High School]]
|-
| 1968
| Washington: [[Fairfax High School (Fairfax, Virginia)|Fairfax High School]]<br>Buffalo, NY: Lake Shore Central High School, Angola, New York 
|-
| 1969
| Washington: [[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]<br>Cincinnati: [[Purcell Marian High School|Purcell High School]]
|-
| 1972
| Washington: '''[[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Gilman School]]<br>New York, NY [[St. Anthony's High School, Smithtown, NY]]<br>Chicago: Joliet East High School
|-
| 1973
| Baltimore: '''[[Randallstown High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[West Geauga High School]]
|-
| 1974
| Washington: '''[[Herndon High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Randallstown High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Barberton High School (Ohio)]]
|-
| 1975
| Washington: '''[[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Randallstown High School]]
|-
| 1976
| Washington: '''[[Northwood High School (Montgomery County, Maryland)|Northwood High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Archbishop Curley High School]]<br>Richmond, VA: [[Collegiate School (Richmond, Virginia)|Collegiate School]]<br>Buffalo: [[Mount Saint Mary Academy]]
|-
| 1977
| Washington: '''[[Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School]]'''
|-
| 1978
| Washington: '''[[Northwood High School (Montgomery County, Maryland)|Northwood High School]]'''<br>Buffalo: [[Nichols School]]
|-
| 1979
| Washington: '''[[Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Franklin High School (Reisterstown, Maryland)]]<br>Buffalo: Grand Island High School<br>Cincinnati: [[St. Xavier High School (Ohio)|St. Xavier High School]]
|-
| 1980
| Washington: [[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]<br>Baltimore: '''[[Randallstown High School]]'''<br>Buffalo: [[Iroquois Central School District]]<br>Cincinnati: [[St. Xavier High School (Ohio)|St. Xavier High School]]
|-
| 1981
| Washington: '''[[Holton-Arms School]]'''<br>Cincinnati: [[St. Xavier High School (Ohio)|St. Xavier High School]]
|-
| 1982
| Washington: '''[[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]'''
|-
| 1983
| Washington: '''[[Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Dulaney High School]]
|-
| 1984
| Baltimore: '''[[Dulaney High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Rockville High School (Maryland)|Rockville High School]]
|-
| 1985
| Washington: '''[[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Dulaney High School]]<br>Buffalo: [[Williamsville East High School]]
|-
| 1986
| Washington: '''[[Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Wilde Lake High School]]
|-
| 1987
| Washington: '''[[Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Wilde Lake High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[St. Anne's-Belfield School]]
|-
| 1988
| Baltimore: '''[[Dulaney High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]
Buffalo: [[West Seneca West Senior High School]]
|-
| 1989
| Washington: '''[[Georgetown Day School]]'''<br>Central Virginia: [[Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology]]<br>Baltimore: [[Dulaney High School]]
|-
| 1990
| Baltimore: '''[[Oakland Mills High School]]''' <br>Washington: [[Rockville High School (Maryland)|Rockville High School]] <br>Central Virginia: [[St. Anne's-Belfield School]]
|-
| 1991
| Baltimore: '''[[Dulaney High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]
|-
| 1992
| Baltimore: '''[[Wilde Lake High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology]]
|-
| 1993
| Washington: '''[[Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Gilman School]]
|-
| 1994
| Baltimore: [[Linganore High School]]<br>Washington: '''[[Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Maryland)|Eleanor Roosevelt High School]]'''<br>Central Virginia: [[Woodberry Forest School]]
|-
| 1995
| Washington: '''[[Montgomery Blair High School]]'''<br>Central Virginia: [[Woodberry Forest School]]
|-
| 1996
| Washington: '''[[Georgetown Day School]]'''<br>Central Virginia: [[Woodberry Forest School]]<br>Baltimore: [[Mount Saint Joseph High School]]
|-
| 1997
| Washington: '''[[Georgetown Day School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Oakland Mills High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Charlottesville High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Lakewood High School (Lakewood, Ohio)|Lakewood High School]]
|-
| 1998
| Washington: '''[[Gonzaga College High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Hammond High School (Columbia, Maryland)|Hammond High School]]
|-
| 1999
| Washington: '''[[Rockville High School (Maryland)|Rockville High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Towson High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Copley High School]]
|-
| 2000
| Baltimore: '''[[Howard High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Howard High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Maryland)|Eleanor Roosevelt High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Staunton High School]]
|-
| 2001
| Washington: '''[[Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Maryland)|Eleanor Roosevelt High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Howard High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Howard High School]]
|-
| 2002
| Baltimore: '''[[Howard High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Howard High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Holton-Arms School]]<br>Pittsburgh: [[Ringgold High School (Pennsylvania)|Ringgold High School]]
|-
| 2003
| Washington: '''[[Holton-Arms School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]
|-
| 2004
| Baltimore: '''[[Howard High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Howard High School]]'''<br>Washington: [[Richard Montgomery High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Solon High School]]
|-
| 2005
| Washington: '''[[Walter Johnson High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Staunton High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Solon High School]]
