Barrington High students praised for high test scores

Twenty-five Barrington High School students earned recognition from a national scholarship organization, not to mention the Barrington Area Unit School District 220 board, for their stellar efforts on a standardized test taken by more than 1.5 million students every year.

The students received letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. for placing in the top 50,000 of all students who took the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, last year. Being in the top 50,000 might not sound that spectacular, but it means the BHS students placed in the top 3 percent of all test takers.

The recognition is the first step for students hoping to be named National Merit Scholar, a designation awarded to less than 1 percent of all high school students each year, and one that comes with a $2,500 scholarship.

Twelve of the commended students attended the board meeting and received certificates recognizing their accomplishment.