Black Student From Chicago is the First to Ever Get a Perfect ACT Score at His School

Nationwide — Mario Hoover, an African American student from Chicago, is the first to get a perfect score on the ACT Test in his high school’s 42-year history. He is part of the only less than 1% of students who achieve a perfect ACT score across the country.

Mario, who attends Providence-St. Mel School, has a 3.9 GPA and takes four AP classes. He says that he prepared for the ACT test by enrolling in a prep course. He took practice exams and the first time he took it, he got a 29.

Aside from excelling academically, Hoover also enjoys singing as a choir member. He also finds time to do volunteering work at a local hospital and the community Boys and Girls Club.

“I want others to know that they can do the same. I’ve been saying a lot today that we are all capable of more than we think we can do,” he told Fox32 Chicago.

Mario says that he hopes to go to Columbia University after graduating high school. He said he dreams to become a neurosurgeon one day.