The National Merit Scholarship program announced the Palo Alto Unified School District’s 87 National Merit semifinalists, an enormous increase from last year in the number of students honored from Palo Alto and Gunn High Schools.

Last year, Paly had 27 National Merit semifinalists and Gunn had 31, according to their school profiles. The numbers of students honored this year reveal a 70 percent increase in semifinalists from Paly and a 32 percent increase in semifinalists from Gunn.

These 87 students, who are now competing to become finalists, include 41 from Gunn and 46 from Paly. National Merit semifinalists make up 11 percent of Paly’s graduating class and nine percent of Gunn’s graduating class, both incredibly large numbers.

“This is an extraordinary number of students to be honored with this recognition from one community,” Superintendent Kevin Skelly said.

The National Merit Scholarship, awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), gives the eligible students a chance to compete for over $36 million in academic scholarships. Scholarships are based on PSAT scores, which is administered in mid-October each year. According to the NMSC website, roughly one percent of students who take the test nationwide become National Merit semifinalists.

Assistant Principal Todd Feinberg was quick to credit the new testing policy designed by Principal Jacqueline McEvoy and the education council with the sharp increase in PSAT scores at Paly. Last year, many students took the test on weekends through the College Board Feinberg said. This year, however, juniors who signed up to take the PSAT were required to take it on a weekday morning at Paly. Dr. McEvoy and the education council believed that this could raise scores and participation, according to Feinberg.

“A possible reason could be that this year we proctored the PSAT on school days in a Paly class with a Paly teacher where students were surrounded by other Paly students,” Feinberg said. “I’m very happy with how both Paly and Gunn students performed on this test.”

Assistant Principal Kimberly Diorio also expressed her excitement about the students’ performance.

“The level of learning in our school district is something to be proud of,” Diorio said.