U.S. Presidential Scholars

Since 1964 the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program has recognized and honored over 8,000 outstanding high school seniors and encouraged high attainment among all students. For the 2024-2025 school year, North Carolina was honored to have one student recognized as a U.S. Presidential Scholars.

Each PSU may nominate up to three students, based on senior student allotment*, for the General Education category and the Career and Technical Education category. From these LEA and Charter nominations, NCDPI may select and submit ten male and ten female candidates in the General Education category and five candidates for Career and Technical Education category. Up to 161 students are named annually as U.S. Presidential Scholars. This recognition is one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students. Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement. 

*The allotted number of nominations accepted per PSU is based on senior student enrollment. Senior student enrollment allocations are as follows: 

• PSUs with 6,000 or more enrolled seniors may submit 3 nominations. 
• PSUs with 3,000 to 5,999 enrolled seniors may submit 2 nominations. 
• PSUs with 1 to 2,999 enrolled seniors may submit 1 nomination.

All high school seniors graduating between January and August of 2025, who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public schools are eligible. 

U.S. Presidential Scholars 2024-2025 Memo

Nominations are due to NCDPI on or before October 25, 2024.

Please note that students may not individually apply to the program but must be nominated by their LEA. Application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only.

General Education Category

The NCDPI U.S. Presidential Scholars review committee considers the following guidance from the U.S. Department of Education when reviewing General Education applications: academic rigor, involvement and service, leadership, problem solving, character, perseverance, and writing samples. Each state can nominate ten males and ten females for the General Education category.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education looks at test scores in each of the states/jurisdictions. For each examinee, the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) and Math SAT score is compared to the ACT English, Reading and Math score. Each student's highest test score (in a single test administration) is identified and duplicates and/or lower scores are dropped. 

See the NC General Education Presidential Scholars Judging Criteria and Rubric 2024-2025 for candidate evaluation criteria. 

General Education Application 2024-2025

General Education Judging Criteria and Scoring Rubric 2024-2025

Career and Technical Education Category

The NCDPI-CTE review committee will evaluate student nomination packets on the following criteria: academic achievement, technical competence, employability skills, ingenuity, creativity, problem-solving, and writing samples. Each state can nominate up to five students who meet the U.S. Presidential Scholars requirements.

See the NC CTE Presidential Scholars Judging Criteria and Rubric 2024-2025 for candidate evaluation criteria. 

CTE Application 2024-2025

CTE Judging Criteria and Scoring Rubric 2024-2025

Recent Recipients

2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Congratulations!

2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars

2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars  

2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars 

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