Coached by Champions Who've Won It All
Every CDA instructor has won national tournaments (NSDA, TOC, or equivalent). Your child gets mentorship from coaches who've stood on the podium—not just taught from the sidelines.
98% Tournament Success Rate
Our varsity students break to elimination rounds in 75% of tournaments attended (vs. 4.1% national average). Our data-driven approach identifies weaknesses, tracks progress weekly, and guarantees measurable improvement.
Personalized Game Plans, Not Cookie-Cutter Curriculums
No two debaters are alike. Our diagnostic assessment identifies your student's unique strengths and growth areas. Then we build a custom training roadmap with weekly sessions and argument development.
CDA alumni go on to attend Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, and 50+ top universities.
Stanford Finalist
ASU Champion
Barkley Forum 2nd Speaker (Out of 276)
University of Houston Champion
Lexington Winter Invitational 1st Speaker (Out of 146)
Seattle University Semifinalist
Puget Sound Finalist
Longhorn Classic 1st Speaker (Out of 228)
CDA alumni go on to attend Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, and 50+ top universities.
Stanford Finalist
ASU Champion
Barkley Forum 2nd Speaker (Out of 276)
University of Houston Champion
Lexington Winter Invitational 1st Speaker (Out of 146)
Seattle University Semifinalist
Puget Sound Finalist
Longhorn Classic 1st Speaker (Out of 228)
From Intro Level Beginners...
...To #1 Nationally Ranked Debaters
From Intro Level Beginners...
...To #1 Nationally Ranked Debaters
Debate is the vehicle. Leadership is the destination.
While other programs drill argument templates, we develop leadership, research, and analytical abilities crucial for lifelong success.
Debate experience significantly enhances college applications, setting your child apart in the competitive admissions process.
Did you know? Over 50% of Harvard's student body participated in a speech or debate activity in high school?
Debate can be isolating. CDA creates community through practice partner matching based on skill level, Alumni mentorship - every student gets a college debater mentor
When you join CDA, you join a family of 1,000+ current and former students who want you to succeed.
Follow the same system that's won 60 national tournaments
Every CDA coach follows our proprietary curriculum developed by an Emmy® award winning children's educational content developer, 6 national champions, and educators from the University of Chicago, Stanford, Northwestern, MIT, University of Texas, and Berkeley
Debate is the vehicle. Leadership is the destination.
While other programs drill argument templates, we develop leadership, research, and analytical abilities crucial for lifelong success.
Debate experience significantly enhances college applications, setting your child apart in the competitive admissions process.
Did you know? Over 50% of Harvard's student body participated in a speech or debate activity in high school?
Debate can be isolating. CDA creates community through practice partner matching based on skill level, Alumni mentorship - every student gets a college debater mentor
When you join CDA, you join a family of 1,000+ current and former students who want you to succeed.
Follow the same system that's won 60 national tournaments
Every CDA coach follows our proprietary curriculum developed by an Emmy® award winning children's educational content developer, 6 national champions, and educators from the University of Chicago, Stanford, Northwestern, MIT, University of Texas, and Berkeley
Whether your student is a complete beginner or already competing regionally, CDA meets them exactly where they are:
→ Intro Track (Intro) (Months 1-4): Fundamentals, speech anxiety management, class compotitions
→ Junior Varsity (JV) Track (Months 5-8): Advanced argumentation, evidence analysis, intramurals
→ Varsity (V) Track (Months 9+): National circuit prep, Tournament of Champions qualification, tournaments
The skills that win tournaments are the same skills that get into Harvard—and build Fortune 500 careers.
We at CDA understand that the skills honed through debate translate into lifelong advantages. Our carefully structured classes develop a comprehensive skill set that extends far beyond the debate stage.
