School smarts highlighted on ‘It’s Academic’

On “It’s Academic,” Montgomery Blair won Wootton and Whitman high schools. The show aired June 17, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," La Plata High School, competed against Rockville and Langley high schools. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” La Plata High School, competed against Rockville and Langley high schools. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Rockville High School competed against Langley and La Plata. The show aired May 27, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Rockville High School competed against Langley and La Plata. The show aired May 27, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Langley High School competed against Rockville and La Plata high schools. The show aired May 27, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Langley High School won against Rockville and La Plata high schools. The show aired May 27, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Wootton won against Chantilly and Einstein. The show aired May 13, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Quince Orchard won against Washington Latin and Gaithersburg. The show aired May 13, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Whitman High School won against Loudoun County and St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes. The show aired April 29, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Blake won against Sherwood and Oakton high schools. The show aired April 22, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Churchill High School won against Westfield and St. Johns. The show aired April 22, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," La Plata High School competes against George Mason and Benjamin Banneker Academic high schools. The show airs April 8, 2017. (Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” La Plata High School won against George Mason and Benjamin Banneker Academic high schools. The show aired April 8, 2017. (Facebook/It’s Academic)

High school students with TV host. — On “It’s Academic,” Langley High School won against DeMatha and Watkins Mill. The show aired April 1, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Rockville High School competes against Park view and South County high schools. The show airs March 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Rockville High School won against Park view and South County high schools. The show aired March 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," St. Albans School competes against Bowie and Wheaton high schools. The show airs March 11, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” St. Albans School won against Bowie and Wheaton high schools. The show aired March 11, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Georgetown Day competes against Hayfield High School and The Bullis School. The show airs March 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Georgetown Day won against Hayfield High School and The Bullis School. The show aired March 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Hayfield High School competes against Gaithersburg High School and Georgetown Day on March 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Hayfield High School competeed against The Bullis School and Georgetown Day. The show aired on March 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Wakefield High School competed against Gaithersburg and Stone Bridge high schools. The show aired Feb. 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Wakefield High School competed against Gaithersburg and Stone Bridge high schools. The show aired Feb. 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Stone Bridge High School competed against Gaithersburg and Wakefield high Schools. The show aired Feb. 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Stone Bridge High School competed against Gaithersburg and Wakefield high Schools. The show aired Feb. 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Gaithersburg High School competes against Stone Bridge and Wakefield high schools. The show airs Feb. 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Gaithersburg High School won against Stone Bridge and Wakefield high schools. The show aired Feb. 25, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Robinson Secondary School competed against Washington Latin Charter and Annandale High School. The show aired Feb. 18, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Annandale High School competes against Washington Latin Charter and Robinson Secondary School. The show airs Feb. 18, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Annandale High School competed against Washington Latin Charter and Robinson Secondary School. The show aired Feb. 18, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Washington Latin Charter competes againsts Annandale High School and Robinson Secondary School. The show airs Feb. 18, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Washington Latin Charter won against Annandale High School and Robinson Secondary School. The show aired Feb. 18, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Quince Orchard competes against Sidwell Friends and Stone Ridge. The show airs Feb. 11, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Quince Orchard won against Sidwell Friends and Stone Ridge. The show aired Feb. 11, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Stone Ridge competed against Sidwell Friends and Quince Orchard. The show aired Feb. 11, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Sidwell Friends competes against Stone Ridge and Quince Orchard. The show airs Feb. 11, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Sidwell Friends competed against Stone Ridge and Quince Orchard. The show aired Feb. 11, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Wootton High School competes against J.E.B. Stuart and Edison high schools. The show airs Feb. 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Wootton High School won against J.E.B. Stuart and Edison high schools. The show aired Feb. 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," J.E.B. Stuart High School competes against Wootton and Edison high schools. The show airs Feb. 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” J.E.B. Stuart High School competed against Wootton and Edison high schools. The show aired Feb. 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Edison High School competes against J.E.B. Stuart High School and Wootton High School. The show airs Feb. 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Edison High School competed against J.E.B. Stuart High School and Wootton High School. The show aired Feb. 4, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Paul VI competed against Albert Einstein High School and Holton-Arms. The show aired Jan. 28, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Paul VI competed against Albert Einstein High School and Holton-Arms. The show aired Jan. 28, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Holton-Arms competed against Albert Einstein High School and Paul VI. The show aired Jan. 28, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Holton-Arms competed against Albert Einstein High School and Paul VI. The show aired Jan. 28, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Albert Einstein High School won against Holton-Arms and Paul VI. The show aired Jan. 28, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Albert Einstein High School won against Holton-Arms and Paul VI. The show aired Jan. 28, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," West Springfield High School competed against Chantilly and Suitland high schools. The show aired Jan. 21, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” West Springfield High School competed against Chantilly and Suitland high schools. The show aired Jan. 21, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Suitland High School competed against Chantilly and West Springfield high schools. The show aired Jan. 21, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Suitland High School competed against Chantilly and West Springfield high schools. The show aired Jan. 21, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Chantilly High School won against Suitland and West Springfield high schools. The show aired Jan. 21, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Chantilly High School won against Suitland and West Springfield high schools. The show aired Jan. 21, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Bethesda-Chevy Chase, St. Anselm's and T.C. Williams compete. The show airs Jan. 14, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” St. Anselm’s won against T.C. Williams and Bethesda-Chevy Chase high scools. The show aired Jan. 14, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Oxon Hill High School competes against National Cathedral School and Osbourn High School. The show airs Jan. 7, 2017. (Courtesy/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Oxon Hill High School competed against National Cathedral School and Osbourn High School. The National Cathedral school won. The show aired Jan. 7, 2017. (Courtesy/It’s Academic)

