Watch out, college students - there are some smart high-schoolers in Alachua County moving into the spotlight.
Forty students at five Alachua County high schools qualified as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, setting a district record with seven more finalists than last year, according to an Alachua County Public Schools news release.
More than half of the 40 finalists were from Eastside High school, and Principal Jeff Charbonnet attributes the school's success to the International Baccalaureate program offered there.
"Our students are simply prepared with a high-quality education," he said.
Finalists also came from Buchholz, Gainesville, Loften and Santa Fe high schools.
In order to participate in the program, students must be among the highest national scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
The NMSP committee also evaluates academic records, school curricula, recommendations from school officials, leadership and activities, and essays written by the finalists, who last year received more than $36 million.
