Clearwater Central Catholic High School is proud to announce that ten members of the Class of 2027 have qualified for recognition in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, marking the largest group of qualifiers in school history. This prestigious distinction places these students among the highest-achieving juniors in the nation based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT.
Each year, more than 1.5 million students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT. Of those, only about 50,000 students nationwide—roughly the top 3–4% of test-takers—earn recognition at this early stage as high scorers. From this group, approximately 16,000 students will go on to be named Semifinalists, with about 15,000 advancing to Finalist standing after meeting additional academic, extracurricular, and application requirements. Ultimately, around 7,000 students nationwide will be awarded National Merit Scholarships. Earning recognition as a qualifier at this stage is a significant academic achievement and an early indicator of continued success in the competition.
This milestone reflects not only the hard work and dedication of these students, but also the continued strength of CCC’s academic programs. Since the introduction of the Ray Dass SARA and Scholars programs in 2020, CCC has consistently produced National Merit qualifiers and finalists, demonstrating a sustained commitment to academic excellence. The previous record—set by the Class of 2025—saw nine qualifiers, four of whom advanced to Finalist standing.
We are proud to recognize the following members of the Class of 2027 for this outstanding accomplishment:
Cayden Altman
Brooke Daily
Addison Hamilton
Aidan Harvey
Nikolas Klein
Maeve Lynch
Michael Maddox
Julia Neal
Javier Quintana
Jovan Tran
As these students continue through the National Merit Scholarship process, the entire CCC community celebrates their achievement and looks forward to their continued success. This record-setting year is a testament to the culture of scholarship and excellence that defines the Marauder experience.
