Three Consolidated High School District 230 seniors achieved what less than one-quarter of one percent of test-takers nationwide accomplish each year—a perfect 36 on the ACT.

Carl Sandburg High School senior Neel Patel and Victor J. Andrew High School seniors Hunter Boyle, Kenny Peters, and Ashton Zopf each scored a 36 on the national exam.

The ACT, a standardized college entrance assessment, measures knowledge and skills in English, mathematics, reading, and science. Each section is scored on a scale of 1–36, with a student’s composite score representing the average of the four sections.

For perspective, the average ACT composite score in Illinois in 2024 was 24.5. The 2025 state average has not yet been released. Earning a perfect composite score places these students among the top-performing high school seniors in the country.

ACT scores are accepted by most major four-year colleges and universities across the United States and serve as an important milestone for students pursuing higher education.