Rockwood Summit Student Earns 36 on the ACT

Michael Charleston walked out of his ACT test last June feeling pretty good about how it went.

That’s not normally a good omen for him.

“Usually that’s a sign that I’m missing something,” he said. “But apparently not in this case.”

The Rockwood Summit High senior earned a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT, an achievement claimed by only a fraction of 1 percent of the students who take the test. 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.

Charleston had taken the districtwide ACT in April – which is offered free of charge to all Rockwood School District juniors – but was not feeling well that day. So he decided to give it another go two months later.

“I was expecting a good score but definitely not that,” he said. “Very surprised but also happy.”

Charleston plans to study computer engineering after graduating from Rockwood Summit and hopes to attend the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign.

He said he has always been interested with the inner workings of complex machines and, after engaging in some pre-programming activities as a younger student, dove into the computer engineering world in high school.

His favorite classes have been AP Physics I and AP Advanced Physics with Angela Schneider.

“I’ve always loved technology, computers,” he said. “I’m fascinated with how they work and what they can do.”

A member of the Rockwood Summit chapter of National Honor Society, Charleston is a finalist in this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program.

He is also a percussionist in the Falcons band program, playing in the marching band, pep band, symphonic band and taking part in the pit orchestra for the school’s spring musical. This school year, he earned a spot in the All-Suburban Concert Band, was honorable mention All-State and has qualified for the state Solo and Ensemble Festival with a keyboard mallet solo and as part of a percussion ensemble.

“Music has always clicked with me as a way to express myself,” he said. “And, especially in marching band, it has helped me build connections. It’s very team-oriented. You have to have a whole ensemble working together to make good music, and I’ve made so many friends.”