Students at BASIS Independent Schools have set a new record this year, with 65 seniors from the Class of 2026 named Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. This achievement represents nearly one-third of the combined graduating class across our five high schools in California, New York, and Virginia—up from 25% last year.

These exceptionally talented high school seniors now have the chance to advance in the competition for approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships, collectively worth nearly $26 million. National Merit Finalists will be announced in the spring of 2026.

This success highlights the strength of the BASIS Independent Schools program—where the rigorous, well-rounded BASIS Curriculum is brought to life by passionate Subject Expert Teachers who challenge and inspire students daily. From coast-to-coast, our student’s achievements underscore the depth of preparation, intellectual curiosity, and academic excellence that define a BASIS Independent Schools education.

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High school juniors entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.