NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2026 / — Today, the National Education Opportunity Network (NEON), a nonprofit committed to propelling economic mobility for talented scholars from low-income high schools, announced the newest inductees into its National Honor Society.
This semester, 1,392 high school students earned academic distinction for their top performance in college courses offered through NEON. These scholars represent the top 20% of nearly 10,000 students nationwide enrolled in the organization’s courses during the Spring 2026 semester.
Our scholars continue to prove that when given the opportunity, they can excel in the most challenging college courses in the nation while still in high school,” said NEON Founder and CEO Leslie Cornfeld. “We are thrilled to celebrate these outstanding scholars and deeply grateful to our district and university partners who share our commitment to expanding access and opportunity.”
Courses were offered by leading institutions including: Arizona State University, Barnard College, Brown University, Cornell University, Duke University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Morehouse College, NYU School of Professional Studies, Spelman College, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
“By opening the door to early college experiences, NEON 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 NEON Chief Higher Education Officer Laura Moore.
Scholars hail from Los Angeles, Hartford, and Atlanta, to Detroit, Albuquerque, and Topeka—reflecting the geographic and cultural diversity of America’s talent.
“Los Angeles Unified students took on college-level work, challenged themselves and showed what they can accomplish when they have access to the right opportunities and support,” said LAUSD Superintendent Andrés E. Chait.
“The dedication of more than 500 scholars being inducted into the NEON Honor Society, coupled with the incredible support of our school leaders, teachers, and staff, continues to raise the bar for what is possible across New York City Public Schools,” said NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels.
“By mastering college-level content from algebra to neuroscience and finance, DC Public Schools students are pursuing rigorous courses that will prepare them for post-secondary success,” said DC Public Schools Interim Chancellor Kim Jackson. “Our partnership with NEON creates this pathway for the next generation of global leaders to rise from our nation’s capital.”
The National Education Opportunity Network 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.
“More than 700 El Paso ISD students have taken advantage of the opportunity to challenge themselves through rigorous college coursework with NEON, and we are proud to see that opportunity continue to grow,” said El Paso ISD Chief Academic Officer Al Garcia. “These students represent the latest group to be recognized for their outstanding performance, and their success is a reflection of what our students can accomplish when they are given meaningful opportunities to learn, explore and prepare for their futures.”
“This recognition is a direct testament to the college-going culture we’ve built across our campuses,” said College Achieve Public Schools (NJ) Chief Academic Officer Gemar Mills. “By providing every single high school student access to rigorous college coursework, we are breaking down systemic barriers and ensuring our low-income and first-generation scholars are fully prepared to succeed at the nation’s top universities and beyond.”
Inductees will be honored during a virtual ceremony on September 30, 2026, featuring John Rice, Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT).
For more information, contact Ikhlas Saleem, Managing Director of Communications, at [email protected].
About the National Education Opportunity Network
The National Education Opportunity Network 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 country, at scale and 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.
Five districts had more than 40 scholars inducted into the National Honor Society Scholars this semester:
- District of Columbia Public Schools: 68 scholars recognized from 9 high schools
- El Paso Independent School District: 45 scholars recognized from 9 high schools
- Los Angeles Unified School District: 160 scholars recognized from 30 high schools
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools: 83 scholars recognized from 21 high schools
- New York City Department of Education: 535 scholars recognized from 87 high schools
Arizona
- American Charter Schools Foundation
- Ridgeview College Prep High School, Principal Chavez
- South Pointe High School, Principal McGill
- Kaizen Education Foundation
- Glenview College Prep High School, Principal Ecton
California
- Animo Leadership High District
- Animo Leadership High, Principal Berger
- Birmingham Community Charter High School (LEA)
