I recall a couple of year’s ago, our principal told my friend that the school had been informed her son was a “high scorer.” I called the National Merit Scholarship Corp. last week, and a representative told me that at the beginning of April, the “high scorer” letter would be sent to high schools. That letter would indicate which students would be recognized in some way, although the letter didn’t guarantee anything. So, in past experience, will that letter at least tell people they are commended? Also, he said that some high schools choose not to let the students know they were on the “high scorer” letter so they don’t get their hopes up.
April is when “commended” letters are sent. So that’s presumably what they mean by “high scorer”.