American Heritage Schools Leads Florida in National Merit Semifinalists for 17th Consecutive Year
The prestigious American Heritage Schools, which celebrates 62 years of fostering academic excellence and shaping future leaders this school year, is proud to announce that 95 seniors (65 from the Broward Campus; 30 from the Palm Beach Campus) from the class of 2027 were named National Merit® Scholar Semifinalists.
Additionally, 64 more seniors were honored with the distinction of National Commended Scholar, further highlighting the deep pool of talent and academic potential at the school.
This milestone solidifies American Heritage's standing as Florida’s premier college-preparatory institution in the 72nd annual National Merit® Scholarship Program, with both the Broward and Palm Beach campuses sweeping the top state rankings. Out of more than 1.2 million high school juniors nationwide who took the PSAT/NMSQT®, fewer than 1% qualified as National Merit Semifinalists.
American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, is once again ranked as the No. 1 school in Florida and the No. 2 private school in the U.S. for the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists. The Palm Beach Campus is the No. 1 school in Palm Beach County and the No. 2 school in Florida with the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists.
The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national academic competition and the most prestigious award a senior can receive. The combined students from both campuses comprise 10% of all semifinalists throughout Florida's public and private high schools. Together, these high-achieving seniors represent over 25% of the senior class across both campuses earning recognition. One in seven students from American Heritage Schools in the Class of 2027 is a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist.
This marks the 17th consecutive year that American Heritage Schools have had the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists in Florida. For 13 consecutive years, American Heritage Schools has been the No. 1 or No. 2 private school in the nation with the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists.
“Earning National Merit recognition is never an accident. It is the direct result of years of consistency, discipline, and hard work,” said Dr. Doug Laurie, President of American Heritage Schools. “Having over 25% of our senior class achieve this honor across both campuses is an incredible milestone. We are exceptionally proud of these students and excited to see the impact they will make at the nation’s top universities.”
“We're taught by professionals who, after teaching us in the morning, go to work and practice what they preach. It's really given me real-world insight into how I can imagine myself in the fields that I'm interested in,” said Aviva Bejar, a senior at the Broward campus and a Hollywood resident.
“American Heritage's pre-professional program gives us access to resources and real-world engineers that many other schools simply do not have. It’s a unique opportunity to understand engineering outside of the classroom,” said Norah Smucker, a senior at the Palm Beach campus and a Boca Raton resident.
Beyond the prospect of securing millions of dollars in potential scholarships, these exceptional students are presented with a wealth of new opportunities for their collegiate journeys, instilling a profound sense of confidence in their prospects. According to the esteemed National Merit Scholarship organization, prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt have consistently embraced and enrolled the highest number of National Merit Scholars.
American Heritage Schools is also pleased to announce that 94% of the students passed the AP (Advanced Placement) exams with a score of 3 or higher, compared to 69% in Florida and 73% globally. This accomplishment solidifies American Heritage Schools as a leading institution for college preparation nationwide.
More information can be found at www.ahschool.com/nationalmerit.