- Birmingham Community Charter High School, Principal Bennett
- Bonsall Unified
- Bonsall High, Principal James
- Inglewood Unified School District
- City Honors International Prep School, Principal Araya
- KIPP Northern California
- KIPP San Jose, Principal Vo
- Lompoc Unified
- Lompoc High School, Principal Pico
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- 32nd Street USC Media Arts and Engineer Magnet, Principal Kehrley
- Boys Academic Leadership Academy, Principal Samuel
- Carson Senior High, Principal Faatai
- Contreras Learning Center-Los Angeles School of Global Studies, Principal Castro
- Diego Rivera Learning Complex Green Design STEAM Academy, Principal Chavez
- Dr. Maya Angelou Community High School, Principal Meza
- Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, Principal Cruz
- Elizabeth Learning Center, Principal Tetitla
- Fairfax Senior High, Principal Choi
- Foshay Learning Center, Principal Hooker
- Huntington Park Senior High School, Principal Garibaldi
- Iovine and Young Center IDTE Magnet, Principal Washington
- Linda Esperanza Marquez High, Huntington Park Institute of Applied Medicine, Principal Chaikittirattana
- Los Angeles Senior High, Principal Baptiste
- Marquez High School of Social Justice, Principal Guzman
- Panorama High, Principal Nardulli
- Reseda Charter High School, Principal Damonte
- RFK Community Schools, Ambassador School of Global Leadership, Principal Sohn
- RFK School for Visual Arts and Humanities, Principal D’Amico
- San Pedro Senior High School, Principal Aubele
- Santee Education Complex, Principal Hanson
- Social Justice Leadership Academy, Principal Harzmann
- Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High, Principal Johnson
- Taft Charter High, Principal Steiner
- Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences, Principal Badgen
- Van Nuys Senior High, Principal De Santiago
- Venice Senior High School, Principal Hairston-Truitt
- Visual and Performing Arts at Legacy High School Complex, Principal Carlos
- Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets, Principal Grinner
- Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, Principal Verbera
- Lynwood Unified School District
- Lynwood High School, Principal Gonzales
- Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School, Principal Reed
- Madera Unified
- Madera High, Principal Cosgrove
- Madera South High, Principal Thao
- Matilda Torres High School, Principal Rodriquez
- Moreno Valley Unified
- Canyon Springs High, Principal Roberson
- Valley View High, Principal Gilliat and Principal Ramzan
- Vista del Lago High, Principal Ramzan
- Pleasanton Unified
- Village High, Vice Principal Viviani
- SEO Scholars (LEA)
- SEO Scholars, Principal Herrera
- Visalia Unified
- Mount Whitney High School, Principal Reid
Colorado
- Denver Public Schools
- Montbello High School, Principal Lynch (on special assignment) and Interim Principal Harris
- KIPP Colorado
- KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, Principal Abuhadema
- KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, Principal Gordon
Connecticut
- Manchester School District
- Manchester High School, Interim Principal Okwuazi and Principal Fennimore
District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Public Schools
- Columbia Heights Education Campus, Principal Tukeva
- Coolidge High School (DC), Principal Bright
- Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Principal Logan
- Dunbar High School (DC), Principal Coleman and Principal Calhoun
- Eastern High School, Principal Miller
- Frank W. Ballou High School, Principal Haith
- H.D. Woodson High School, Principal Massey
- MacArthur High School, Principal McCray
- Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering High School, Principal Fuller
- Ron Brown College Preparatory High School, Principal Hunt II
- Roosevelt High School, Principal Wilkerson
- School Without Walls, Principal Little
Florida
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- American Senior High School, Principal Brito
- Hialeah High School, Principal Espinosa
- Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School, Principal Espinosa
- 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 Tuner
- Miami Killian Senior High School, Principal Burth
- Miami Norland Senior High School, Principal Gaines-Miller
- Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Principal Pouca
- Miami Senior High School, Principal Valdes
- Miami Southridge Senior High School, Principal Miret
- North Miami Beach Senior High School, Principal Milliken
- North Miami Senior High School, Principal Volcy
- Robert Morgan Educational Center, Principal Williams
- South Miami Senior High School, Principal Penton
- Southwest Miami Senior High School, Principal Bulnes
Georgia
- Atlanta Public Schools
- Early College High School at Carver, Principal Rogers
- Bibb County
- Howard High School, Principal Scott
- Northeast High School, Principal Walker-Thompson
