Thirty-two members of the BASIS Independent Fremont Class of 2027 have been recognized in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. That’s 76% of our 42-member senior class: 16 students named Semifinalists and 16 named Commended Students. Behind each of those numbers is a student we’ve watched grow, question, and push themselves for years, and today we get to celebrate each of them.

Last fall, more than 1.2 million juniors across the country sat down for the PSAT/NMSQT. Our Yellow Jackets stood out from the crowd. Semifinalists landed among the very top scorers in California, part of an elite group smaller than one percent of U.S. seniors. Commended Students weren’t far behind, finishing in the top 50,000 nationwide.

Semifinalists

Our 16 Semifinalists, 38% of the senior class, now continue in the competition for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $24 million. Next, they’ll apply for Finalist standing, with results arriving in February.

Meet our 2027 National Merit Semifinalists:

Kshitij B.
Sharanya C.
Ethan C.
Mihir D.
Dhanya G.
Tia S G.
Isha I.
Rusheel K.
Brian L.
Rakhi P.
Sia P.
Spandan P.
Melody W.
Sarah W.
Tycho Y.
Zihan Z.

Commended Students

Another 38% of the class earned Commended Student honors, a national recognition of outstanding academic promise. The honor places them among the strongest students in the country, a distinction earned through years of hard work and curiosity.

Meet our 2027 National Merit Commended Students:

Tara A.
Ishaan B.
Angela C.
Maya C.
Varun D.
Jason L.
Nicole L.
Bowen L.
Vincent L.
Chen M.
Sahitya P.
Neel S.
Jasnoor S.
Alicia T.
Alex W.
Amy Z.

Our High School Dean of Students sees these results as part of a bigger picture of who these seniors are.

“I am incredibly proud of our students’ dedication, perseverance, and ability to achieve at the highest levels while balancing challenging coursework and numerous extracurricular activities,” said Dean Saad. “Their commitment to excellence and their drive to lead and serve others will open countless doors in the years ahead. We look forward to seeing them continue to shine both on our campus and wherever their talents take them.”

The Story Behind the Scores

A test score captures a single morning. What led up to it was a much longer journey: long nights with problem sets, challenges that didn’t have easy answers, and the steady work of balancing demanding classes with everything else our seniors care about. Some of these students found their footing early. Others grew into their confidence one challenge at a time.

Congratulations to our 16 Semifinalists, our 16 Commended Students, and every member of the Class of 2027. We are proud of what you’ve achieved, and even prouder of who you are. We cannot wait to see where your curiosity takes you next!

Curious about our High School Program? Click here to see how our curriculum builds the skills behind results like these.

BASIS Independent Fremont is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the BASIS Independent Fremont community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.