National Recognition Program Opens on May 7: New School Recognition Award Open to All Students

New York ─ For more than 40 years, thousands of students across the country have been recognized for their exceptional academic achievement through the College Board National Recognition Program. The process is now open for eligible students to claim their awards.

The College Board National Recognition Program awards academic honors to high-performing students to help them stand out to colleges and celebrate their hard work. Students of all backgrounds from schools nationwide are eligible to claim an award based on their achievement on AP® Exams and/or PSAT-related assessments. By claiming a National Recognition Program award, eligible students have a tangible way to share their academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs. 

The 2025 College Board National Recognition Program offers three award designations:

• School Recognition Award, a new addition that honors the top-performing students in high schools nationwide.
• First-Generation Recognition Award, honoring students on track to be the first in their family to complete college.
• Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, which elevates students from high schools in smaller communities that are often less well known by colleges. 

Students are eligible in their 10th- and 11th- grade years for their exceptional academic performance. To qualify, students must:

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT™ (10th, 11th), PSAT™ 10 (10th), and/or AP Exams (by the end of 10th grade).
• Earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87%−89%) by the time of submission. 
• Demonstrate further academic achievement: 
  • Be one of the top 10% of test takers─in their high school, among first-generation college students in their state, and/or among rural and small-town students in their state OR 
  • Earn 3 or higher on 2 or more distinct AP Exams in the 9th and/or 10th grade.

Discontinued this year are race- and ethnicity-based award designations for African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American/Indigenous students.

In 2023, the Supreme Court ruling prohibited the use of race in admissions. Recent legal and regulatory actions have further limited the utility of these awards for students and colleges.

This change will ensure high-achieving students of all backgrounds can stand out on college and scholarship applications. 

Every student who meets the academic criteria can be recognized. All students who meet the qualifications will receive one or more award designations.

Students can verify their eligibility on BigFuture.org/NRP.