Madison Metropolitan School District boasts the highest number of students to become National Merit Scholarship finalists in Wisconsin.
The national program sees around 1.3 million eligible students around the country; 16,000 of those are named semifinalists and around 15,000 go on to become finalists. Of those remaining 15,000, about 6,900 are named National Merit Scholars. The district has 41 students who have been named finalists,the highest in all of Wisconsin.
“These students have demonstrated extraordinary academic achievement, and this recognition is a testament to their hard work and the support of their families and teachers,” said Dr. Joe Gothard, superintendent of MMSD. “We are incredibly proud of each of them and look forward to seeing what they accomplish next.”
In September 2025, MMSD announced that 43 students were named semifinalists, with 28 at West High School, 11 at Vel Phillips and four at East. Students were determined based on their performance on the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
The general expectation is that around 95% of students who are named semifinalists move on to become finalists. The gauge to move to finalist looks at the whole student rather than just test performance.
To become a finalist, students are judged on their academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, awards received, an endorsement by a high school official, writing an essay and taking the SAT or ACT to confirm their earlier performance on the practice test.
After all that, MMSD went from 43 semifinalists to 41 finalists. West High School has 27 finalists, Vel Phillips 10, and East has four.
The total this round is almost double in both semifinalists and finalists than MMSD had the previous year. Previous numbers from last year’s round were 23 semifinalists with five who ultimately became Merit Scholars.
It is expected that announcements for those who are named Merit Scholars for this round will come in April-July.
Students who are named Merit Scholars will be either awarded a single payment of $2,500 for 2,500 students, some figure determined by a corporate sponsor for 830 students or another amount based on sponsorship from colleges for 3,600 students.
