SUFFOLK—Franklin’s Zack Peak, a senior at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, scored in the top five percent among the more than 1.5 million students who took the PSAT college-entrance exam last fall.

He is the son of Bill and Cindy Peak.

“I was surprised,” Zack said Monday from the private school in Suffolk.

Classmates Sabrina Carter, Jacob Roberson and Aakash Shah, all of Suffolk, also were named Commended Students in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

“NSA is thrilled that we have four students being recognized for the scholarship program as a college preparatory school,” said Ashley Owen Greene, the school’s communication coordinator.

A straight “A” student, Zack plans to attend college, but remains undecided on where. He has an interest in government and history.

Zack belongs to the James L. Camp Jr. YMCA Leaders Club in Franklin and the varsity swim team and National Honor Society at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.

Brenda Kincaid, head of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s Upper School, will present a letter of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. and from the academy.

Some 34,000 were named National Merit Scholarship Commended Students throughout the nation. They will not continue in the 2012 competition for National Merit Scholarships.