[johnnyo]

As a parent, the chances a piece of paper given to a kid in homeroom makes it to the parent are probably 50% at best. Probably lower.

I know when I was a student, it was probably below 25%

[havetocharge]

This is a possible outcome. However, another possibility is that not all children are of the same aptitude, and therefore your experience might not be representative of their.

[johnnyo]

I was a National Merit scholar, FWIW.

It’s not really a “prestigious award”. According to the article, 240 kids at the school got the same thing.

At my large high school, lots of kids got it too.

[ummonk]

It's an award that can get you a full ride or even a stipend at many state colleges. Prestigious or not, it's a very important award.