National Merit Totals for the Class of 2003

This is our annual publication of the numbers of National Merit Semifinalists in area schools, with the usual disclaimer: We believe, as always, that this type of standardized test, including the ERB; the Stanford 9; the SSAT; and the SAT I, is a poor indicator of overall intelligence. They overemphasize speed; they ignore students' ability to display or explain their thinking or their work; and there is a low correlation between what is tested and what is taught in schools today. We believe publishing these values serves to give local residents an impression of the academic climate in each school, and not to rank schools.

Click here for our current article about standardized tests.


This year, the cutoff points for semi-finalist were as follows: students who attend schools in Maryland, 220; Virginia, 218; and in D.C., 221. Note that D.C. is traditionally given a cutoff point equal to the highest cutoff point of any state in the country. Likewise, boarding school students have the maximum cutoff point.

caps=public school

District of Columbia

Edmund Burke 1, Field 1, Georgetown Day 4, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School 3, Gonzaga College High School 3, Maret 4, National Cathedral School 11, SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS 1, Sidwell Friends 24, St. Albans 13, St. Anselm's Abbey 4

Suburban Maryland

BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE 8, MONTGOMERY BLAIR 31, EUBIE BLAKE 1, WINSTON CHURCHILL 8, Connelly School of the Holy Child 3, ETS Chaiyim 1, Good Counsel 2, Georgetown Prep 4, The Heights 2, Holton Arms 13, Jewish Day 3, WALTER JOHNSON 7, JOHN F. KENNEDY 1, Landon 4, OXON HILL 3, Pallotti 1, Queen Anne 1, RICHARD MONTGOMERY 26, ROCKVILLE 1, ELEANOR ROOSEVELT 10, Sandy Spring Friends 1, SPRINGBROOK 2, Stone Ridge Country Day 4, WALT WHITMAN 19, THOMAS S. WOOTTON 11, Yeshiva 3, WATKINS MILL 1

Northern Virginia (Arlington and Alexandria not available)