The South Carolina Science Olympiad Competition, often abbreviated as SCSO, is an annual Science Olympiad competition comprising middle school and high school teams across South Carolina. The competition was first held in the C Division (grades 9–12) in 1985, with the inaugural state champions being Irmo High School from Irmo. Bell Street Middle School from Clinton won the first B Division (grades 6–9) state championship a year later. The winners of the tournament represent South Carolina at the Science Olympiad National Tournament, held in May at various universities across the nation.

The current state champions are Clinton Middle School and Clinton High School, who won their 22nd and 13th state championships, respectively, on March 2, 2024.

Patrick Nelson assumed the position of State Director for the 2025 season; he replaced Dr. Jennifer Albert.

History

The competition has been held every year since 1985 for Division C and since 1986 for Division B, with the exception of 2020, when the competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Year Division B Champions Division C Champions Host 1985 IrmoNewberry CollegeNewberry, SC 1986 Bell Street Irmo 1987 Bell StreetIrmo 1988Irmo Irmo 1989IrmoIrmo 1990IrmoIrmo 1991 Irmo Irmo 1992 Irmo Irmo 1993 Irmo Irmo 1994 Irmo Irmo 1995 Irmo Irmo 1996 Irmo Dutch Fork 1997 Irmo Dutch Fork 1998 Irmo Dutch Fork 1999 Dutch Fork Irmo 2000 Dutch Fork Irmo 2001 Dutch Fork Dutch Fork 2002 Dutch Fork Irmo 2003 Bell Street Irmo 2004 Bell Street Irmo 2005 Bell Street Irmo 2006 Bell Street Irmo 2007 Bell Street Irmo 2008 Bell Street Irmo 2009 Bell Street Clinton 2010 Bell Street Clinton 2011 Bell Street Clinton 2012 Bell Street Clinton 2013 Bell Street Clinton 2014 Bell Street Clinton 2015 Bell Streethttp://www.golaurens.com/news/item/20096-bell-street-wins-13th-straight-s-c-science-olympiad Bell Street wins 13th straight Science Olympiad Academic Magnethttp://www.golaurens.com/sports/item/20295-clinton-high-s-run-at-science-olympiad-state-titles-comes-to-an-end Clinton High School's Science Olympiad run comes to an end 2016 Clinton Clinton 2017 Clinton Clinton 2018 Clinton Clinton 2019 Clinton Academic MagnetThe CitadelCharleston, SC 2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 GREEN Charter Clinton2022ClintonClinton2023ClintonClinton2024ClintonClinton

Indicates team won the national tournament.

Statistics State Championships by School +Division B Rank School Years1Bell Street M.S./Clinton M.S.222Irmo M.S.113Dutch Fork M.S.41999, 2000, 2001, 20024GREEN Charter School12021

+Division C Rank School Years1Irmo H.S.202Clinton H.S.132009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 20243Dutch Fork H.S.41996, 1997, 1998, 20014Academic Magnet H.S.22015, 2019

BOLD denotes a national championship.

Results Score is calculated by giving 1 point for a first-place finish, 2 points for a second-place finish, etc. In final events standings, (D) denotes defending champions. 2024 Competition Division B – event placement Event First place Second place Third placeAir TrajectoryGreen CharterClinton A Anatomy and PhysiologyClinton AGreen CharterCan't Judge a PowderClinton AGreen CharterCodebustersClinton AGreen CharterCrime BustersGreen CharterClinton ADisease DetectivesClinton AGreen CharterDynamic PlanetGreen CharterClinton AClinton BEcologyClinton AGreen CharterExperimental DesignClinton AGreen CharterClinton BFast FactsGreen CharterClinton AFlightClinton AGreen CharterForestryClinton AGreen CharterFossilsClinton AGreen CharterMeteorologyClinton AGreen CharterMicrobe MissionClinton AGreen CharterOpticsClinton AGreen CharterReach for the StarsClinton AGreen CharterRoad ScholarClinton AGreen CharterClinton BRoller CoasterClinton AGreen CharterTowerGreen CharterClinton AWheeled VehicleClinton AGreen CharterWind PowerClinton AGreen CharterWrite It Do ItGreen CharterClinton A Winning team Division B – final standings Position Team Score 1 Clinton A (D) 29 2 Green Charter 40 3 Clinton B 89