On “It’s Academic,” Osbourn High School competed against National Cathedral School and Oxon Hill High School. The National Cathedral school won. The show aired Jan. 7, 2017. (Courtesy/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," National Cathedral competes against Osbourn and Oxon Hill high schools. The show airs Jan. 7. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” National Cathedral won against Osbourn and Oxon Hill high schools. The show aired Jan. 7, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Stonewall Jackson High School competes against Lake Braddock Secondary School and Montgomery Blair High School. The show airs Dec. 31, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Stonewall Jackson High School competed against Lake Braddock Secondary School and Montgomery Blair High School. Montgomery Blair High School won. The show aired Dec. 31, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "Its Academic," Lake Braddock Secondary School competes against Stonewall Jackson and Montgomery Blair high schools. The show airs Dec. 31, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “Its Academic,” Lake Braddock Secondary School competed against Stonewall Jackson and Montgomery Blair high schools. Montgomery Blair High School won. The show aired Dec. 31, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Montgomery Blair High School competes against Stonewall Jackson High School and Lake Braddock Secondary School. The show airs Dec. 31, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Montgomery Blair High School won against Stonewall Jackson High School and Lake Braddock Secondary School. The show aired Dec. 31, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Herndon High School competed against Loudoun County High School and Landon School. Loudoun County High School won. The show aired Dec. 24, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Herndon High School competed against Loudoun County High School and Landon School. Loudoun County High School won. The show aired Dec. 24, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Loudoun County High School competes against Landon High School and Herndon High School. The show airs Dec. 24, 2016.
(Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Loudoun County High School won against Landon School and Herndon High School. The show aired Dec. 24, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Landon High School competes against Herndon High School and Loudoun County High School. The show airs Dec. 24, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Landon School competes against Herndon High School and Loudoun County High School. Loudoun County High School won. The show aired Dec. 24, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Mount Vernon High School competes with Magruder and Whitman high schools. The show airs Dec. 17, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Mount Vernon High School competed with Magruder and Whitman high schools. The show aired Dec. 17, 2016. Whitman High School won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Whitman High School competes againts Magruder and Mount Vernon high schools. The show airs Dec. 17, 2016.
(Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Whitman High School won against Magruder and Mount Vernon high schools. The show aired Dec. 17, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Macgruder High School competes against Whitman and Mount Vernon high schools. The show airs Dec. 17, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Magruder High School competed against Whitman and Mount Vernon high schools. The show aired Dec. 17, 2016. Whitman High School won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," Washington-Lee High School competes against W.T. Woodson High School and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School. The show airs Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Washington-Lee High School competed against W.T. Woodson High School and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School won. The show aired Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School competes against Washington-Lee High School and W.T. Woodson High School. The show airs Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School won against Washington-Lee High School and W.T. Woodson High School. The show aired Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

