CHICAGO, IL — Whitney M. Young Magnet High School has just made history. Twenty-three students at the highly-ranked Chicago public school scored a perfect 36 on the ACT exam this spring — the most in the school’s history and far above the national benchmark.
This remarkable achievement means nearly 5% of the junior class earned a perfect score, a milestone Principal Rickey Harris initially thought was a mistake.
“I’m counting, and I get to 15 and I had to stop. ‘I must be reading this wrong,’” Harris said.
“We are incredibly proud of these outstanding students and their exceptional achievement.”
How Rare Is a Perfect ACT Score?
According to the ACT organization, less than 1% of all test takers receive a perfect score of 36. The average composite score in Illinois for 2024 was 24.5, while the national average was 19.4 — placing these students in an elite tier of academic excellence.
The ACT tests five categories of college preparedness:
- English
- Math
- Reading
- Writing
- Science reasoning
Each of the 23 students excelled across all these domains.
A Culture of Excellence at Whitney Young
The school will recognize the high achievers at a special ceremony on Monday morning. The feat highlights both student dedication and a supportive academic environment, says Student Guidance Director Alison Melton:
“This achievement reflects not just individual student success, but the collective effort of our teachers, staff, families, and entire school community.”
Back in 2018, only five students at Whitney Young earned perfect ACT scores — showing a nearly fivefold increase in just a few years.
One of this year’s top scorers, Keith Xin, also maintains a 4.0 GPA and is set to become Student Council President next year. He says the perfect score was a pleasant surprise:
“After the test, I thought I did pretty well, but I didn’t expect to get a perfect on it.”
What’s Next for These Students?
Xin and his classmates are preparing to apply to college — with scholarship offers likely to follow after this high-profile academic performance.
While Xin is considering the medical field, he emphasized staying grounded during senior year:
“I’m not going to become consumed with it. I want to enjoy being a teenager also.”
Ben Fiedor, an ACT tutor from Huntington Learning Center-Schaumburg, called it a rare feat:
“It’s very rare to get perfect across the board because they are testing lots of different skills.”
Do you think standardized tests like the ACT still hold value in college admissions? What role should public schools play in nurturing top academic talent?
Tell us in the comments, and follow ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com for more student success stories, school updates, and education news across Chicagoland.
