High school seniors can advance for nearly 6,700 scholarships nationwide
Irvine Unified School District has the highest number of National Merit Scholarship semifinalists in Orange County this year, with 72 students receiving the distinction.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recently announced the semifinalists, according to IUSD.
Next Step: Finalist Competition
The Irvine students now have an opportunity to advance to finalist status and compete for nearly 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth almost $24 million that are expected to be awarded next spring.
IUSD says about 95% of semifinalists nationwide are expected to become finalists, with roughly half of finalists ultimately receiving a National Merit Scholarship.
Students entered the 2027 competition through the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as the program’s initial screening process.
The district’s 72 semifinalists represent high schools throughout Irvine and continue a strong academic showing for the city’s public schools.
