A year ago, a team of Barrington High School students finished in first place in High School Quiz Show: Rhode Island.

This month, a new team of Barrington High School students will aim to repeat as champs.

The second season of the Rhode Island PBS competition kicked off Thursday night, April 4, with the airing of a match featuring Bishop Hendricken and East Greenwich. 

On Thursday, April 11, at 7 p.m., RI PBS will air the first round matchup between Barrington High School and Chariho. Semifinals air on May 2 and 9, and the State Championship match airs May 16.

Eight teams emerged from “Super Sunday” in October, where teams battled for the right to compete in the quarterfinals. Other qualifiers are Classical, LaSalle, Mount Saint Charles, and Saint Raphael's. The quarterfinal rounds were filmed in November.

“We are so proud of these students — they all performed well under pressure and are a credit to the schools they represent,” said David W. Piccerelli, president of WSBE Rhode Island PBS. 

High School Quiz Show: Rhode Island is a team-based single-elimination competition among qualifying high school teams. Teams are composed of four students and up to two alternates, with at least one adult coach. All Rhode Island public and private high schools were eligible and invited to participate.

This season, Rhode Island PBS welcomed Joe Short as the new host of High School Quiz Show: Rhode Island. Mr. Short is a professional actor, teacher, and production artist. He has appeared on stages in Boston, New York, and Washington DC. Locally, he has performed at Trinity Repertory Company, the Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theater, and the Wilbury Theatre Group in Rhode Island.

“The schools that compete on the show really exhibit some exceptional talent here,” said Mr. Short.

The winner of High School Quiz Show: Rhode Island takes the State Champion title to the interstate invitational among three other teams from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. The semifinals air back-to-back on Saturday, May 18 at 6 and 6:30 p.m. The winners of those two matches advance to the interstate final, airing Saturday, May 25 at 6 p.m.

Last year, Barrington High School defeated Bishop Hendricken, 700-265, in the state championship.

The matches

• April 4 — Bishop Hendricken High School and East Greenwich High School

• April 11 — Barrington High School and Chariho High School

• April 18 — LaSalle Academy and Mount Saint Charles Academy

• April 25 — Classical High School and Saint Raphael Academy

• May 2 and 9 — Semifinals 

• May 16 — State championship

(All matches will be aired on WSBE Rhode Island PBS, at 7 p.m.)