A total of 286 high school juniors and seniors have earned College Board National Recognition Awards for their exceptional academic achievement. This year’s RISD award recipients represent a significant increase from last year’s 90+ students who earned this recognition.
The College Board National Recognition Program awards academic honors to high-performing students, helping them stand out to colleges and celebrate their hard work.
RISD students are recognized in the following two 2025 College Board National Recognition Program award designations:
- School Recognition Award, a new addition that honors the top-performing students in high schools nationwide.
- First-Generation Recognition Award, recognizes students on track to be the first in their family to complete college.
View the list of RISD’s 2025 College Board National Awardees:
- Berkner High School Awardees
- J.J. Pearce High School Awardees
- Lake Highlands High School Awardees
- Richardson High School Awardees
Students are eligible for national recognition in their 10th- and 11th-grade years. 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 two or more distinct AP Exams in the 9th and/or 10th grade.
Congrats to all award recipients!
Learn more about the College Board National Recognition Program.


