In a stunning display of academic prowess, Whitney Young Magnet High School has made history with 23 of its students obtaining perfect scores on the ACT, a feat unparalleled in the West Loop Chicago public school's record. Principal Rickey Harris, in a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, expressed his admiration for the students’ achievement. "It’s a phenomenal achievement," Harris said. "We are just super proud of them." This remarkable occasion marks a new high-water mark for the institution that has seen individual cases of perfect scores in the past but never in such numerous company.
Less than 1 percent of students who take the ACT nationally manage to score a perfect 36, yet at Whitney Young, nearly 5 percent of the junior class, which has over 400 students, reached this high benchmark in the spring testing period. The school's commitment to building "a culture of high expectations," as described by Harris in his dialogue with the Sun-Times, has seemingly paid off, fostering an environment where high academic achievement is not only encouraged but is becoming increasingly attainable.
The upcoming Monday ceremony will celebrate the exceptional work of the young academics, spotlighting the collective effort and support system behind them, including the faculty, parents, and the students themselves. In a news release cited by ABC7 Chicago, Alison Melton, Whitney Young’s Student Guidance Director, highlighted the team spirit that underpins such accomplishments, stating, "This achievement reflects not just individual student success, but the collective effort of our teachers, staff, families, and entire school community."
Among the high-flyers is Keith Xin, a student who, besides achieving a perfect score on the ACT, also boasts a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Xin, who is poised to assume the role of student council president, remarked in an interview with ABC7 Chicago, "After the test, I thought I did pretty well, but I didn't expect to get a perfect on it." Xin, along with his peers, now faces the enviable task of navigating an upcoming flood of scholarship offers and the prospect of collegiate choice.
