Perfect ACT score runs in the family — and across Great Hearts campuses

By Stacy Mantle
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At Great Hearts schools, high performance on standardized tests is often framed as a byproduct of a broader educational model — not the end goal itself.

“Success on the ACT (and other similar tests) is not a surprise for a Great Hearts student,” said Superintendent Brandon Crowe. “The ACT is simply one demonstration of that reality… an impressive step along the rich journey of lifelong learning ahead.”

That philosophy played out for Luciano Marcolini, a senior at Glendale Prep who recently earned a perfect 36 on the ACT, matching a milestone his brother achieved just two years earlier.

While the outcome may look exceptional, Luciano describes his preparation in practical terms.

“Most of my preparation boiled down to teaching other people,” he said. “One of the best ways to reinforce your own knowledge is to try and explain it to somebody else.”

That approach extended beyond informal study sessions. Luciano participated in peer tutoring through programs such as Schoolhouse, helping other students prepare for the SAT — a test he never  took himself — while strengthening his own mastery of core concepts.

Learning by teaching

Luciano’s strategy reflects a growing emphasis on active learning — particularly peer instruction — as a pathway to deeper understanding.

At Great Hearts, that model is reinforced structurally.

Students engage in a liberal arts curriculum that includes Socratic discussion and seminar-style classes, such as Humane Letters, where they analyze and debate classic texts. Smaller class sizes — about 15 students in upper grades — allow for more individualized support.

Luciano credits both the structure and the people behind it.

“The teachers here are very caring… always willing to offer help,” he said, pointing to educators who supported him across subjects, from physics to broader academic preparation.

That support extended beyond the classroom.

Teacher Katherine Sarbacker described Luciano as a student who  excelled academically and created opportunities for others.

“He came to me with a lesson plan… handouts… and then he ran the entire session,” she said, referring to a student-led ACT/PSAT prep group Luciano launched in 10th grade. “It was really pretty spectacular. Most students wouldn’t be able to do that.”

Practice, timing and test design

While content knowledge is essential, both Luciano and his teachers point to a more practical challenge: pacing.

“The ACT moves much more quickly than the SAT,” Sarbacker said, noting that timing — not just mastery — can determine outcomes.

Luciano identified the science section as particularly difficult to prepare for.

“It is a little difficult to study for," he said. "It's mostly just understanding graphs and tables.” 

His advice to other students is grounded.

“I guess my advice would be to just to like, relax," he said. "If you've studied well, then you will do well and you should trust what you've learned.”

A pattern across Great Heart campuses

Luciano’s achievement is not an isolated case.

At Veritas Preparatory Academy, senior Ronak Kapadia also earned a perfect 36, pairing the score with recognition as a National Merit Finalist. His preparation focused on identifying weaker sections — particularly science — and using practice exams to improve while maintaining strengths in other areas.

"Getting a perfect score on the ACT really boosted my college application, and it also opened a lot of scholarship doors," said Kapadia. "Namely, I got better scholarships to places like ASU Barrett and Texas A&M as a result of the ACT score, which allowed me to be a National Merit Finalist."

At Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, senior Atish Bala reached the same benchmark after concentrated preparation, relying heavily on practice tests and online resources. Despite initially expecting a lower score, Bala’s result underscored how quickly targeted preparation can translate into performance when foundational skills are strong.

Bala also credited his coursework — particularly Latin and Humane Letters — with strengthening vocabulary, analytical thinking and discussion skills, all of which supported his performance across ACT sections.

What these scores suggest

Across all three students — Luciano, Kapadia and Bala — a pattern emerges:

• Strong academic foundations, reinforced through discussion-based learning
• Frequent use of practice exams to identify and address gaps
• Peer teaching and collaborative learning
• Access to rigorous coursework and supportive teachers

While perfect ACT scores remain statistically rare — fewer than 3 out of every 1,000 students reach a perfect score — the repetition of these outcomes across multiple campuses suggests something more systemic, not just individual achievement, but a model that prioritizes depth of learning over test-specific strategies.

Performance without pressure

Despite the family precedent, Luciano said expectations to match his brother’s perfect score were present — but manageable.

"I thought that it wasn't the most realistic to shoot for 36 when I took the exam," he said. "I was definitely aiming for something high, but not quite a 36. That being said, there was a lot of pressure to do well because me and my brother share a lot of the same activities and I am a little pressured to be as good as him, if not better."

The friendly competition has opened doors.

Luciano has secured scholarship opportunities, including Arizona State University’s New American Scholarship, and he plans to attend Barrett, The Honors College, to study mechanical engineering.

"It probably could have more of an impact if I utilized it better," he said. "But, it has opened up some opportunities for me. It's gotten me access to some scholarships and I have been using those opportunities".

Beyond the score

Luciano’s academic profile extends well beyond standardized testing.

He participates in robotics — with his team advancing to a world competition — along with tennis, choir, piano and advanced coursework, including AP Physics 2 and AP Calculus BC.

That balance, educators say, is part of the bigger picture.

“He is exceedingly hardworking… and what I really appreciated is his heart of service,” Sarbacker said. “He wanted to help other kids potentially get a scholarship.”

For Luciano, the formula is straightforward and replicable.

“Explaining things to others really reinforces your own learning,” he said. “That’s the biggest tool that a lot of people don’t quite utilize.”

In a testing landscape often dominated by prep courses and score strategies, his experience — and those of his peers — point to a broader truth: strong fundamentals, meaningful support and active learning may matter more than any single test.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.