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Providence Catholic High School senior Michael Jensen has achieved a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT, a distinction earned by fewer than one percent of test takers in the United States.
“Michael’s achievement reflects not only his exceptional talent and determination, but also the spirit of academic excellence we foster at Providence Catholic,” said Principal Paul Houston. “We are incredibly proud of his hard work and the example he sets for our entire student body.”
Jensen, who previously attended St. Mary’s School in Mokena, has maintained First Honors every semester at Providence Catholic. He placed third individually in Algebra II at the 2025 ICTM State Math Contest and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction.
Beyond academics, Jensen is involved in various school activities including Math Team, Scholastic Bowl, National Honor Society, Pop Culture Club, Video Game Club, and Computer Club.
He attributed his success to thorough preparation and perseverance. “I first took the ACT prep course at Providence to get ready,” he explained. “After that, I took practice tests and sat for the exam a couple of times. I was just hoping to beat my previous score – but instead, I got a perfect score. I was thrilled and shocked.” He added that achieving this score serves as validation for his dedication: “The ACT score acts as a validation of the hard work I’ve put in and the high standards I hold.”
Reflecting on his time at Providence Catholic High School, Jensen said: “With so many inspirational teachers here, it’s hard to decide just one who has most mentored and challenged me.”
Jensen plans to pursue a double major in math and physics after graduation. He offered advice to fellow students preparing for standardized tests: “Do not give up. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to take the test another time, but I did – and it paid off.”
He is the son of Terri and David Jensen of Mokena.
