Each year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) seeks school nominations of high school seniors for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to approximately 160 students from across the country are named by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.
Scholars are chosen based on their accomplishments in many areas — academics, leadership, involvement in their school and the community, and excellence in the arts — and represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America's youth. U.S. Presidential Scholars are honored during the National Recognition Program. To commemorate their achievement, the Scholars are awarded the Presidential Scholars Medallion.
Please see the chart below for school year 2026-2027 program timelines. Please note the information below is an anticipated timeline, subject to change. Questions may be emailed to achievement@mass.gov .
As required by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program , Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE may select and submit to U.S. Department of Education USED a "nomination of up to 10 males and 10 females for the General component, up to five additional students for the arts component, [and] up to five additional students for the Career and Technical Education CTE component." Students nominated for the arts component "for accomplishment in the visual and performing arts or creative writing" must be "participants of an arts program". See Nomination Guidelines (anticipated to be posted during the week of 10/19) for full eligibility details.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education DESE submits information to U.S. Department of Education USED on selected state student nominees (up to 30 students).
Information about previous years' Candidates, Semi-finalists, and Scholars can be found on the U.S. Department of Education USED Presidential Scholars Program Awards web page.
Last Updated: October 15, 2026