EDITOR'S NOTE: As of June 9, 2010, the amount of scholarship money earned by the graduating class of 2010 has risen to $232 million. The press release below was published on May 18, 2010.  

The graduating class of 2010 at Montgomery County Public Schools has earned $220.8 million in college scholarships, to date—up more than 18 percent from last year.

So far, this year’s graduating class has earned $34.9 million more in scholarships than the class of 2009 and increases were seen among all racial and ethnic subgroups. For instance, scholarships earned by Hispanic students jumped to $21 million, an increase of 17.9 percent, while scholarships earned by Asian American students increased to $41 million, a 25.1 percent increase over 2009.

“The outstanding work of our staff is leading to more of our students earning scholarship money and being able to afford college,” said Montgomery County Board of Education President Patricia O’Neill. “This is just one of the many ways that MCPS employees are improving the lives of our students.” 
 
Superintendent Jerry D. Weast said the scholarship money is an immediate return on the investment that Montgomery County taxpayers make in education.

“The $220 million in scholarships amounts to an immediate 10 percent return on the money that Montgomery County spends on education,” Dr. Weast said. “But the positive impact of the education our children are receiving—and the scholarships they are awarded—will last for generations.”

The Class of 2010 is also expected to set an all-time record for SAT performance. This year’s graduates scored an average of 1,651 on the SAT, according to preliminary data, which is up 36 points from last year. Final SAT scores will be released in August.

It is expected that 10,495 students will graduate as part of the class of 2010, which has distinguished itself through students’ attainment of a variety of prestigious awards. These include:

- 149 National Merit Semifinalists
- 46 National Hispanic Recognition Finalists
- 12 National Achievement Finalists 
- 267 Maryland Distinguished Scholars 
- 238 Ivy League school acceptances