Twenty-six Hinsdale Central High School seniors earned spots among the nation's National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, the largest group the school has sent into the competition in at least three years.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation named more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide in the 72nd annual program, The Hinsdalean reported. Hinsdale Central's 26 semifinalists were chosen from a pool of more than 1.2 million juniors at roughly 20,000 high schools who took the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors.

The school's semifinalist count has climbed steadily. Hinsdale Central had 22 semifinalists in the 70th annual program, announced in September 2024. The school's official account posted a count of 25 semifinalists for the 71st annual program in September 2025.

About 95 percent of semifinalists nationally are expected to advance to finalist standing. Roughly half of finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship. In all, about 6,700 scholarships worth a combined $24 million will be offered next spring, according to The Hinsdalean.

To advance to finalist standing, semifinalists must meet additional requirements set by the corporation.