Two students at Alabama School of Fine Arts have been named U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates. Tobias Guo and James Shi were selected by the U.S. Department of Education for this honor. They are seniors in the ASFA Math-Science Department. All high school seniors in the U.S. who took either the ACT or the SAT are automatically considered for participation in the U.S. Presidential Scholar program. The U.S. Department of Education then chooses the top 20 male examinees and top 20 female examinees from each state to be candidates.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.