LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — When Andrew Dean finished taking the ACT college entrance exam in October, he knew he did well on the math and science sections.

        He wasn't sure about the English and reading sections.

        He recently found out just how well he did on all the sections. Andrew was one of 12 students nationally — three in Ohio — who scored 36, the highest possible total.

        More than 391,000 students nationally took the test the same day Andrew did. The average score of students in the Class of 2001 who took the test was 21.

        “I didn't even open the envelope when the results came,” said Andrew, a senior at Lakota East High School. “Mom did and showed me. I was happy I got it. Hopefully, I'll get some scholarship money.”

        Andrew is the fourth Lakota East student in the past two years to total the highest score possible on the ACT test. Last spring, Chen Wu earned a 36, and Margaret Penner earned hers in a summer administration of the test.

        In October 2000, Patrick Thomas learned he got the top possible score on both the ACT and SAT exams.

        “Four students out of less than 2,000 Lakota East students taking the test in the past two years earned that score. That's more than coincidence. That's proof of an excellent academic program,” said Lakota Schools Superintendent Kathleen Klink.

        Andrew's mother, Cindy, said she felt her son would do well on the test because of his preparation by the Lakota Schools, which he has attended since second grade.

        “They've had good teachers and preparation all the way — elementary, junior high and high school,” Mrs. Dean said. “It is always a surprise that anyone (gets) a perfect (score). Our daughter got a 35 when she took the test, so we felt (a perfect score) was within the realm of possibility.”

        The ACT test is a national college entrance exam taken by nearly 60 percent of America's entering college freshmen. It includes subtests in English, math, reading and science reasoning.

        Andrew is ranked 11th in his class and is taking courses at both the University of Cincinnati and Lakota East through the state's post-secondary option program. He said he's beginning to work on college applications and may change some of his possible choices after his ACT score. He'd like to major in computer science or engineering.

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