Cretin-Derham Hall Junior Scores a Perfect 36 on the ACT

Cretin-Derham Hall junior Joseph Vanderwall, son of Kathleen and William Vanderwall of St. Paul, Minnesota, earned the highest composite score possible—a perfect 36—on the ACT college admissions and placement exam. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of all test takers earns a top score.

Among those who graduated from high school in 2011, more than 1.6 million took the ACT test, and of that number, just 704 students scored a 36. By way of comparison, in 2011 the average ACT score in Minnesota was 22.9 while the average national score was 21.1.

All four-year colleges and universities across the country accept ACT scores.