Over 1,000 High School Students Nationwide Awarded for Top Performance in College Courses from Top Universities

The National Education Equity Lab's Honor Society celebrates outstanding achievement in rigorous, college credit-bearing courses from top universities, spotlighting academic talent in low-income high schools across the country.

NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Education Equity Lab (Ed Equity Lab), a nonprofit dedicated to expanding higher education access to students at low-income Title I and Title I-eligible high schools, has announced the new inductees for its National Honor Society. This semester, 1,330 high school students from 25 states and more than 70 cities earned distinction for their top performance in college courses. These scholars represent the top 20% of nearly 8,000 students nationwide enrolled in Ed Equity Lab courses during the Spring 2025 semester.

Spring 2025 courses were offered by Cornell University, Wesleyan University, Morehouse College, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Arizona State University, Barnard College, Brown University, Howard University, Spelman College, Georgetown University, and UC San Diego.

"Every semester, our students demonstrate that they can excel in the most rigorous college courses from the nation's top universities—proving that talent is evenly distributed, even if opportunity is not," said Leslie Cornfeld, Founder and CEO of the National Education Equity Lab. "We are honored to celebrate these remarkable scholars and deeply appreciative of the educators and university partners who help open these doors of opportunity."

This semester's Honor Society scholars hail from cities across the nation—from Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami, to Chicago, Jackson, and El Paso—reflecting the geographic and cultural diversity of America's talent.

"I am so proud of the 32 DC Public Schools (DCPS) scholars for performing in the top 20% of the nearly 8,000 students who were enrolled in Spring 2025 courses with the National Education Equity Lab," said DCPS Chancellor, Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee. "Thank you to the Ed Equity Lab for empowering our bright learners with critical skills to help them prepare for their post-secondary futures."

The National Education Equity Lab partners with leading colleges and universities to deliver college credit-bearing courses and supports to scholars at Title 1 and Title-1 eligible high schools across the county, at no cost to students. Through the initiative, students engage with rigorous college courses taught by top university professors, participate in weekly live discussions with university teaching fellows, and receive support from their high school teachers. Upon completion, students earn widely transferable college credits and an official transcript from the offering institution.

"I'm incredibly proud of our scholars for their hard work and for being inducted into the National Education Equity Lab Honor Society," said NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. "These young people are proof that when we invest in students and provide them with rigorous academic opportunities, they rise to meet and exceed every expectation. This achievement not only reflects their individual excellence but the strength and potential of our entire school system."

"The National Education Equity Lab has transformed the future for generations of students in Topeka Public Schools by expanding access to courses from prestigious universities across the nation," said Dr. Tiffany Anderson, Topeka Public Schools. "This partnership has contributed to higher graduation rates and increased postsecondary success for our students."

"By opening the door to early college experiences, Ed Equity Lab ensures that students—many of whom are the first in their families to attend college—gain confidence, skills, and credentials that set them on a strong path to higher education and career success," said Laura Moore, Chief Higher Education Officer at the National Education Equity Lab.

"Los Angeles Unified is proud to see students from every corner of our district inducted into the National Education Equity Lab Honor Society, an accomplishment that reflects both their brilliance and the transformative power of opportunity," said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho.

In Henry County Schools, Superintendent John Pace, III, noted "with a third consecutive increase in the number of scholars inducted into the Ed Equity Lab Honor Society, our students and teachers are showing why 'Bright Futures Begin in Henry County Schools.'"

Inductees will be honored during a virtual ceremony on August 27, 2025, featuring keynote speaker Earl Hunt, Chairman and CEO of Apollo Debt Solutions and Ed Equity Lab Board Member. There will also be remarks from University of Pennsylvania faculty, high school district and school leaders, and family members. For details, contact Ikhlas Saleem, Managing Director of Communications, at [email protected].

Five districts had more than 40 scholars inducted into the National Honor Society Scholars this semester:

• New York City Department of Education: 496 scholars recognized from 91 high schools
• Los Angeles Unified School District: 153 scholars recognized from 27 high schools
• Miami-Dade County Public Schools: 82 scholars recognized from 16 high schools
• Birmingham, California Community Charter High School District: 53 scholars recognized from 1 high school
• El Paso Independent School District: 48 scholars recognized from 10 high schools

Congratulations to the following National Education Equity Lab districts and high schools that have students inducted into this semester's Honor Society for top national performance:

Arizona

• American Charter Schools Foundation
  • Desert Hills High School, Principal Miller
  • South Pointe High School, Principal McGill
  • South Ridge High School, Principal Gallegos
  • West Phoenix High School, Principal Horton
• Kaizen Education Foundation
  • Glenview College Prep High School, Principal Sanchez

