MOUNT GREENWOOD — Marist High School's Rebecca Valek earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT test.
Valek, of Beverly, is the first girl at the school to earn the top score. Marist opened in 1963 as an all-boys, Catholic high school and went co-ed in 2002.
A graduate of St. Barnabas Elementary School, Valek is the fourth Marist student to score a 36 in the past twelve years, according to officials of the school at 4200 W. 115th St. in Mount Greenwood.
On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students who take the ACT earn the top score. Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2014, only 1,407 of nearly 1.85 million students scored a 36.
Valek, a junior, was taking the test for the second time when she scored perfect, increasing her tally by two points from her first attempt. She said she felt better when taking the second exam, especially in math.
Valek said she has a short list of colleges she is interested in, but is not committed to one yet. She is considering the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Brown University and University of Pittsburgh.
She plans to pursue a career in medicine. She will start that path this summer through a research program with the University of Chicago, where she will work in the oncology department.
Valek is also involved in Marist’s theater program, math team, Marist Youth service group, Relay for Life, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and chorus. She volunteers regularly too, including with The Port Ministries in the Back of the Yards.
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