2009 top high schools by National Merit Semifinalists

Based on the number of National Merit Semifinalists, these high schools have the brainiest campuses. This is a national and international list that includes 27 countries, nearly 22,000 schools and represents more than 1.5 million students tested.

Top 46 high schools – Top 2%

(Ranking | School | State | # National Merit Semifinalists)

1. * Thomas Jefferson HS Science and Technology VA — 149

2. Stuyvesant HS NY — 96

3. * Troy HS CA — 80

4. University HS CA –  60

5. * Hunter College HS NY — 58

Lynbrook HS CA — 58

6. * North Carolina School Science & Math HS NC — 54

Mission San Jose HS CA — 54

7. Monta Vista HS CA — 53

Montgomery Blair HS MD — 53

8. * Harker School CA — 50

9. * St. Agnes Academy TX — 48

* Torrey Pines HS CA — 48

10. Palo Alto HS CA — 46

11. * Illinois Math & Science Academy IL — 43

12. * Harvard Westlake HS CA — 42

Henry M. Gunn HS CA — 42

13. * Texas Academy of Math & Science TX — 37

Bellaire HS TX — 37

Conestoga HS PA — 37

14. Palos Verdes Peninsula HS CA — 36

* Jesuit HS LA — 36

15. Northview HS GA — 35

Plano HS TX — 35

Westwood HS TX — 35

16. Carmel HS IN — 34

17. * Station College Prep HS FL — 32

Plano West HS TX — 32

Westlake HS TX — 32

Pioneer HS MI — 32

18. Arcada HS CA — 31

New Trier Township HS IL — 31

* DuPont Manual Magnet HS KY — 31

William P. Clements HS TX — 31

* Albuquerque Academy NM — 31

* Horace Mann HS NY — 31

19. West HS WI — 30

* John Burroughs HS MO — 30

20. * Phillips Academy MA — 29

21. * Wilmington Charter School DE — 28

* Lakeside School WA — 28

Richard Montgomery HS MA — 28

Troy HS MI — 28

Eden Prairie HS MN — 28

22. Flower Mound HS TX — 27

Adlai Stevenson HS IL — 27

* Private/Charter/Magnet Schools

Note: The number of Semifinalist named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating high school seniors plus other factors. National Merit Program data are meaningful and valid only when considered within the competition’s framework.