On "It's Academic," W.T. Woodson High School competes against Washington-Lee High School and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School. The show airs Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” W.T. Woodson High School competed against Washington-Lee High School and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School won. The show aired Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

Sherwood High School competes against Centreville High School and Northwest High School on Dec. 3, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Sherwood High School competed against Centreville High School and Northwest High School on Dec. 3, 2016. Sherwood won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

Centreville High competes against Northwest and Sherwood Dec. 3, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Centreville High competed against Northwest and Sherwood. The show aired Dec. 3, 2016. Sherwood won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

Northwest High School competes against Centreville and Sherwood Dec. 3, 2017. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Northwest High School competed against Centreville and Sherwood. The show aired Dec. 3, 2016. Sherwood won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

St. Stephen's and St. Agnes compete against Washington-Lee High School and W.T. Woodson High School. The show airs Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes competed against Washington-Lee High School and W.T. Woodson High School. The show aired Dec. 10, 2016. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

Washington-Lee High School compete against St. Stephens' and St. Agnes and W.T. Woodson High School. The show airs Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” Washington-Lee High School competed against St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes and W.T. Woodson High School. The show aired Dec. 10, 2016. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

W.T. Woodson High School competes against Washington-Lee High School and St. Stephen's and St. Agnes. The show airs Dec. 10, 2016. (Courtesy Facebook/It's Academic) — On “It’s Academic,” W.T. Woodson High School competed against Washington-Lee High School and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes. The show aired Dec. 10, 2016. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes won. (Courtesy Facebook/It’s Academic)

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Editor’s note: WTOP will periodically update this story with winners and additional photos.

WASHINGTON — A longtime area tradition is underway on Saturdays, and it’s one that shows off the smarts of area high school students.

“These kids are so smart, it’s humbling,” said WTOP’s Hillary Howard, who has hosted the Washington edition of “It’s Academic” since 2011.

The world’s longest-running TV quiz show that kicked off its 56th season Oct. 8 pits students from three schools against each other for the bragging rights of who knows the most.

If you want to see if you can match wits with some of the region’s brightest students, tune in at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays on NBC Washington.

Click through the gallery above to see photos of the students from Washington-area schools who are competing each week.

Longtime followers of the show will tell you that the competition can be intense to watch.

“The intensity depends on the coach and the personal temperament of the kids. There are some kids I say hello to, and I think they just want me to go away. Others are enormously engaging,” said Howard.

“All of them are passionate about knowledge and learning. These are young adults who will be lifetime learners.”

The full schedule of schools competing on “It’s Academic” is posted on the show’s website.

The show also has a Baltimore counterpart and a central Virginia show.

Giant Food, which has been funding the show for 50 years, continues its sponsorship. Over the years, the grocery chain has given more than $3 million in scholarship funds to participating schools.

The Montgomery County Council recently recognized Giant’s anniversary with a proclamation.

Watch the video:

Winners:
Oct. 8 – Richard Montgomery High School
Oct. 15 – Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Oct. 22 – McLean High School
Oct. 29 – Westfield High School
Nov. 5 – St. John’s College High School
Nov. 12. – Churchill High School
Nov. 19 – Oakton High School
Nov. 26 – Blake High School
Dec. 3 – Sherwood High School
Dec. 10 – St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes
Dec. 17 – Whitman High School
Dec. 24 – Loudoun County High School
Dec. 31 – Montgomery Blair High School
Jan. 7 – National Cathedral School
Jan. 14 – St. Anselm’s
Jan. 21 – Chantilly High School
Jan. 28 – Einstein
Feb. 4 – Wootton
Feb. 11 – Quince Orchard
Feb. 18 – Washington Latin Charter
Feb. 25 – Gaithersburg
March 4 – Georgetown Day
March 11 – St. Albans
March 18 – George Marshall
March 25 – Rockville
April 1 – Langley
April 8 – La Plata
April 15 – Jefferson
April 22 – Blake High School and Churchill High School
April 29 – Whitman
May 6 – Montgomery Blair
May 13 – Wootton and Quince Orchard
May 20 – Georgetown Day
May 27 – Langley High School
June 3 – Blake
June 17 – Montgomery Blair
June 24 (Superbowl/Intercity Final) – Montgomery Blair