Joliet Catholic Academy senior Marissa Corsi, daughter of David and Linda Corsi, earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36.

JCA president/principal Dr. Jeffery Budz said, “On behalf of the JCA administration, faculty and staff, we offer our congratulations to Marissa on her amazing accomplishment. We are so proud of her achieving a perfect 36 on the ACT and know that she has worked very hard to attain her goals. We know that Marissa will find success in all that she sets her mind to in college and beyond.”

In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2022, only 47 out of 1.3 million students who took the ACT earned a top composite score of 36. Furthermore, in Illinois, only 4 students received this perfect score.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. The score for ACT’s optional writing test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.

“Earning a top score on the ACT is a remarkable achievement,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “A student’s exceptional score of 36 will provide any college or university with ample evidence of their readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.”

The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students have learned in school. Students who earn a 36 composite score have likely mastered all of the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in first-year college courses in the core subject areas.

Corsi, of Plainfield, IL, was also named a semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program back in September. On the perfect ACT score Corsi said, “I wasn’t expecting it at all, but I’m very grateful! I firmly believe that standardized test scores are just a small part of a student as a whole, but I’m thankful that this outcome has opened up many doors for college. I owe it all to my parents, who have always supported my academic endeavors!”

Corsi plans to major in genetics with plans to attend graduate school after college. She has a career goal to work as a Research Scientist in the field of Biology.