When are NMSF announced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?

FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.

Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Are the stats here from last year for the class of 2024 and wasn’t that the last class to graduate under the old system?

The first class in the new system I thought is class of 2025 and don’t there NMPF stats come out this month?

NMSF 2025 results were released yesterday and are for Class of 2025.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. But no one implemented the admissions changes so that psat scores would remain super high. They were implemented knowing they would drop. So the dropping is not a surprise. It’s anticipated. More interested in seeing college admissions info for this group than their psat scores. We have to wait for that.

College admissions is not a measure of merit. I can totally see better results due to more diversity. But, should TJ play the admission games?

I really, really don't think that better admissions was what the school board/Gatehouse was going for when they changed TJ admissions. They were going - by their own words - for a student body more reflective of the racial makeup of our area. Whether you agree with that or disagree with that, it's what they said.

I'm sure they didn't say that. You wanted to see college admissions as a measure of success for the new TJ admission rules, and I'm merely pointing put I would not surprise me if college admissions is better because the new TJ admission align more with college admission preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. But no one implemented the admissions changes so that psat scores would remain super high. They were implemented knowing they would drop. So the dropping is not a surprise. It’s anticipated. More interested in seeing college admissions info for this group than their psat scores. We have to wait for that.

College admissions is not a measure of merit. I can totally see better results due to more diversity. But, should TJ play the admission games?

I really, really don't think that better admissions was what the school board/Gatehouse was going for when they changed TJ admissions. They were going - by their own words - for a student body more reflective of the racial makeup of our area. Whether you agree with that or disagree with that, it's what they said.

I'm sure they didn't say that. You wanted to see college admissions as a measure of success for the new TJ admission rules, and I'm merely pointing put I would not surprise me if college admissions is better because the new TJ admission align more with college admission preference.

They absolutely did say that. It is in court documents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We know what explains the TJ drop. What explains the FCPS drop?

FCPS educational quality has been quietly declining for a long time compared to the rest of the state, so we no longer have as many NMSF as the rest of the state.

Or it's a one-off year because the difference between commended and semifinalist is a question or two here or there on each section.

Must the the latter because 28% is not a gradual decline. It’s a big drop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. But no one implemented the admissions changes so that psat scores would remain super high. They were implemented knowing they would drop. So the dropping is not a surprise. It’s anticipated. More interested in seeing college admissions info for this group than their psat scores. We have to wait for that.

College admissions is not a measure of merit. I can totally see better results due to more diversity. But, should TJ play the admission games?

I really, really don't think that better admissions was what the school board/Gatehouse was going for when they changed TJ admissions. They were going - by their own words - for a student body more reflective of the racial makeup of our area. Whether you agree with that or disagree with that, it's what they said.

I'm sure they didn't say that. You wanted to see college admissions as a measure of success for the new TJ admission rules, and I'm merely pointing put I would not surprise me if college admissions is better because the new TJ admission align more with college admission preference.

They absolutely did say that. It is in court documents.

Im the PP you responded to. I meant I'm sure that they didn't say they changed rules for college admissions. I KNOW they said they wanted the student body to be more reflective of the area's racial make-up. My point still stands that college admissions is not a measure of how successful the new admission rules were to select the best and brightest students because college admissions is also biased and do not solely use merit for their decisions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. But no one implemented the admissions changes so that psat scores would remain super high. They were implemented knowing they would drop. So the dropping is not a surprise. It’s anticipated. More interested in seeing college admissions info for this group than their psat scores. We have to wait for that.

College admissions is not a measure of merit. I can totally see better results due to more diversity. But, should TJ play the admission games?

I really, really don't think that better admissions was what the school board/Gatehouse was going for when they changed TJ admissions. They were going - by their own words - for a student body more reflective of the racial makeup of our area. Whether you agree with that or disagree with that, it's what they said.

I'm sure they didn't say that. You wanted to see college admissions as a measure of success for the new TJ admission rules, and I'm merely pointing put I would not surprise me if college admissions is better because the new TJ admission align more with college admission preference.

While I agree with your sentiment - I dont think the college outcomes will be better - I expect them to be the same or a bit lower.

Contrary to the rumors - the TJ curriculum rigor has remained the same - and will result in lower average grades or lower % taking the most hardest courses at TJ.

This should impact the overall admissions outcomes, as colleges use GPA as the first filter.

[Anonymous]

Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.

TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.

TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0

Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.

TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0

Thanks for putting this together. You can also see the full results at the links here (includes other states, other parts of Virginia, private schools, etc.): https://www.reddit.com/r/psat/comments/1fea0to/lists_of_semifinalists_by_state_2025/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok. But no one implemented the admissions changes so that psat scores would remain super high. They were implemented knowing they would drop. So the dropping is not a surprise. It’s anticipated. More interested in seeing college admissions info for this group than their psat scores. We have to wait for that.

