It is not easy to become valedictorian of your high school class. You have to work hard consistently, excel in many subjects, and rigorously prioritize your time. You have to push yourself very, very hard and develop maturity. At Jericho High School in Long Island, New York, there are actually 21 valedictorians in one graduating class, per NBC4 New York, That's right - 21. It is an astonishing academic milestone for them and for Jericho High School.
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Per the outlet, that means each of those 21 students achieved "a perfect GPA: Earning an A+ in all their classes for the entire four years of high school." In fact, the school broke its own previous record of having 15 valedictorians in the same graduating class.
The 21 Top Students Share a Certain Camaraderie
Liv Akiva is among that select, scholarly group of 21. She said, "I think it's so amazing. We have such a strong community here at Jericho, especially among the valedictorians." There does not seem to have been any cutthroat rivalry among them, either. Per PIX11 News, Akiva added, "I've done projects with some of these people. Even if we haven't been in the same classes, we've still collaborated on projects. It's definitely nice to work with them."
It's even more impressive when you consider that many of these students took super-demanding, intellectually sophisticated classes like AP Physics. They undoubtedly missed out on some fun pursuits now and then in order to get where they are. However, clearly, the admirable result was worth it. Their hard work is an investment in their future.
How Will All 21 Be Recognized at Graduation?
It will take some out-of-the-box thinking to make sure that each of the 21 number ones at Jericho High is lauded at graduation. Per NBC4 New York, having 21 speeches would be unwieldy. Instead, a video about the group will pay tribute them all.
Additionally, "The students will wear sashes that say valedictorian 2026. We are trying to create other opportunities to celebrate this incredible accomplishment," said Co-principal Brian Cummings.
Another high-ranking administrator is all in favor of shining a spotlight on these exceptional students. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Kravitz shared, "What's wrong with recognizing their hard work? We should celebrate as many as we can because they're showing that they care about what they are doing."
