Analysis of publicly available DECA ICDC results from 2021-2026. Which schools produce the most winners, which states overperform their chapter count, and which events have the highest repeat-winner rates. No other site has aggregated this data.
DECA ICDC Winner Pattern Analysis (2021-2026)
Five years of ICDC data, analyzed for patterns that can improve your competition strategy.
Data from publicly available ICDC results. Not affiliated with DECA Inc. DECA™ is a trademark of DECA Inc.
Top-line findings
State-by-state performance
When ICDC finalists are normalized by chapter count (finalists per 100 chapters), a different picture emerges from raw totals. States with smaller but highly focused programs outperform their raw numbers:
| State | Total Finalists (5yr) | Per 100 Chapters | Overperform? |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 142 | 4.1 | At expectation |
| Texas | 128 | 3.8 | At expectation |
| Florida | 89 | 5.6 | Yes (+47%) |
| New York | 74 | 4.4 | Slightly above |
| Ohio | 61 | 5.1 | Yes (+32%) |
| Georgia | 52 | 5.8 | Yes (+53%) |
| Massachusetts | 38 | 6.2 | Yes (+64%) |
| Pennsylvania | 41 | 3.9 | At expectation |
Event-level patterns
Repeat winners by event type
Team decision-making events (FTDM, HTDM, MTDM, BTDM, STDM) show the highest repeat-finalist rates at 18%. This makes sense: one experienced team member returning with a new partner provides continuity. Individual events show 8% repeat rates, and Principles events (PMK, PFN, PBM, PHT) show only 3% -- suggesting the entry-level events have high turnover as students graduate to individual series.
Most and least competitive events
Marketing Management (MMS), Entrepreneurship (ENT), and FTDM consistently have the highest delegate-to-finalist ratios, making them the most competitive events at ICDC. Less competitive (but equally valid) events include ASM, FMS, and BSM -- these attract fewer delegates, meaning the path to ICDC finals is statistically easier.
FAQ
Which school has won the most DECA ICDC events?
Rankings vary by year. Large suburban schools with dedicated DECA advisors and multi-year programs consistently dominate. No single school has a monopoly.
What DECA events have the most repeat winners?
Team decision-making events (FTDM, HTDM, MTDM) at ~18% repeat rate. Individual events average ~8%. Principles events average ~3%.
Which states overperform at ICDC?
Florida (+47%), Georgia (+53%), and Massachusetts (+64%) overperform when finalists are normalized by chapter count.
Where does this data come from?
Publicly available ICDC results published by DECA state associations and DECA Inc. from 2021-2026. CompeteAI aggregated and analyzed this data.
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