Highlands Student Earns Perfect Score on ACT

Highlands High School rising senior Maria Broering earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT test.

Maria took the ACT for the fourth time in June. She prepared for the ACT by taking online practice tests through Naviance and the official ACT app. She also filled her class schedule with advanced and AP courses, which helped her develop the necessary skills to do well on the ACT. She credits her teachers at Highlands for her 36 and other academic achievements, including first place in Kentucky on the National Spanish Exam three years in a row and high passing scores on all of her AP exams.

“I love going to school at Highlands,” said Maria. “I am so grateful for all of my wonderful teachers who have always pushed me to do my best.”

In addition to her school work, Maria is involved in many clubs at HHS. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, FCCLA, and Spanish Club, and she was recently elected Secretary of the Math Honor Society.

Maria runs cross country and track, but her favorite sport is soccer. She has played for the HHS varsity team since 2016 and has verbally committed to play collegiate soccer at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where she will be studying dietetics to become a registered dietitian.

“Maria is a hard-working student who knows what she wants,” said Laura Schnitzler, Highlands High School guidance counselor.  “She pushes herself to do her best, and it is no surprise she achieved a 36 on the ACT.  We are proud of her achievement!“


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. Nationally, only about one-tenth of 1% of all students who take the ACT earn a score of 36.