Academic Challenge Team Scores Well Above National Average in Knowledge Master Open

Congratulations are in order for Ranney's Academic Challenge Team, the "Nerd Squadders", led by Captain and senior, Christina Henricks, and advised by John Lewis, Head of Upper School, and Doug Felter, Upper School English teacher. The team finished 7th out of 41 competing schools in the state of New Jersey in the Knowledge Master Open. Though Ranney was the smallest school in the top 15 in the state, it scored 1432 points, more than 200 points above the national mean.

The Knowledge Master Open is a twice yearly national competition sponsored by Academic Hallmarks in Durango, Colorado. This year marked the competition’s 51st year. Hundreds of schools compete throughout the nation. Six hundred and ninety-five schools competed this year, 41 of which were from New Jersey.

During the Knowledge Master Open, the teams compete in their own schools at a designated time. The format of the Open is as follows: The team captain starts the DVD disc that projects 200 timed multiple-choice questions on a screen. Questions concern science, math, history, literature, and popular culture; 14 total categories representing four cognitive levels. The group, which consists of roughly 20 Ranney students and some additional observers, responds quickly and then the captain taps in what she believes is the best response. The faster the correct response, the more points earned.

To put this year’s phenomenal accomplishment into perspective: Last year Ranney finished with a score of 1248 and the national mean was 1198 out of 2,000 pts. This year the national mean was 1212, and Ranney scored 1432, putting the team in 7th place in the state and 115 nationally.

The team looks forward to competing again in the spring.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.