Highlands High School junior William Burnham earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT exam.
Nationally, less than one-tenth of 1% of all students who take the ACT earn a score of 36.
Burnham initially took the ACT in April 2016, at the end of his sophomore year, and earned a score of 35. Although happy with that score, he stated that “the perfectionist in me wouldn’t be satisfied until I reached the perfect score.”
Taking the test again last December, Will achieved his goal of scoring a 36 on the ACT, with perfect scores on all sections of the test.
William Burnham
The ACT is required for all high school juniors as part of the annual state assessment, so even though Burnham has “aced” the ACT, he is required take it again this spring.
Burnhams’s thirst for academic challenge is evident throughout his high school career as his schedule in both his freshman and sophomore years included an early bird class that added an extra class period to his school day. Additionally, his schedules have included Advanced Placement (AP) classes, beginning with one his freshman year, two his sophomore year and four this year, as well as a dual credit (DC) class.
As for his senior year at Highlands this coming fall, Will’s requested schedule of classes includes early bird AP literature, AP statistics, AP physics, AP calculus BC, AP biology, AP government, and AP Spanish – and he plans to add DC Japanese as an 8th period on his own time outside of the school day.
Though currently undecided on a specific career field or university, Will says he is “fairly certain that it will have to do with science, be it physics, genetic engineering, chemical engineering, or something else.”
“We are very proud of Will and his performance on the ACT,” said Laura Schnitzler, Highlands High School guidance counselor. “He works hard every day and is a model student. Will’s work ethic and desire to learn are exemplary.”
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1–36, and a student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take the optional ACT writing test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT Composite score.
ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges. Exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.
