The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year. Each year’s PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test designated for entry into the competition. Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT Selection Index scores (calculated by doubling the sum of the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math test scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program. Approximately 34,000 of the 50,000 high scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT receive Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Some of these students become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses.
Congratulations to senior James Thompson for receiving a National Merit Letter of Commendation for his PSAT scores taken during his junior year.
In addition, the College Board® recognizes high achieving students in specialized categories. Honors are given to students who have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher and who excelled on the PSAT or who have earned a 3 or higher on at least two AP exams. We are proud of Judah Farrell, Hailee Medina and James Thompson who received national recognition based on these criteria in the African American and Hispanic American categories.
Congratulations to these high achieving scholars for their national awards!