Madison tops Alabama districts with 24 National Merit semifinalists

MADISON – Madison City Schools has more National Merit Scholarship Program semi-finalists than any Alabama school district.Bob Jones High School has 18 semifinalists and James Clemens High School has six.

Students at Columbia Elementary School (CONTRIBUTED)

“National Merit semifinalists are the top one percent of students in America. They are the brightest of the bright,” Bob Jones Principal Robby Parker said. “It’s a direct reflection on their abilities, their hard work, their parents and, last but certainly not least, the great teachers they have had throughout Madison City Schools.”

James Clemens Principal Dr. Brian Clayton commended semifinalists in the school’s charter class. “These students have distinguished themselves by high academic performances,” Clayton said. “We’re proud of all of them … and that all of ours are products of our elementary and middle schools.

James Clemens National Merit semifinalists are Katrina Avery, Alexander Black, Madeline Johnson, Rebecca Odum, Rahul Rameshbabu and Brendan Romanczuk.

At Bob Jones, semifinalists are Aaron Barr, Sarah Bignault, Alexandra Brown, Aaron Burruss, Matthew Copeland, Amanda Darnell, Gabrielle Daso, Dennis Dergunov, Cassidy Elliott, David Gunther, Alexis Helton, Benjamin Keith, Daniel Lang, Mugdha Mokashi, Caralyn Patton, Nicholas Sieja, Elise Stone and Clara Wan.

These seniors earned National Merit status from their PSAT scores in October 2012.

More than half of the Bob Jones Class of 2013 received scholarship offers, totaling $23.8 million. That figure was $31 million before the high schools split, college and career advisor Sheila P. Roberts said.

“Colleges are offering less scholarships due to the economy. A national merit finalist used to receive a full ride at Auburn and Alabama. Now, it’s full tuition and one year of housing,” Roberts said.

Emphasis “on ‘test-prep'” helps Bob Jones students, Roberts said. The system administers PLAN and PSAT exams free to sophomores. Students also benefit from advanced-placement courses.

Students will learn in February 2014 if they are finalists. “It’s unusual for our students not to become finalists,” Roberts said.

Other districts of note with semifinalists are Mountain Brook, 23; Vestavia, 19; Grissom, 12; Spain Park, 11; and Randolph, 9.