To earn this distinction, students must meet specific qualifications. They must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum composite score of 25 on the ACT or a minimum combined score of 1000 in language and mathematics on the SAT college entrance exam. They are also judged for the rigor of and the courses taken in high school. Any honors and awards earned by the students are taken into consideration as well. The students also write a response to a specific independent research question to demonstrate their knowledge of various disciplines.
Schools nominate students based on the number in the graduating class.
The nominees then can apply for the honors program. A panel of three judges from the department of Education reviews each applicant based on the required qualifications. This year s Honors Class of 2001 represents 68 schools. To see the entire list of student honorees, click here .