Division C – event placement Event First place Second place Third place Fourth Place Air TrajectoryClintonLexingtonAcademic Magnet ASpring Hill Gold Anatomy and PhysiologyClintonPorter-GaudWest AshleyLucy Beckham BlueAstronomyDutch Fork AlphaAcademic Magnet ALexingtonClintonChemistry LabFort MillCatawba RidgeAcademic Magnet AChapin BCodebustersAcademic Magnet AClintonDutch Fork AlphaGSSMDetector BuildingLexingtonSpring Hill RedClintonDutch Fork AlphaDisease DetectivesClintonLexingtonAcademic Magnet AWest AshleyDynamic PlanetClintonLexingtonAcademic Magnet ADutch Fork AlphaEcologyCatawba RidgeSpring Hill RedLexingtonChapin AExperimental DesignAcademic Magnet AClintonChapin AWest AshleyFermi QuestionsAcademic Magnet ALexingtonChapin BClintonFlightLexingtonAcademic Magnet AAcademic Magnet BSpring Hill GoldForensicsClintonGSSMChapin ALexingtonForestryLexingtonSpring Hill RedClintonDutch Fork AlphaFossilsSpring Hill RedClintonChapin ADutch Fork AlphaGeologic MappingLucy Beckham GreenClintonSpring Hill RedChapin AMicrobe MissionAcademic Magnet ADutch Fork AlphaClintonAcademic Magnet BOpticsDutch Fork AlphaAcademic Magnet AAcademic Magnet BCatawba RidgeRobot TourClintonChapin ACatawba RidgeAcademic Magnet BScramblerClintonLexingtonLucy Beckham BlueSpring Hill RedTowersLexingtonClintonLucy Beckham BlueChapin AWind PowerDutch Fork AlphaSpring Hill GoldSpring Hill RedLexingtonWrite It Do ItLucy Beckham BlueAcademic Magnet ACrossWest Ashley Winning team Division C – final standings Position Team Score 1 Clinton (D) 85 2 Academic Magnet A 107 3 Lexington 124 4 Dutch Fork Alpha 148 5 Spring Hill Red 159 6 Chapin A 176 7 Lucy Beckham Blue 203 8 Spring Hill Gold 206 9 Academic Magnet B 238 10 Lucy Beckham Green 250 11 Catawba Ridge 257 12 West Ashley 271 13 Fort Mill 305 14 GSSM 339 15 Cross 348 16 Chapin B 360 17 Porter-Gaud 375 18 Dutch Fork Omega 383

2023 Competition The 2023 competition featured an amended slate of middle school events due to a lack of registered teams. The high school competition included the regular number of events. Both Division B and Division C competitions took place on April 1, 2023.

Division B – event placement Event First place Second place Third place Anatomy and PhysiologyClinton AClinton BBio Process LabClinton ACrossBridgeClinton ACrossClinton BCan't Judge a PowderClinton ACodebustersClinton ACrime BustersClinton ADisease DetectivesClinton ADynamic PlanetClinton AExperimental DesignClinton AFlightClinton ACrossForestryClinton AGreen GenerationClinton ACrossRocks and MineralsClinton ACrossClinton BRoller CoasterClinton ASolar SystemClinton AStorm the CastleClinton AWrite It Do ItClinton AWheeled VehicleClinton A Winning team Division B – final standings Position Team Score 1 Clinton A (D) 17 2 Cross 59 3 Clinton B 64

Division C – event placement Event First place Second place Third place Fourth Place Anatomy and PhysiologySpring Hill RedAcademic Magnet BClintonSpring Hill GoldAstronomyClintonChapin 1Dutch Fork 1Academic Magnet ABridgeClintonSpring Hill RedAcademic Magnet AAcademic Magnet BCell BiologyAcademic Magnet BAcademic Magnet AClintonDutch Fork 2Chemistry LabClintonAcademic Magnet ADutch Fork 1Chapin 2CodebustersAcademic Magnet ADutch Fork 1ClintonLucy BeckhamDetector BuildingChapin 1ClintonAcademic Magnet ADutch Fork 1Disease DetectivesAcademic Magnet AAcademic Magnet BLucy BeckhamDutch Fork 1Dynamic PlanetClintonSpring Hill RedDutch Fork 1Chapin 1Environmental ChemistryClintonAcademic Magnet ASpring Hill RedSpring Hill GoldExperimental DesignAcademic Magnet AChapin 1ClintonSpring Hill RedFermi QuestionsDutch Fork 1LexingtonChapin 1ClintonFlightLexingtonChapin 1ClintonDutch Fork 1ForensicsAcademic Magnet AChapin 1Dutch Fork 1ClintonForestryClintonAcademic Magnet BLucy BeckhamSpring Hill RedGreen GenerationSpring Hill RedLucy BeckhamWest AshleyAcademic Magnet BIt's About TimeSpring Hill GoldClintonChapin 1Academic Magnet ARemote SensingClintonDutch Fork 1Chapin 1Academic Magnet BRocks and MineralsLucy BeckhamChapin 1ClintonAcademic Magnet AScramblerClintonDutch Fork 1Spring Hill RedWest AshleyTrajectoryChapin 2ClintonAcademic Magnet ASpring Hill RedWiFi LabClintonChapin 1Academic Magnet ASpring Hill RedWrite It Do ItChapin 1Lucy BeckhamAcademic Magnet BDutch Fork 1 Winning team Division C – final standings Position Team Score 1 Clinton (D) 62 2 Academic Magnet A 105 3 Spring Hill Red 112 4 Chapin 1 117 5 Dutch Fork 1 129 6 Academic Magnet B 199 7 Spring Hill Gold 203 8 Lucy Beckham 214 9 West Ashley 22810 Chapin 2 263 Dutch Fork 2 263 12 Lexington 294 13 Cross 299 14 Aiken Scholars 301

