Edina Student Jessica Hankes Scores Perfect 36 on ACT

senior Jessica Hankes had already taken the ACT test once. And while she earned an impressive score of 33 the first time around, she was determined to improve it with another try.

"I did really well on the test before, but my big issue was the math section," Hankes said. "So I bought a prep book and practiced the math problems a lot."

That hard work appears to have been well worth it. Hankes managed to not only improve upon her first attempt, but she earned a perfect composite score of 36 in the process.

"I guess it paid off," she said.

Nationally, roughly one-tenth of one percent of students who take the ACT exam manage to boast a perfect score. That's something like 700 of the estimated 1.6 million students who took the test last year.

The ACT includes tests in English, math, reading and science. Tests are scored on a scale of 1-36, with the student's composite score an average of all four.

EHS Principal Bruce Locklear said the entire school is proud of Hankes' accomplishment, noting is distinguishes her as "one of a very select group of students nationwide."

"This is a truly an honor for Jessica and our school community," Locklear said.

In her free time, Hankes is passionate about Tae Kwon Do—and happens to hold a third-degree black belt.

Hankes doesn't have set plans for where she'll attend college next fall, but is interested in studying physics. The application process should be a bit more interesting for the Edina student, given her dominant ACT performance.

"It was really cool to know that I earned a 36," Hankes said. "I was really worried about how we were going to pay for college, but this should help."

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