MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Winnebago County high school student couldn’t do better.
Benjamin Thiel is a junior at Menasha High School, and he’s at least the third student in the area to score a perfect 36 on the college admissions test.
“It’s a great celebration for our community, but this is all about Ben.” Menasha High School Principal Mike Slowinski said.
Close to two million students took the college entrance exam in 2018.
Some spent months preparing for it. Others, like Menasha High School’s Ben Thiel, make it look easy.
“I didn’t really do any preparation outside of school, I just pay attention in class and make sure I get everything, and just make sure I take my time on the test – that was a big thing,” Thiel said.
The high school track and soccer star registered a composite score of 36 on the ACT.
According to the ACT’s website, the national average is a 20.8.
Wisconsin’s statewide average is just shy of that at 20.5.
“At Menasha High School, we looked back at our electronic records that we keep on this, back to 2010, and we have not had a perfect score since then, so it’s a very special moment,” said Slowinksi.
Ben received a letter from the ACT, recognizing his achievement.
In it, the group’s CEO states:
Your achievement on the ACT is significant and rare.
How rare? Only one-tenth of one percent of students who take the test will get a perfect score.
