Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago is making headlines after 23 students achieved a perfect ACT score of 36—the most in the school’s 50-year history.
Principal Rickey Harris proudly celebrated the milestone, likening the number 23 to basketball legend Michael Jordan: “Like Jordan, these students didn’t settle for average.” The achievement reflects the school’s culture of excellence and high expectations.
One standout, Mila Martinez, shared how emotional it was to tell her father, who had never taken the ACT himself. “He cried,” she said, describing the moment as deeply meaningful for her family.
Whitney Young’s success is part of a broader trend across Chicago Public Schools, where over 125 students citywide reached the top ACT score this year. Whitney Young continues to lead the way, proving once again why it’s one of the city’s top academic institutions.
