In a field of 149 students, competing on 53 different teams, from 13 different schools, Dalton students won 68.75% of their debates, fully ten percentage points higher than any other school. Dalton students collectively won 22 rounds—also more than any other school; with every Dalton team’s victories contributing to this number. Our students also garnered many honors along the way:

• Second place team overall, with an undefeated record: Aminata Diallo ’25, Arav Mehta ’25, and Cole Corper ’25
• Fourth place team overall, with an undefeated record: Maxwell Massiah ’25, Ollie Feder ’25, and Vihaan Kotahwala ’25
• Eighth place team overall: Aida Kasparova ’25, Anysa Bickici ’25, and Nilomi Weerakkody ’25
• Fourteenth team overall: Alex Kim ’25, Aiden Leathers ’25, and Efe Ilgar ’25 
• Fifteenth team overall: Austin Gordon ’26, David Sebisaho ’25, and Natalia Marquez ’26
• Second speaker overall: Anysa Bickici ’25
• Sixth speaker overall: Aida Kasparova ’25
• Seventh speaker overall: Nilomi Weerakkody ’25
• Twelfth speaker overall: Arav Mehta ’25

Topics included whether NYC public schools should be online, whether the two-party system is bad for American democracy, and whether US citizens should be required to participate in a program of national service. This month, the team will compete again, debating whether art should be displayed anonymously and whether high schools ought to do away with required subjects.

Story submitted by Public Forum Debate Coach, Evan Streams