Vegas PBS’s Varsity Quiz pits Palo Verde vs. ATEC in Silver League semifinals

Vegas PBS’s long-running high school quiz show Varsity Quiz featured Palo Verde High School against Advanced Technologies Academy (ATEC) in a Silver League semifinal match in the 2024–25 season. The program, recorded at Vegas PBS, airs Mondays at 7:30 p.m. and is available on vegaspbs.org and the PBS app.

The show, now in its 56th year, follows a three-round format similar to some televised quiz programs but includes a televised bonus round that lets teams confer, with four students competing for each team. A student from ATEC said, “I'm participating in the Silver League semifinals for the 2024–25 varsity quiz season,” and another ATEC student added that the competition “really helps our critical thinking skills because we need to think on the moment.”

A student from Palo Verde said, “I'm excited. I'm a little nervous,” before the match began. A staff member associated with the program praised the competitors and the community interest, saying, “These are the kids going to MIT and Harvard and just doing some amazing things,” and added that showcasing academic achievement on television was positive for the community.

Final score: Palo Verde 60, ATEC 140. Scholarship awards were given to the top two ranking teams and to the Howard Naylor Outstanding Players, and the program closed by congratulating participants and directing viewers to Vegas PBS platforms to watch.

The episode emphasizes Varsity Quiz's role as a televised forum for local high school academic competition and scholarship recognition; beyond the match, the program markets itself as a community showcase of academically gifted students.