California

• Birmingham Community Charter High School (LEA)
  • Birmingham Community Charter High School, Principal Bennett
• Inglewood Unified School District
  • City Honors International Prep School, Principal Araya
  • Morningside High School, Principal Cain
• Lompoc Unified
  • Lompoc High School, Principal Pico
• Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Ambassador School of Global Leadership, Principal Sohn
  • Benjamin Franklin Senior High, Principal Davtyan
  • Dr. Maya Angelou Community High School, Principal Meza
  • Elizabeth Learning Center, Principal Tetitla
  • Engineering & Technology Academy, Esteban Torres High School, Principal Aburto
  • Fairfax Senior High, Principal Choi
  • Harris Newmark Continuation, Principal Sandoval Feng
  • Iovine and Young Center IDTE Magnet, Principal Calhoun
  • James A. Garfield Senior High, Principal Marquez Martinez
  • Linda Esperanza Marquez High A Huntington Park Inst of Appl Med, Principal Chaikittirattana
  • Marquez High School of Social Justice, Principal Guzman
  • Mervyn M. Dymally High School, Principal Bradley
  • Middle College High School, Principal Bazadier
  • NAVA College Preparatory Academy, Principal Casillas
  • Nathaniel Narbonne Senior High, Principal Kasek
  • Reseda Charter High School, Principal Damonte
  • San Pedro Senior High School, Principal Aubele
  • Santee Education Complex, Principal Ruiz
  • Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High, Principal Johnson
  • Taft Charter High, Principal Steiner
  • Thirty-Second Street USC Performing Arts, Principal Kehrley
  • Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences, Principal Hanock
  • Venice Senior High School, Principal Hairston-Truitt
  • Visual and Performing Arts at Legacy High School Complex, Principal Carlos
  • Whitman Continuation High, Principal Charles
  • Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, Principal Verbera
• Lynwood Unified School District
  • Lynwood High School, Principal Gonzalez
  • Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School, Principal Reed
• San Francisco Unified
  • Jordan (June) School for Equity, Principal Chui
• SEO Scholars (LEA)
  • SEO Scholars, Principal Herrera
• Visalia Unified
  • Golden West High School, Principal Lambert
  • Mount Whitney High School, Principal Marroquin

Colorado

• Denver Public Schools (DPS)
  • Bruce Randolph School, Principal Olson
  • Montbello High School, Principal Lynch

Connecticut

• Hartford School District
  • Capital Preparatory Magnet School, Principal Ferguson
  • Weaver High School, Principal Webley
• Manchester School District
  • Manchester High School, Principal Miner

District of Columbia

• Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools (LEA)
  • Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools - Parkside High School Campus, Principal Mitchell
• District of Columbia Public Schools
  • Columbia Heights Education Campus, Principal Tukeva
  • Coolidge High School (DC), Principal Bright
  • Garnett-Patterson High School, Principal Little
  • H.D. Woodson High School, Principal Massey
  • MacArthur High School, Principal McCray
  • Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering High School, Principal Fuller
  • School Without Walls, Principal Isaac
• Friendship Public Charter Schools
  • Friendship Technology Preparatory Academy, Principal Booth

Florida

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools
  • American Senior High School, Principal Papp
  • Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School, Principal Ramirez
  • Homestead Senior High School, Principal Louis
  • Miami Carol City Senior High School, Principal Mckinney
  • Miami Central Senior High School, Principal Sands
  • Miami Coral Park Senior High School, Principal Weiner
  • Miami Jackson Senior High School, Principal Turner
  • Miami Norland Senior High School, Principal Gaines-Miller
  • Miami Senior High School, Principal Valdes
  • Miami Southridge Senior High, Principal Miret
  • Miami Springs Senior High, Principal Gonzalez
  • North Miami Beach Senior High School, Principal Milliken
  • North Miami Senior High School, Principal Volcy
  • Robert Morgan Educational Center, Principal Williams
  • Southwest Miami Senior High School, Principal Bulnes
  • William H. Turner Technical Arts Senior High School, Principal Frazier

Georgia

• Henry County Schools
  • Academy for Advanced Studies, Principal Blackwell
  • Luella High School, Principal Hardnett
  • McDonough High School, Principal Blasingame

Hawaii

• Hawaii Department of Education
  • Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School, Principal Carganilla

Illinois

• Chicago Public Schools
  • Alcott College Prep High School, Principal Moody
  • Englewood STEM High School, Principal Shelton
  • King College Prep, Principal Kelly
  • Lindblom Math & Science Acad HS, Principal Banks
• Thornton Fractional District 215
  • Thornton Fractional North High School, Principal Rucinski
  • Thornton Fractional South High School, Principal Bouler

Iowa

• Clinton Comm School District
  • Clinton High School, Principal Shultz

Kansas

• Topeka Public Schools
  • Highland Park High School (KS), Principal Watson
  • Topeka High School, Principal Dick