|-
| 2006
| Washington: '''[[Richard Montgomery High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Hammond High School (Columbia, Maryland)|Hammond High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Charlottesville High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Copley High School]]
|-
| 2007
| Washington: '''[[Walter Johnson High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Staunton High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Gilmour Academy]]
|-
| 2008
| Washington: '''[[Rockville High School (Maryland)|Rockville High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Mount Saint Joseph High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Charlottesville High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Hawken School]]<br>Pittsburgh: [[Shady Side Academy]]<br>Buffalo, NY: [[Iroquois Central School District]]
|-
| 2009
| Baltimore: '''[[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]'''<br>Washington:  [[Montgomery Blair High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Charlottesville High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Archbishop Hoban High School]]<br>Pittsburgh: [[Uniontown Area High School]]
|-
| 2010
| Washington: '''[[Rockville High School (Maryland)|Rockville High School]]'''<br>Central Virginia:  [[Charlottesville High School]]<br>Baltimore: [[Gilman School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Copley High School]]<br>Pittsburgh: [[Hampton High School (Allison Park, Pennsylvania)|Hampton High School]]
|-
| 2011
| Washington: '''[[Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School|W.T. Woodson High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Walkersville High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Rappahannock County High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[St. Edward High School (Ohio)|St. Edward High School]]
|-
| 2012
| Washington: '''[[James Hubert Blake High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Catonsville High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Louisa County High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Firestone Community Learning Center]]<br>Pittsburgh: [[Winchester Thurston School]]<br>Hawaii: [[Waiakea High School]]
|-
| 2013
| Washington: '''[[James Hubert Blake High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Orange County High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Twinsburg High School]]<br>Buffalo, NY: [[Williamsville East High School]]<br>Hawaii: [[Punahou School]]
|-
| 2014
| Washington: '''[[James Hubert Blake High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[James M. Bennett High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Charlottesville High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Cloverleaf High School]]<br>Buffalo, NY: [[Williamsville East High School]]
|-
| 2015
| Washington: [[James Hubert Blake High School]]<br>Baltimore: '''[[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]'''<br>Central Virginia: [[Rappahannock County High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Berea–Midpark High School|Berea-Midpark High School]]
|-
| 2016
| Washington: '''[[Walt Whitman High School (Maryland)|Walt Whitman High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Staunton High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Solon High School]]
|-
| 2017
| Washington: '''[[Montgomery Blair High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Kettle Run High School (Nokesville, Virginia)|Kettle Run High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Lakewood High School (Lakewood, Ohio)|Lakewood High School]]<br>Hawaii: [[Henry J. Kaiser High School (Hawaii)|Kaiser High School]] 
|-
| 2018
| Washington: '''[[Montgomery Blair High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Stuarts Draft High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Westlake High School (Ohio)|Westlake High School]]
|-
| 2019
|  Washington: '''[[Montgomery Blair High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Walkersville High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Kettle Run High School (Nokesville, Virginia)|Kettle Run High School]]<br> Cleveland: [[Revere High School (Ohio)|Revere High School]]
|-
| 2020
| Washington: '''[[Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School]]'''<br>Baltimore: [[Centennial High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Centennial High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Fauquier High School]]
|-
|2021
|Washington: '''[[James Hubert Blake High School]]'''<br>Baltimore:  [[Howard High School (Howard County, Maryland)|Howard High School]]<br>Central Virginia: [[Western Albemarle High School]]
|-
| 2022
| Washington: [[McLean High School]]<br>Cleveland: [[Avon Lake High School]]
|-
|2023
|Washington:  [[McLean High School]]
Cleveland:  [[Cleveland Heights High School]]
|-
|2024
|Washington:  '''[[James Hubert Blake High School]]'''
Cleveland:  [[Solon High School]]
|-
|2025
|Washington:  James Hubert Blake High School
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.itsacademicquizshow.com Official ''It's Academic'' web site]
* [http://www.nbcwashington.com/station/about-us/Its_Academic.html Washington DC area ''It's Academic'']
* [http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/category/its-academic Baltimore area ''It's Academic'']
* [http://www.news5cleveland.com/news/academic-challenge Cleveland area ''Academic Challenge'']
* [http://www.k5thehometeam.com/category/229108/its-academic ''It's Academic'' Hawaii]
*In September 2011, the VOA [[Special English]] service of the [[Voice of America]] broadcast a story about ''It's Academic'' on its weekly Education Report. A transcript and MP3 of the program, intended for English learners, can be found at [https://web.archive.org/web/20111001151723/http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/education/A-TV-Quiz-Show-for-Teens-Turns-50-130739688.html A TV Quiz Show for Teens Turns 50]

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