American Heritage Schools, which celebrates 62 years of fostering academic excellence and shaping future leaders this school year, recently announced that 95 seniors (65 from the Broward campus and 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.
American Heritage’s 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 percent of all semifinalists throughout Florida’s public and private high schools. Together, these high-achieving seniors represent more than 25 percent of the senior class across both campuses earning recognition.
This marks the 17th consecutive year that American Heritage has had the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists in Florida.
“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 percent 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.”
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. “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.
American Heritage Schools also announced that 94 percent of the students passed the Advanced Placement (AP) exams with a score of 3 or higher, compared to 69 percent in Florida and 73 percent globally. This accomplishment solidifies American Heritage as a leading institution for college preparation nationwide.
Learn more at www.ahschool.com/nationalmerit.