Louisiana

• Collegiate Academies
  • Abramson Sci Academy, Principal McElligott
  • George Washington Carver High School (LA), Principal Jones
  • Livingston Collegiate Academy, Principal Langham

Massachusetts

• Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public (District)
  • Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School, Principal Lugira
• Codman Academy Charter Public (District)
  • Codman Academy Charter Public School, Principal White
• KIPP Massachusetts
  • KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate High School, Principal Clarke

Michigan

• International Academy of Flint (LEA)
  • International Academy of Flint, Principal Vincent
• School District of The City of Pontiac
  • International Technology Academy, Principal Karaffa

Mississippi

• Jackson Public School District
  • Jim Hill High School, Principal Brown
  • Murrah High School, Principal Nicholson

New Jersey

• College Achieve Central Charter School
  • College Achieve Central Charter School, Principal Mateen
• College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Charter School
  • College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Charter School, Principal Denard
• College Achieve Paterson Charter School
  • College Achieve Paterson Charter School, Principal Moody
• Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
  • Great Oaks Legacy Charter School, Principal Barnes
• Jersey City Public Schools
  • Infinity Institute, Principal Dobson
  • Liberty High School, Principal Grazilla
• KIPP New Jersey
  • KIPP Cooper Norcross High School, Principal Taylor
  • KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy, Principal Lewis
  • KIPP Newark Lab High School, Principal Burroughs and Principal Lewis
• Newark Public Schools
  • Central High School (NJ), Principal Mitchell
  • University High School (NJ), Principal Flournoy-Hamilton
• Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology (LEA)
  • Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, Principal Coskun
• South Hunterdon Regional School District
  • South Hunterdon Regional High School, Principal MacKnight
• Uncommon Schools
  • North Star Academy Washington Park High School, Principal Mann

New Mexico

• Albuquerque Public Schools
  • South Valley Academy, Principal Batista

New York

• Achievement First Charter (New York)
  • Achievement First East Brooklyn High School, Principal Ng
• Brentwood UFSD
  • Brentwood High School, Principal Dulin
• Evergreen Charter School (LEA)
  • Evergreen Charter School, Principal Collado
• Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy Charter School
  • Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy Charter School, Principal Deal
• Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy II Charter School
  • Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy II Charter School, Principal Ortiz-Wong
• NYCDOE
  • 07X427 Community School for Social Justice, Principal Guzman
  • A School Without Walls (NY), Principal Coleman
  • Academy For Conservation And The Environment, Principal Mazzola
  • Academy for Scholarship & Entrepreneurship, Principal White-DaCruz
  • Academy for Young Writers, Principal Brown
  • All City Leadership Secondary School (32K554), Principal Rivera
  • Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy, A College Board School, Principal Mercanti-Anthony
  • Astor Collegiate Academy, Principal Burgos
  • Benjamin Franklin High School for Finance & Information Technology, Principal Brenord
  • Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Principal Colby
  • Boys And Girls High School, Principal Harrison
  • Bronx Bridges High School, Principal Castillo
  • Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School, Principal Winn
  • Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics, Principal Kim
  • Bronx Compass High School, Principal Neal
  • Bronx Health Sciences High School, Principal Sharoyan
  • Bronx High School for Medical Science, Principal Lenihan
  • Bronx International High School, Principal Vega
  • Bronx Leadership Academy High School, Principal Davis
  • Bronx Legacy High School, Principal Encarnacion
  • Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, Principal Johnson
  • Bronxdale High School, Principal White
  • Brooklyn Lab School, Principal Henry
  • Claremont International High School, Principal Cuello
  • Coney Island Prep High School, Principal Frembes Boise
  • Crotona International High School, Principal Ratra
  • Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences, Principal Alexis
  • Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School, Principal Meconi
  • Eagle Academy for Young Men, Principal Velazquez
  • Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem, Principal Edwards
  • East Side Community School, Principal George
  • EBC High School for Public Service - Bushwick, Principal Espinoza
  • Flushing International High School, Principal Hesseltine
  • Fordham High School for the Arts, Principal Johnson
  • Fordham Leadership Academy, Principal Cabrejos
  • Francis Lewis High School, Principal Marmor
  • Frank McCourt High School, Principal Salzberg
  • Frederick Douglas Academy III Secondary School, Principal Carlos
  • George Westinghouse CTE High School, Principal Norman
  • Gotham Professional Arts Academy, Principal Michelin
  • Grover Cleveland (Q485), Principal Pascente
  • Harvest Collegiate High School, Principal Burch
  • Health Opportunities High School, Principal Pendharkar
  • High School for Excellence and Innovation, Principal Washington
  • High School for Service & Learning, Principal Farkas
  • Information Technology High School, Principal Woods-Powell
  • International High School at Union Square, Principal Ramsuchit
  • International Leadership Charter High School, Principal Edward
  • International School for Liberal Arts, Principal Adon
  • It Takes a Village Academy, Principal Olivieri
  • John Bowne High School, Principal Izzo Iannelli
  • LIFE Academy High School for Film and Music, Principal Kelch
  • Long Island City High School, Principal Selenikas
  • M.S. 223 The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, Principal Lincoln
  • Manhattan Village Academy, Principal White
  • Marie Curie School for Medicine, Nursing, and Health Professions, Principal Williams
  • Martin van Buren High School, Principal Nettleford
  • Mathematics, Science Research and Technology High School, Principal Thompson-Young
  • Millennium Art Academy, Principal Guy
  • Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School, Principal Dubei
  • New Design High School, Principal Conti
  • New Directions Secondary School, Principal Waslawski
  • Origins High School, Principal Elmaliki
  • Pan American International High School, Principal Mercanti-Anthony
  • Pan American International High School at Monroe, Principal Pollack
  • Pathways College Preparatory School, Principal Haseley
  • Pelham Preparatory Academy, Principal Ferron
  • Richmond Hill High School, Principal Alamarie
  • Rockaway Collegiate High School, Principal Ali
  • School for Classics High School, Principal Tancredi
  • School of the Future, Principal Goldstein
  • Schuylerville Preparatory High School, Principal Bell
  • Science Skills Center High School, Principal McGregor
  • South Bronx Preparatory: A College Board School (07X221), Principal Flanagan
  • The Charter High School for Law and Social Justice, Principal Burke
  • The Facing History School, Principal Panagot
  • The HS for Innovation in Advertising and Media, Principal Michelena
  • The International High School at Lafayette, Principal de Leon
  • The Manhattan International High School, Principal Rodriguez
  • The Urban Assembly Early College High School for Emergency Medicine, Principal Bility
  • The Urban Assembly School for Applied Math & Science, Principal Chung
  • University Heights Secondary School, Principal Joseph-Roseboro
  • Urban Assembly Academy of Government and Law, Principal D'Agostino
  • Urban Assembly School for Green Careers, Principal Decker
  • Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment, Principal Norman
  • Vanguard High School, Principal Doyle
  • Victory Collegiate High School, Principal Garwood
  • Virtual Innovators Academy, Principal Grey
  • Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Principal Pichardo
  • Wings Academy, Principal Jackson-Dickens
  • Women's Academy of Excellence, Principal Sol Cruz
• SEO Scholars NYC (LEA)
  • SEO Scholars NYC
• Sewanhaka Central High School District
  • Elmont Memorial High School, Principal Baker
  • Sewanhaka High School, Principal Kenny

