The United States 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. In 1979, the Program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the Nation's highest honors for high school students. The Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people. In honoring the U.S. Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.

Students have the opportunity to become Presidential Scholars based on three paths of accomplishment. The majority of the Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement. Approximately twenty additional students are selected on the basis of their academic and artistic scholarship in the visual arts, the performing arts, or creative writing. Another twenty students are selected on the basis of their outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

For the arts and career and technical education component of the program, students are initially identified based on their artistic ability or accomplishments in career and technical education fields. Students are nominated through their Chief State School Officer (CSSO). Each CSSO can nominate up to five candidates in each component who meet the U.S. Presidential Scholars candidacy requirements. Candidacy materials are mailed to the selected students, and they are invited to apply to the program. To confirm their interest, all candidates complete and submit candidacy materials, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports and transcripts for review.

Applications for the 2026 cycle are due February 4, 2026

Student Eligibility

All seniors who will graduate between January and August of their graduating year and who scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or the ACT college admission tests are automatically considered for participation. The U.S. Department of Education looks at test records in each state and the top 10 male examinees and top 10 female examinees are used to identify the automatic candidates in each state. 

In addition, Superintendent Critchfield may nominate up to ten additional male and female Idaho candidates based on their outstanding scholarhsip, but who have not been automatically selected. Students who have not been notified by the Presidential Schlars program of their eligibility, and who would like to be considered for a nomination by Superintendent Critchfield should submit this form in the fall. 

 

Art Component Nomination
For the arts component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

• graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2026, the current program year
• demonstrate academic achievement and talent in the visual, creative and performing arts
• participate in the YoungArts program

Required items for General and Art Component Nomination: 

• Student's name
• Student/parent/teacher email address (someone we can contact for missing information)
• Student's home mailing address
• Student's high school
• High school mailing address
• High school CEEB code
• An essay not to exceed 500 words describing what improvements they would make in some component of the educational system of the United States.
• A self-assessment describing their personal characteristics, leadership and service activities in their school and community, their academic achievements, and any special challenges or hurdles (if any) that the student has overcome while still achieving high academic success.
• A copy of their transcripts. 
• A letter of recommendation from a high school counselor, principal, or teacher

 

For more details about the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, go to the U.S. Department of Education website.

In addition to the general and arts nominations, the Department is also asking each of you to nominate up to five additional students from your jurisdiction as candidates for recognition for excellence in CTE. 

For the CTE component of the program, students who meet the following criteria:

• graduate or receive a diploma between January and August of 2026, the current program year
• demonstrate academic achievement in career and technical programs
• are nominated by their state's Chief State School Officer
  
  

General Guiding Principles: 

• Academic Rigor – students will demonstrate high proficiency on their State’s academic standards, based in part on their high achievement reflected on their State’s academic assessments in the core academic subjects.
• Technical Competence – students will demonstrate mastery of technical skills demanded by industry.
• Employability Skills – students will demonstrate such professional skills as teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving.
• Ingenuity and creativity – students will have solved a real-world problem through the application of technical skills they developed in their career area.

Next steps:

Students are nominated through their Chief State School Officer. Each CSSO can nominate candidates who meet the U.S. Presidential Scholars candidacy requirements for each component (see previous pages). Candidacy materials are mailed to the selected students, and they are invited to apply to the program.

To be considered further, candidates must submit candidacy materials, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. Candidates are evaluated on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay.

If you are selected to be considered further, the federal program will contact you.