Compton Unified School District’s Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Elementary School has won 2nd place and numerous other honors at the Orange County Academic Pentathlon! The bright 7th graders walked away with several medals, with one student, Taliyah Gist, taking second overall. One official said the school had “one of the best showings of any new school in a long time.”

The Academic Pentathlon, which featured 60 teams from public, charter and private schools across Southern California, is a five-event academic competition for grades six, seven, and eight. Under the guidance of an adult coach, teams of students prepare for competition in the subject areas of fine arts (art and music), literature (including essay analysis), math, science, and social science. The Longfellow coaches were teachers Gladys Hutcheson and Albertina Carillo.

The curriculum is aligned with the National Content Standards and California Content Standards in the areas of Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Literature, and Music. The curriculum is designed to model the United States Academic Decathlon (High School) and has a theme it focuses on each year. This year's theme was Africa.

The students are on fire and are already making plans to take first place next year. They will have company, as Longfellow’s principal, Joanna Davidson, plans to send one team per each grade level (6, 7, 8) the following year. “I’m filled with gratitude that we can provide these amazing kids with opportunities and experiences where they can shine,” said Ms. Davidson.

Below are the amazing results! We are so proud and thankful for our scholars, their teachers/coaches, supportive parents and family members, and Principal Davidson for being committed to BEING GREAT IN COMPTON. Please join us in congratulating them.

TEAM MEMBERS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2nd Place Overall Team Award -7th Grade - 11,812.0 (only 100 points from first place) 2nd Place in Super Quiz - 7th Grade 7 out of the 9 Longfellow Pentathletes won individual medals:

Taliyah Gist won 2nd Place Overall, plus:

• 1st Place Fine Arts
• 2nd Place Math
• 2nd Place Social Studies
• 2nd Place Science
• 4th Place Literature

Levaaia Noa won 3rd Place Overall, plus:

• 2nd Place Literature
• 3rd Place Science
• 4th Place Social Studies

Alexander Rameriz won 4th Place Overall, plus:

• 2nd Place Social Studies
• 3rd Place Fine Arts
• 3rd Place Math

Jonathan Rodriguez won:

• 2nd Place Social Studies
• 4th Place Math
• 4th Place Fine Arts

Carlos Zavala- Carlos also was the recipient of the Perseverance Award (voted on by his team mates)

• 3rd Social Studies
• 4th Place Fine Arts

Riley Moaning won 4th Place Fine Arts

Joshua Caceras Acosta won 4th Place Math

Melanie Duque and Julizza Herrera also on the team, both had strong showings and contributed to the team’s overall success.

About Longfellow. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Elementary School, located in Compton, CA, and serves grades Pre-k through 8th grade. It’s Academic Preparatory Program provides upper grade students with a quality 21st Century instruction and opportunities for academic excellence, exploration, and creativity. The program focuses on college-career readiness, STEAM, community involvement and use of the most innovative and well-researched teaching strategies to engage scholars in their learning.