College admissions is not a measure of merit. I can totally see better results due to more diversity. But, should TJ play the admission games?

I really, really don't think that better admissions was what the school board/Gatehouse was going for when they changed TJ admissions. They were going - by their own words - for a student body more reflective of the racial makeup of our area. Whether you agree with that or disagree with that, it's what they said.

I'm sure they didn't say that. You wanted to see college admissions as a measure of success for the new TJ admission rules, and I'm merely pointing put I would not surprise me if college admissions is better because the new TJ admission align more with college admission preference.

While I agree with your sentiment - I dont think the college outcomes will be better - I expect them to be the same or a bit lower.

Contrary to the rumors - the TJ curriculum rigor has remained the same - and will result in lower average grades or lower % taking the most hardest courses at TJ.

This should impact the overall admissions outcomes, as colleges use GPA as the first filter.

We'll see. I have heard differently. Rigor might stay the same but there are more generous curves which would reflect on GPA.

[Anonymous]

Our school has not yet intimated us about this, however DD is in this list. What would be the next steps. Any guidance would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school has not yet intimated us about this, however DD is in this list. What would be the next steps. Any guidance would be appreciated.

your DD will have to let her counselor know that she wants to proceed with her application to be a finalist. Cunselor will write a rec letter, she will also write an essay and fill out an activity lists and everything gets sent to CB

[Anonymous]

Year TJHSST FCPS Total
2025 81 191
2024 165 264
2023 132 238
2022 144 214
2021 132 212
2020 157 237
2019 159 254
2018 145 223
2017 119 213
2016 163 237
2015 129 209
2014 132 220
2013 145 229
2012 156 234
2011 124 189
2010 148 219
2009 142 194
2008 151 209
2007 158 208

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Master List of 2025 National Merit Semifinalists - APS, FCPS, LCPS, MCPS - note that the cut-off this year for both Maryland and Virginia was the same (222). Schools with STEM or IB magnet programs are italicized.

TJ (FCPS) 81
Blair (MCPS) 42
Richard Montgomery (MCPS) 24
Poolesville (MCPS) 21
Langley (FCPS) 19
McLean (FCPS) 16
Walter Johnson (MCPS) 15
Oakton (FCPS) 11
Chantilly (FCPS) 10
Churchill (MCPS) 10
Whitman (MCPS) 10
Lake Braddock (FCPS) 9
Madison (FCPS) 9
W-L (APS) 7
Independence (LCPS) 6
Woodson (FCPS) 6
B-CC (MCPS) 5
Briar Woods (LCPS) 5
Lightridge (LCPS) 5
Marshall (FCPS) 5
Rock Ridge (LCPS) 5
Wootton (MCPS) 5
Champe (LCPS) 4
Fairfax (FCPS) 4
Riverside (LCPS) 4
Robinson (FCPS) 4
Centreville (FCPS) 3
H-B Woodson (APS) 3
Potomac Falls (LCPS) 3
South Lakes (FCPS) 3
West Springfield (FCPS) 3
Westfield (FCPS) 3
Yorktown (APS) 3
Broad Run (LCPS) 2
Dominion (LCPS) 2
Edison (FCPS) 2
Freedom (LCPS) 2
Quince Orchard (MCPS) 2
Stone Bridge (LCPS) 2
Wakefield (APS) 2
Wheaton (MCPS) 2
Blake (MCPS) 1
Clarksburg (MCPS) 1
Hayfield (FCPS) 1
Heritage (LCPS) 1
Herndon (FCPS) 1
Loudoun County (LCPS) 1
Magruder (MCPS) 1
Northwest (MCPS) 1
Sherwood (MCPS) 1
West Potomac (FCPS) 1
Annandale (FCPS) 0
Damascus (MCPS) 0
Einstein (MCPS) 0
Falls Church (FCPS) 0
Gaithersburg (MCPS) 0
Justice (FCPS) 0
Kennedy (MCPS) 0
Lewis (FCPS) 0
Loudoun Valley (LCPS) 0
Mount Vernon (FCPS) 0
Northwood (MCPS) 0
Paint Branch (MCPS) 0
Park View (LCPS) 0
Rockville (MCPS) 0
Seneca Valley (MCPS) 0
South County (FCPS) 0
Springbrook (MCPS) 0
Tuscarora (LCPS) 0
Watkins Mill (MCPS) 0
Woodgrove (LCPS) 0

Thanks for the list. Would be great if it was normalized to student body size. The actual difference between Langley and Lake Braddock should be far more apparent when compared to number of kids.

The real reason behind the Langley number pop is the self-motivated kids from other FCPS school zones that should've gotten admissions to TJ under the old system, they requested to go to Langley after they got rejected under the new admission criteria.