A total of 67 Clark County School District (CCSD) high school students have been selected as semifinalists in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They represent less than one percent of the U.S. high school seniors and qualify to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million to be offered next spring.
These students were among the highest-scoring participants in Nevada, and out of more than 1.5 million juniors in more than 21,000 high schools nationwide, who entered the program by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which is the initial screening for program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
To become a National Merit finalist, each semifinalist and his or her high school are required to complete a detailed application that provides information about the candidate’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment and honors, and awards received. Merit Scholar designees will be selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, written an essay, and have good SAT scores on the qualifying test.
“Our students have earned a tremendous honor for themselves and their schools,” said CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jesus F. Jara. “I wish them continued success in the competition for scholarships and their academic careers.”
For a list of CCSD National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists, click here.
