Two Tempe Schools Earn A+ Award, 25 Seniors Named Merit Semifinalists | The Locally Times
Tempe High and McClintock High earn the A+ School of Excellence award as 25 district seniors become semifinalists for approximately $26 million in scholarships.
A news release from the Tempe Union High School District announced that Tempe High School and McClintock High School earned the 2026 A+ School of Excellence® award. In a separate recognition, 25 district seniors were named Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. ## Two Schools Receive State's Highest Honor The A+ School of Excellence® award, given by the Arizona Educational Foundation, is described in the district news release as the highest state-level honor awarded to public schools in Arizona. The announcement states the recognition highlights schools with outstanding academic programs, strong student achievement, and supportive school communities. While the 2026 award specifically names Tempe High and McClintock High, a separate district webpage states that the Tempe Union High School District is an A-rated district that includes a total of five A schools and five A+ Schools of Excellence. The records do not specify when the other three schools received their A+ designations. The designation allows the students to continue in the competition for nearly 7,000 National Merit Scholarships. The total value of these scholarships is approximately $26 million and they are scheduled to be awarded in the spring of 2026. The district’s public announcement did not list the names of the 25 semifinalists or the specific high schools they attend.