by Patrick Millican ‘15
Thirteen Saint Ignatius students have qualified for National Merit Semifinalist status this year, ranking Ignatius among the top two schools in the region.
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National Merit Semifinalists 2014
Solon 20
Saint Ignatius 13
Shaker Heights 12
University School 11
Hathaway Brown 9
Westlake 9
Hawken 8
Laurel 6
St. Edward 4
Rocky River 3
Gilmour 2
Beaumont 2
Saint Joseph Academy 2
Holy Name 1
[/pullquote]Despite the impressive ranking, the number of Saint Ignatius students who have qualified is down this year after the threshold score for the award was an unusually high 215, an increase Mr. Brian Martin, head of the counseling department, attributes to a comparatively easier PSAT.
He says that while he had hoped that more than the thirteen who qualified to be National Merit Semifinalists would have made the grade, he was nonetheless quite pleased with the results, which put our school at number two in Northeast Ohio.
Besides National Merit Semifinalists, the senior class includes thirty-three students recognized as National Merit Commended Students or minority achievement candidates.
While he says his sample size isn’t extensive by any means, Mr. Martin says that the consensus about this year’s PSAT, conducted on October 16th, is that the math sections were harder than expected and the reading and writing sections easier than most students had anticipated.
Results for this year’s PSAT will be available on the College Board website in December.
