Huntington High School Wins First Academic Showdown Regional

Charleston, W.Va. - The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and Marshall University congratulate Huntington High School (Cabell County) for placing first and Hurricane High School (Putnam County) for placing second in the first regional competition of the 2026 Academic Showdown season. These wins secured both schools a spot in the finale in Charleston on May 1.

Through fast-paced, head-to-head style matchups, the Showdown provides students the opportunity to showcase a mastery of knowledge across content areas, including mathematics, science, history, sports, pop culture and more.

The WVDE hosted teams from the following schools:

• Buffalo High School
• Huntington High School
• Hurricane High School
• Mingo Central High School
• Poca High School
• Spring Valley High School
• Tug Valley High School
• Wayne High School
• Winfield High School

"The vigor and tenacity our students bring to the Academic Showdown are inspiring. I'm excited that our students have the opportunity once again to showcase their talents, depth of knowledge and competitiveness," said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. "Each year, this competition highlights the impact public education has on students and serves as a reminder of the quality of learning happening every day in classrooms statewide."

The next regional competition is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, at Fairmont State University.

The Showdown is a partnership between the WVDE, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the West Virginia Culture Center and West Virginia Public Broadcasting.