HILLSBORO, OR — A student in the Hillsboro School District recently accomplished an unusual and spectacular feat by achieving perfect scores on both the ACT and SAT college readiness exams on his first try. Glencoe High School junior Nisala Kalupahana reportedly took practice exams multiple times in preparation for the real thing — and clearly that practice paid off.
According to Hillsboro School District (HSD) spokeswoman Beth Graser, receiving perfect scores on both tests is “extremely rare.” Fewer than 1 percent of more than 2 million ACT testers in graduating classes across the U.S. in 2017 scored a perfect composite score of 36, she said, adding, “For the SAT, the percentage of those scoring a perfect 1600 is smaller yet.”
Only 20 students from all school districts across the greater Portland metro area scored perfectly on the ACTs in spring 2018, with six coming from Westview High School in Beaverton, as reported by OregonLive in April. But no students were reported to have scored perfectly on both.
In fact, only Theodora Mautz of Lincoln High School can join Kalupahana in this winners’ circle, as she was the first and only previous student to receive perfect scores on both tests in 2014. Differentiating the perspicacious pair, however, is age — Mautz was entering her senior year at Portland’s Lincoln High School, while Kalupahana is entering his junior year — and the fact that Mautz achieved her perfect scores on her second try.
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A handful of other students across the state have scored perfectly on either the ACT or SAT tests in their respective school districts, but none — apparently — have scored perfectly on both; even Kalupahana wasn’t expecting it.
“I thought the best I could hope for was a 1550 (out of 1600 on the SAT),” he reportedly told HSD officials.
After seeing he scored perfectly on the ACT, Kalupahana was still worried about his SAT score, Graser explained, noting that Kalupahana was in his U.S. History class when learned what he’d done.
“I dropped my phone,” he reportedly said with a laugh. “I was in shock. I really didn’t expect that.”
Graser also noted that while a student could get one answer wrong on the SAT and still receive a perfect score, Kalupahana didn’t miss a single one.
“He has now demonstrated, prior to his junior year even beginning, that he has the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in first-year college courses in the core subject areas of English, mathematics, reading, and science,” Graser said.
“We are all extremely proud of Nisala,” HSD Superintendent Mike Scott continued. “His accomplishment is incredibly impressive and unique and we are excited to see what he does next.”
At this time, Kalupahana has not reportedly made any decisions as to what college(s) he’ll apply after graduating in a couple years, but he did say that his interests revolve around computer science. Additionally, Kalupahana plays clarinet for the Westside Community Youth Orchestra and piano, guitar, and tenor saxophone “for fun,” Graser said.
Image used with permission, via Hillsboro School District