This morning, at a special assembly, we were thrilled to announce that nine students from the Class of 2026 have earned National Merit Recognition! Of these students, eight were honored as National Merit Semifinalists, and one was named a National Merit Commended Scholar.
It’s important to note that the senior class as a whole deserves recognition for their impressive performance on last year’s PSAT. This assessment was taken by nearly 1.5 million college-bound juniors across the United States, students who already represent a highly motivated and academically focused group. The national average PSAT score for the Class of 2026 was 1000. Again, this isn’t the average for all high school seniors nationwide, just for those who took the initiative to sit for the exam.
The average PSAT score for our senior class was 1150, which places them in the 85th percentile, meaning our seniors outperformed 85% of test takers nationwide.
Head of Upper School Chris Ashbrook said,
“At Collegiate, we understand how hard each of our students and faculty members work every day—how committed they are to being their best. While one test cannot fully tell the story, a class average in the 85th percentile is something to be very proud of. Congratulations, everyone!”
National Merit Commended Students are recognized for scoring in the top 2.5% of their region’s PSAT scores. We are proud to celebrate Caroline Kuglich, who received this honor for her exceptional performance.
To earn the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist, a student’s PSAT score must fall within the top 1% of junior test takers in their state. While we don’t yet have the official totals for the state of Kansas—or even Wichita and surrounding areas—it is our honor to announce that eight members of our senior class have earned this distinction.
In Kansas, and across the country, this recognition is shared by only a select number of students from a limited group of schools. We are incredibly proud that such a strong percentage of our senior class is represented among these top scholars.
Please help us congratulate our National Merit Semifinalists: Carter Chance, Jennah Fayziev, Charlie Gentile, Cora Hill, Ethan McKenzie, Hayan Raffi, Ajitesh Srivastava, and Cooper Winters.
During our celebratory assembly, the Upper School student body gathered in the recently renovated gymnasium to honor each scholar in front of their peers, teachers, and families. Head of School Nathan Washer greeted each honoree on Mitch Fiegel Court, offering personal congratulations and a handshake as each name was announced.
Mr. Ashbrook closed the celebration by saying,
“It is a tremendous honor to earn this distinction, and that is why we take the time to celebrate with our students every year.”
Congratulations, Spartans! We love cheering you on, and we know this is just the beginning of the many incredible accomplishments we’ll get to celebrate with the Class of 2026!