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A motivated competitive team guiding HS students to the highest levels of debate competition. NDC is where semi-private coaching meets unparalleled team culture and resources.
Bids
Students Coached
Student Satisfaction
Rounds
Championships
Early Bird Reg Deadline
May 15th, 2026
Registration Deadline
Rolling
Classes Begin
August 15th, 2025
First Tournament
First week of September
The only debate academy that won't charge extra for coaching
Our weekly 90-minute classes are the core of the NDC program. Taught by the same teacher all season*, the sessions focus on the everchanging topic landscape and foundational skills such as efficiency and round vision. To maximize individualized teaching, each group is kept to four to six students.
In addition to weekly classes, students will engage in practice and small seminar-style learning sessions focusing on collapsing, weighing, and more! The supplemental programming includes practice rounds, drills specific to each skill, and lectures by our expert coaches.
Yes, that's right. Unlike other debate clubs, we provide our tournament services for the National Debate Club at cost, meaning we will not profit off of taking students to competitions. Online tournaments generally range from $125-$200, including all fees and judging. In-person tournaments cost $750-$1500, covering all expenses.
NDC's unique ethos emphasizes personalized attention as critical. We offer semi-private instruction focused on individual growth, avoiding cookie-cutter slide shows. Our best-in-industry (6:1) student-to-teacher ratio is just the beginning, ensuring each student's development is tailored and specific.
In addition to weekly classes, students will engage in practice and small seminar-style learning sessions focusing on collapsing, weighing, and more! The supplemental programming includes practice rounds, drills specific to each skill, and lectures by our expert coaches.
Our weekly 90-minute classes are the core of the NDC program. Taught by the same teacher all season*, the sessions focus on the everchanging topic landscape and foundational skills such as efficiency and round vision. To maximize individualized teaching, each group is kept to four to six students.
Yes, that's right. Unlike other debate clubs, we provide our tournament services for the National Debate Club at cost, meaning we will not profit off of taking students to competitions. Online tournaments generally range from $125-$200, including all fees and judging. In-person tournaments cost $750-$1500, covering all expenses.
NDC's unique ethos emphasizes personalized attention as critical. We offer semi-private instruction focused on individual growth, avoiding cookie-cutter slide shows. Our best-in-industry (6:1) student-to-teacher ratio is just the beginning, ensuring each student's development is tailored & specific.
NDC's unique ethos emphasizes personalized attention as critical. We offer semi-private instruction focused on individual growth, avoiding cookie-cutter slide shows. Our best-in-industry (6:1) student-to-teacher ratio is just the beginning, ensuring each student's development is tailored & specific.
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Competing at tournaments is essential to being a top debater. At CDA, we handle all the travel logistics. In fact, we offer all of these services at cost, meaning we do not make money from tournaments, keeping competition as affordable as possible.
We offer a robust schedule of both in-person and online TOC bid tournaments. Our teams consistently attend Harvard, Grapevine, Stanford, and dozens more.
We understand that parents have lives of their own and cannot take their kids to tournaments every weekend or don’t have the time to coordinate schedules with partners and look up flights and hotels. At CDA, we handle everything from judge registration to hotels and flights. With our exclusive corporate partnerships, we ensure the lowest travel prices available.
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In addition to classes, prep, and practice rounds. The NDC Elite Staff holds multiple lectures a month focused on complex topics like the settler colonialism K or how to break the “clash” of a certain topic.
With such a talented coaching staff, our lectures are given by experts in the subject, ensuring a nuanced understanding by students and an engaging lecture.
Our seminars are not simply words on a slide show, we make it a point of emphasis to engage students through questions and drills throughout the session. It's an active learning experience.
Every top-debater has been a top researcher. At the National Debate Club we focus on teaching efficient research strategies while also providing necessary prep support throughout the topics.
For every topic, our coaches produce a ready-to-read block file and progressive argumentation file totaling over 150 pages.
One of the most difficult and time-consuming parts of debate is finding evidence. Our 24-hour card request helps students focus on argumentation while still receiving the evidence necessary for their success.
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Outside of class time, students are offered numerous opportunities to practice their skills in a simulated environment. This allows for real-time feedback, and experimentation, building confidence before real rounds.
Our competitive debaters are some of the best in the country. Every practice round is paired based on skill level, ensuring a challenging but rewarding experience.
We understand our students are busy, all of our practice rounds are scheduled to fit into their schedules.
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Our weekly 90-minute classes are designed to provide students with a structured learning environment. Each session focuses on different aspects of the curriculum, ensuring comprehensive coverage and consistent growth.
A consistent 90-minute weekly class allows students to build repetition and snowball their learning from one session to the next, maximizing improvement and success.
Each class has one coach with a maximum of six students (rarely 4:1 due to student numbers), ensuring personalized attention and time spent on every student’s needs.
Every class is taught by the same coach and attended by the same students, building a sense of community within each cohort as well as an accountability partner.
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NDC faculty are not just award-winning debaters, they are some of the most effective teachers. Each staff member goes through dozens of hours of training and is dedicated to the success of every student
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Travel Team Staff
University of Pennsylvania
Travel Team Coach
UCLA
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Travel Team Staff
Dartmouth University
Travel Team Staff
University of California San Diego
Travel Team Staff
University of Southern California
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Travel Team Staff
University of California San Diego
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Travel Team Staff
University of Pennsylvania
Travel Team Coach
University of Texas at Austin
Travel Team Coach
University of Texas at Austin
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Travel Team Staff
Georgetown University
Travel Team Staff
Yale University
Travel Team Staff
Georgetown University
Travel Team Staff
University of Pennsylvania
Travel Team Staff
Harvard
Travel Team Staff
University of Southern California
Travel Team Coach
Meharry Medical College
Founder
Carleton College
Founder
The Ohio State University
Director of Debate
University of Chicago
Lead Coach
George Washington University
Travel Team Coach
Stanford University
Lead Coach
Vanderbilt University
NDC faculty are not just award-winning debaters, they are some of the most effective teachers. Each staff member goes through dozens of hours of training and is dedicated to the success of every student
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Civic Debate Academy makes high-quality debate coaching affordable for all. With flexible pricing, financial aid, and scholarships, no student is held back by cost. We're here to ensure everyone can excel in debate, without breaking the bank. If you want to join the program, cost won't be the reason you don't.
Tuition Amount
Comprehensive Prep Package
Included
$800
Weekly Mocks and Drill Sessions
Included
$960
Average Financial Aid Award
-$
1100
Early Bird Discount
-$
300
What’s on your mind?
CDA offers both online classes across the country and in-person class in Chicago to fit students’ needs, ensuring flexibility and access to high-quality coaching regardless of location. The National Debate Club Travel Team is hosted online with in-person and online tournaments.
Getting started is simple! Explore our class options with our easy to use class search tool or apply to join the National Debate Club for a competitive travel team.
CDA provides a full-service academy experience, combining accountability, regular progress evaluations, competitive travel teams, and introductory classes. With everything students need to excel in debate, CDA ensures you never have to look elsewhere.
The National Debate Club is CDA’s elite competitive travel team, designed for top-performing students who are ready to compete on the national circuit. Members receive advanced coaching, access to top-tier tournaments, and support to secure TOC bids and achieve success at the highest levels of debate. Click here to learn more!
Civic Debate Academy (CDA) is a premier debate coaching organization dedicated to helping students improve critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills through expert-led classes, workshops, and competitive travel teams.
Debate feels overwhelming? Let’s make it easier—schedule your free consult today!
We’re here to guide you. Whether you need advice on level placement or want to learn more about our program, our team is ready to assist.
