23 students from same school achieve perfect ACT score

CHICAGO (WLS) – Twenty-three students at a Chicago high school were honored Monday for a monumental academic achievement.

They all received a perfect ACT score.

“Today is one of those rare, extraordinary moments in a school’s history when we get to pause and celebrate academic greatness,” Rickey Harris, principal at Whitney Young Magnet High School, said.

It’s greatness, indeed.

Less than 1% of ACT test takers across the country achieve a perfect score; at Whitney Young Magnet High School this year, they have 23 students scoring perfectly.

“A perfect 36 on the ACT, let’s give them a hand,” Harris added.

Each one was recognized for the monumental achievement, including student Bennett Star, for whom practice clearly makes perfect.

“I’ve been preparing for about the last year, kind of like intermittent,” Bennett said. “I took about eight practice tests just to practice it and prepare for it.”

Fellow student Mila Martinez said the special moment was when she shared the news with her father.

“He started crying,” Mila said. “He’s from Puerto Rico. He never took the ACT, so for our family, it’s a huge accomplishment.”

In 2018, Whitney Young had five students scoring a perfect 36.

The principal credited this year’s extraordinary record to the school’s culture of high expectations, comparing the 23 academic all-stars to the legendary Michael Jordan, who, of course, wore the No. 23.

“Just like MJ, our 23 didn’t settle for average,” Harris added. “Michael Jordan once said, ‘I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.’ Today, you all are living proof of that.”

Those 23 now ed an elite club across the country, making history and making Chicago proud.

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