By Ava McKelvey, Bridgeland High School (A High School Journalism Network Collaboration)

For high school students preparing to take standardized tests, there are endless nights of cramming in practice problems after practice problems, buying various study booklets and the pressure of living up to personal expectations. Any form of testing like the SAT or ACT can send students into a hunger for academic perfection as college admissions start to take full swing. However, Bridgeland High School senior Shawn Ray defied the odds and earned a perfect score on his ACT. 

“I thought I was close, but not perfect,” Ray said. “It was pretty exciting.”

The ACT is a standardized test that assesses English, math, reading and science skills with an optional writing section. Students must master a multitude of concepts, succeed under timed conditions and successfully tackle packets of work. Despite the pressure, Ray made perfection seem tangible.

“I only studied for the SAT and the material went over what the ACT covered, too,” Ray said.

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Ray is currently the valedictorian of the Bridgeland graduating Class of 2025. Ray’s classes, consisting of many advanced placement courses, have prepared him not only for college classes, but for any challenge life throws at him.

According to the Janet Godwin, CEO of the ACT, only about 1% of all test takers earn the top score of 36. Approximately 3,041 out of more than 1.37 million students who took the ACT earned a perfect score. ACT scores are accepted by major four-year colleges and universities across the country, and they are one of multiple criteria that colleges consider when making admission decisions.

“College was a big motivator to do well because the University of Texas at Austin is getting competitive for computer science, so I wanted to make sure I had the best possible application,” Ray said.

Ray’s perfect ACT score exemplifies his outstanding intelligence.

“I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” Ray said. “And I did!”

Editor's Note: This article was written by Ava McKelvey, a student at Bridgeland High School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, through a partnership between My Neighborhood News and the District as part of an established high school journalism network collaboration. My Neighborhood News is a proud supporter of local youth and warmly welcomes the opportunity to provide a platform for students to share their work.