- Southwest High School, Principal Young
- Westside High School, Principal Childers
- Henry County Schools
- Academy for Advanced Studies, Principal Blackwell
- Dutchtown High School, Principal Chapman
- McDonough High School, Principal Blasingame
- Stockbridge High School, Principal Thornton
Illinois
- Chicago Public Schools
- Alcott College Prep High School, Principal Moody
- Hubbard High School, Principal Altamirano
- King College Prep, Principal Kelly
- Perspectives/ITT Math & Science Academy, Principal Banks
- Thornton Fractional District 215
- Thornton Fractional North High School, Principal Rucinski
Iowa
- Clinton Comm School District
- Clinton High School, Principal Shultz
Kansas
- Topeka Public Schools
- Highland Park High School, Principal Watson
- Topeka High School, Principal Dick
Louisiana
- Collegiate Academies
- Abramson Sci Academy, Principal Meyers
- George Washington Carver High School (LA), Principal Jones
- Livingston Collegiate Academy, Principal Langham
Massachusetts
- Codman Academy Charter Public (District)
- Codman Academy Charter Public School, Principal White
- KIPP Massachusetts
- KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate High School, Principal Brown
- Neighborhood House Charter (District)
- Neighborhood House Charter School, Principal Weiss
Michigan
- Detroit Public Schools
- Renaissance High School, Principal Stroughter
- International Academy of Flint (LEA)
- International Academy of Flint, Principal Cormier
- Saginaw Public Schools
- Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, Principal Goode-Tibbs
- Saginaw United High School, Principal Gordon
Mississippi
- Jackson Public School District
- Callaway High School, Principal McClung
- Jim Hill High School, Principal Brown
- Provine High School, Principal Smith
- South Tippah School District
- Blue Mountain High School, Principal Holt
Missouri
- Hazelwood
- Hazelwood East High, Principal Cloyd
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 and Principal Wright-White
- College Achieve Paterson Charter School
- College Achieve Paterson Charter School, Principal Zatiti
- Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (LEA)
- Great Oaks Legacy Charter School, Principal Barnes and Principal Ryan
- Hoboken Public School District
- Hoboken High School, Principal Piccapietra
- Jersey City Public Schools
- Infinity Institute, Principal Dobson
- Liberty High School, Principal Grazilla
- KIPP New Jersey
- KIPP Cooper Norcross High School, Interim Principal Kadowaki and Principal Taylor
- KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy, Principal Lewis
- KIPP Newark Lab High School, Principal Burroughs
- 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 Wright
New Mexico
- Albuquerque Public Schools
- South Valley Academy, Principal Quintana
New York
- Brentwood UFSD
- Brentwood High School, Principal Dulin
- Cheektowaga-Maryvale Union Free School District
- Maryvale High School (NY), Principal Lattanzio
- Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School
- Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School, Principal Alexander
- NYCDOE
- 07X427 Community School for Social Justice, Principal Guzman
- A School Without Walls (NY), Principal Coleman
- A-Tech High School, Principal Harris
- Academy For Conservation And The Environment, Principal Mazzola
- Academy for Scholarship & Entrepreneurship, Principal White-DaCruz
- Academy for Young Writers, Principal Brown
- Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, Principal Miller
- All City Leadership Secondary School (32K554), Principal Rivera
- Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy, A College Board School, Principal Mercanti-Anthony
- Astor Collegiate Academy, Principal Burgos
- Bedford Academy High School, Principal Muhammad
- Benjamin Banneker Academy, Principal Kwateng
- Benjamin Franklin High School for Finance & Information Technology, Principal Brenord
- Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Principal Colby
- Boys And Girls High School, Principal Harrison and Principal Blackmanedward
- Bronx Bridges High School, Principal Castillo
- Bronx Center for Science And Mathematics, Principal Kim
- Bronx High School for the Visual Arts, Principal Witherspoon
- Bronx High School of Business, Principal Bajana-Vega
- 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 Mareus
- Civic Leadership Academy, Principal Ma
- Community High School, Principal Ogbahon
- Coney Island Prep High School, Principal Frembes Boise
- Creators Academy, Principal Henry-Rerrie
- Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences, Principal Alexis
- Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School, Principal Meconi
- East New York Family Academy, Principal Mobley
- EBC High School for Public Service – Bushwick, Principal Espinoza
- Epic High School – South, Principal Mohan
- Flushing International High School, Principal Hesseltine
- Fordham High School for the Arts, Principal Johnson, Jr.
