Delaware County high school students were well represented among this year’s National Merit semifinalists, writes Kristen A. Graham for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Of the more than 400 semifinalists from around the Philadelphia region, 79 of them were from Delaware County schools.

The total list of students comes from private and public schools in Philadelphia, the suburbs, and New Jersey.

They represent less than 1% of high school seniors nationally, officials from the National Merit Scholarship Program said.

Finalists will be named in February after candidates submit applications with their grades, community and leadership abilities, employment, honors, and awards.  

National Merit Scholars will be named in the spring.

The breakdown of semifinalists by school is:

Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills—6.

Haverford High School in Haverford Township—1.

Unionville High School in Unionville-Chadds Ford School District—16.

Penncrest High School in Media—4

Delaware County Christian School in Newtown Square—1.

Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square–16

Marple Newtown High School in Newtown Square—1

Grayson School in Radnor—1

Radnor High School in Radnor—17

Agnes Irwin School in Radnor—2

Springfield High School in Springfield—1

Academy of Notre Dame De Namur in Villanova—3

Strath Haven High School in Wallingford—11

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about the National Merit Semifinalists.

What is the National Merit Scholarship program?