1,392 Scholars Earn National Academic Distinction from NEON

NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The National Education Opportunity Network (NEON) has announced that 1,392 high school students from low-income backgrounds have earned academic distinction for their top performance in college courses offered through the organization. This semester, these scholars represent the top 20% of nearly 10,000 students nationwide enrolled in NEON's courses during the Spring 2026 semester.

Cornfeld highlighted the organization's commitment to expanding access and opportunity for talented students from low-income families.

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, the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. These courses provided students with the opportunity to engage with rigorous college-level content taught by top university professors.

The scholars hail from diverse districts across the country, including Los Angeles, Hartford, and Atlanta, to Detroit, Albuquerque, and Topeka. Five districts had more than 40 scholars inducted into the National Honor Society Scholars this semester. Notably, the District of Columbia Public Schools recognized 68 scholars from 9 high schools, while the El Paso Independent School District honored 45 scholars from 9 high schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District recognized 160 scholars from 30 high schools, and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools recognized 83 scholars from 21 high schools. The New York City Department of Education inducted 535 scholars from 87 high schools.

The recognition of these scholars will be celebrated during a virtual ceremony on September 30, 2026, featuring John Rice, Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT).

NEON 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 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.

This recognition is a direct testament to the college-going culture NEON has built across its campuses, ensuring that low-income and first-generation scholars are fully prepared to succeed at the nation's top universities and beyond.