Posted on 04/27/2020
To many, the number 36 doesn’t carry any special significance. But for two high school students in FHSD, this number represents perfection. Junior Natalie Althof of Francis Howell High School and senior Eric Peasel of Francis Howell Central High School, have both achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT.
Althof hasn’t decided where her college path leads her yet but hopes to major in mechanical engineering and computer science. During her junior year, she has been involved in Math Club, Book Club, robotics, Spanish Club, Art Club, drama, and FBLA. Next year, she will be the president of the National Honor Society. “A 36 on the ACT is the highest academic achievement I have ever attained,” said Althof. “I was so happy to make my parents proud of me. I always want to prove to them that I can do better, achieve more.”
Peasel plans on attending the University of Missouri - Columbia in the fall. He will be receiving the Bright Flight Scholarship and a “Perfect Score Scholarship,” which covers all tuition and fees for four years, as well as housing for his first year. During his time at FHC, he played volleyball and participated in DECA. “Getting a perfect score means a lot to me,” said Peasel. “I attribute all of my success to FHC, as well as the District as a whole because I’ve been in the District since Kindergarten.”
“Earning a perfect score on the ACT is a major accomplishment,” said Director of Secondary Education Dr. Lucas Lammers. “It highlights the students’ supreme level of dedication to academic excellence and reflects the world-class instruction happening in our schools at all levels.”
The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students have learned in school. It consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science, scored on a scale of 1-36. The student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. Students who earn a 36 composite score have mastered all of the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in first-year college courses in the core subject areas. All major four-year colleges and universities across the U.S. accept ACT scores. In 2018, less than 0.2% of tested students received a perfect composite score of 36.
All ACT testing dates have been postponed until June. For more information about the ACT or future test dates, visit the ACT website.