2022 Competition Like the 2021 competition, the 2022 competition did not include regional competitions due to lingering uncertainties regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The state competition marked a return to an in-person format and included the standard slate of 23 events. While the middle school tournament was initially scheduled for an earlier date, a lack of registered teams resulted in both the competitions for Division B and Division C taking place on April 2, 2022. Division B – event placement Event First place Second place Third place Anatomy and PhysiologyClinton APALSBio Process LabClinton APALSBridgePALSClinton AClinton BCodebustersPALSClinton ACrave the WaveClinton APALSCrime BustersClinton APALSDisease DetectivesClinton AClinton BPALSDynamic PlanetClinton APALSElectric Wright StuffClinton APALSExperimental DesignClinton APALSClinton BFood SciencePALSClinton AGreen GenerationPALSClinton AMeteorologyClinton APALSClinton BMission PossiblePALSClinton AMousetrap VehicleClinton APALSOrnithologyClinton APALSPing-Pong ParachuteClinton APALSRoad ScholarClinton APALSRocks and MineralsClinton APALSSolar SystemClinton BClinton APALSSounds of MusicPALSClinton AStorm the CastleClinton APALSWrite It Do ItClinton APALS Winning team Division B – final standings Position Team Score 1 Clinton A 30 2 PALS 42 3 Clinton B 84

Division C – event placement Event First place Second place Third place Fourth Place Anatomy and PhysiologyLexingtonClintonSpring Hill 1Academic Magnet 1AstronomyChapinDutch Fork 1Academic Magnet 2ClintonBridgeLexingtonClintonAcademic Magnet 1Aiken ScholarsCell BiologyAcademic Magnet 2Dutch Fork 1ClintonChapinChemistry LabClintonAcademic Magnet 1Dutch Fork 1West AshleyCodebustersAcademic Magnet 1Academic Magnet 2Dutch Fork 1Spring Valley ADetector BuildingSpring Hill 1Dutch Fork 1ClintonAcademic Magnet 1Disease DetectivesClintonIrmoAcademic Magnet 2 and Spring Valley A (Tie)Dynamic PlanetClintonDutch Fork 1LexingtonSpring Hill 1Environmental ChemistryAcademic Magnet 1Dutch Fork 2ClintonDutch Fork 1Experimental DesignClintonAcademic Magnet 1Spring Hill 1Spring Valley AForensicsClintonAcademic Magnet 2Dutch Fork 1Spring Hill 2Gravity VehicleSpring Valley AWest AshleyDutch Fork 1ClintonGreen GenerationChapinSpring Valley ARiver BluffAcademic Magnet 2It's About TimeClintonChapinSpring Hill 1Dutch Fork 1OrnithologySpring Hill 1Academic Magnet 2Academic Magnet 1ChapinPing-Pong ParachuteDutch Fork 1Academic Magnet 2ClintonSpring Hill 1Remote SensingChapinAcademic Magnet 2Academic Magnet 1Dutch Fork 1Rocks and MineralsClintonAcademic Magnet 1ChapinSpring Valley ATrajectorySpring Valley AAcademic Magnet 2Academic Magnet 1ClintonWiFi LabAcademic Magnet 1Dutch Fork 1ClintonSpring Hill 1Wright StuffChapinLexingtonClintonDutch Fork 1Write It Do ItLexingtonIrmoSpring Hill 2Clinton Winning team Division C – final standings Position Team Score 1 Clinton (D) 69 2 Dutch Fork 1 103 3 Academic Magnet 1 110 4 Spring Hill 1 120 5 Chapin 168 6 Academic Magnet 2 184 7 Spring Hill 2 189 8 Spring Valley A 214 9 West Ashley 226 10 Lexington 231 11 Irmo 267 12 River Bluff 273 13 Dutch Fork 2 284 14 Aiken Scholars 327 15 Spring Valley B 335

2021 Competition