Ohio

• Middletown City district
  • Middletown High School (OH), Principal Cotter

Pennsylvania

• Mastery Charter Schools
  • Mastery Charter Schools-Pickett Campus, Principal Munnelly
• Mastery CHS-Lenfest Campus
  • Mastery CHS-Lenfest Campus, Principal Ziemba
• Mastery CS-Hardy Williams
  • Mastery Charter Schools-Hardy Williams, Principal Meltzer
• Philadelphia City School District
  • John Bartram High School, Principal
  • Olney High School, Principal Roth

Rhode Island

• Highlander Secondary Charter School (LEA)
  • Highlander Secondary Charter School, Principal Pabst

South Carolina

• Charleston County School District
  • Burke High School, Principal Swinton

Tennessee

• Metro Nashville Public Schools
  • John Overton High, Executive Principal Garner and Academic Principal Crutchfield
  • Cane Ridge High School, Principal Alexander
  • Nashville Big Picture High School, Principal Diaz

Texas

• El Paso ISD
  • Andress High School, Principal Alarcon
  • Austin High School, Principal Ruiz
  • Bowie High School (El Paso), Principal Gandarilla
  • Burges High School, Principal Yturralde
  • Chapin High School, Principal Chappell
  • Coronado High School (TX), Principal Reyna
  • El Paso High School, Principal Rocha
  • Irvin High School, Principal Stives
  • Jefferson High School, Principal Rincon
  • Young Women's STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy, Principal Ontiveros

Virginia

• Henrico County Public Schools
  • Hermitage High School, Principal Jackson

These Honor Society scholars represent the next generation of college-ready students, proving that with access to high-quality coursework, students from all backgrounds can thrive.

About the National Education Equity Lab

The National Education Equity Lab partners with top colleges and universities to expand access to credit-bearing college courses in high school classrooms across the country—at no cost to students. Through this initiative, students from Title I and Title I-eligible high schools engage in rigorous coursework taught by leading university professors, gaining the skills and confidence needed for college success. To date, the Ed Equity Lab has served more than 40,000 students nationwide and is on track to serve one million scholars over the next decade.

For more information, visit https://edequitylab.org/.

SOURCE The National Education Equity Lab