- Fordham Leadership Academy, Principal Cabrejos
- Forest Hills High School (NYC), Principal Wilbur
- Francis Lewis High School, Principal Marmor and Principal Babbar
- Frederick Douglas Academy III Secondary School, Principal Carlos
- Frederick Douglass Academy II, Principal Owusu Afriyie
- Gotham Professional Arts Academy, Principal Michelin
- Grover Cleveland (Q485), Principal Pascente
- Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy Charter School, Principal Deal
- Harvest Collegiate High School, Principal Burch
- Health Opportunities High School, Principal Pendharkar
- High School for Excellence and Innovation, Principal Washington
- Information Technology High School, Principal Woods-Powell
- International High School at Prospect Heights, Principal Taylor
- International High School at Union Square, Principal Ramsuchit
- International Leadership Charter High School, Principal Gonzalez Morris
- International School for Liberal Arts, Principal Adon
- It Takes a Village Academy, Principal Olivieri
- John Bowne High School, Principal Izzo Iannelli
- Legacy College Preparatory Charter School, Principal Tran
- 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
- Martin van Buren High School, Principal Nettleford
- Mathematics, Science Research and Technology High School, Principal Thompson-Young
- Metropolitan Soundview High School, Principal Lopez
- Millennium Art Academy, Principal Guy
- Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School, Principal Dubei
- Nelson Mandela High School for Social Justice, Principal Anderson
- New Design High School, Principal Conti
- Origins High School, Principal Elmaliki
- Pan American International High School, Principal Velez
- Pan American International High School at Monroe, Principal Pollack
- Pathways College Preparatory School, Principal Haseley
- Pelham Preparatory Academy, Principal Ferron
- Queens Satellite High School for Opportunity, Principal Milczewski
- Richmond Hill High School, Principal Alamarie
- Rockaway Collegiate High School, Principal Ali
- School for Classics High School, Principal Tancredi
- Schuylerville Preparatory High School, Principal Bell
- Science Skills Center High School, Principal McGregor
- South Bronx Preparatory: A College Board School 07X221, Principal Flanagan
- Spring Creek Community School, Principal Rousseau
- The Charter High School for Law and Social Justice, Principal Burke
- The HS for Innovation in Advertising and Media, Principal Michelena
- The Manhattan International High School, Principal Rodriguez
- The Urban Assembly Early College High School for Emergency Medicine, Principal Bility
- The Young Women’s Leadership School of the Bronx, Principal Pineda
- University Heights Secondary School, Principal Joseph-Roseboro
- Urban Assembly Academy of Government and Law, Principal D’Agostino
- Urban Assembly Maker Academy, Principal Piller
- 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
- Williamsburg High School for Arts and Technology, Principal Blair
- Wings Academy, Principal Jackson-Dickens
- Women’s Academy of Excellence, Principal Sol Cruz
- SEO Scholars NYC (LEA)
- Sewanhaka Central High School District
- Elmont Memorial High School, Principal Baker
- Sewanhaka High School, Principal Kenny
Pennsylvania
- California Area School District
- California Area High School, Principal Pollock
- KIPP DuBois CS
- KIPP DuBois CS, Principal Muhammed-ElShabazz
- Mastery Charter Schools
- Mastery Charter Schools – Gratz Campus, Principal Zipay
- Mastery Charter Schools – Lenfest Campus, Principal Davidson
- Philadelphia City School District
- John Bartram High School, Principal Johnson
- Olney High School, Principal Roth
Rhode Island
- Blackstone Valley Prep, A Rhode Island Mayoral Academy
- Blackstone Valley Prep High, Vice Principal Jose
- Highlander Secondary Charter School (LEA)
- Highlander Secondary Charter School, Principal Ducat
South Carolina
- Charleston County School District
- Burke High School, Principal Swinton
Tennessee
- Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Antioch High School, Principal Burnette
- Hunters Lane High, Principal Kessler
- Maplewood High, Principal Brooks
- Nashville Big Picture High School, Principal Diaz
- Shelby County
- Freedom Preparatory Academic Flagship, Principal Barber Jr.
Texas
- El Paso ISD
- 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
- Jefferson Silva High School, Principal Rincon
- Young Women’s STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy, Principal Arias
Virginia
- Henrico County Public Schools
- Hermitage High School, Principal Jackson
- Prince William County Public Schools
- Gar-Field High School, Principal Mathison
- Osbourn Park High School, Principal Kane
- Potomac Senior High School, Principal Norwood
- Woodbridge Senior High School, Principal Abney
Wisconsin
- Saint Augustine Preparatory Academy Network
- Saint Augustine Preparatory Academy, Principal Wallace
SOURCE National Education Opportunity Network
