JTCC school students score in the top 3% Nationally on ACT

These sharp kids are No. 1 with No. 2 pencils.
2 high schoolers in the JTCC School class of 2017 achieved scores in the 97th and 99th percentile, respectively, on the ACT college entrance exam.

“We know that they accomplished this through a lot of hard work,” said JTCC Math teacher Hamzat Saba. “It didn’t happen by accident.” We recognize that we as the teachers play a role in preparing students, but we have to give credit to their parents as the first and most important teachers of their children.

Daniel Belovs, one of the two students, said he scored 30’s and 31’s on the practice ACTs before scoring a 33 when he took the real exam. “If anything, it was more motivation for me, because I was so close,” said Belovs, who has yet to decide which college or university he will be attending after graduation. He gave special thanks to the school staff, who he said went “above and beyond” what’s required for teachers. “This year I’ve really learned to appreciate all they’ve done for us,” Belovs said.

The average ACT score for Maryland’s 2015 graduating class was 22.3. For the past three years the scores nationally have gone down, while the scores at the JTCC have steadily increased. The ACT exam is the most popular college entrance exam for Maryland students. It measures a student’s knowledge of English, mathematics, reading and science. There is an optional writing section.

Spencer Bozsik, who scored in the 97th percentile on the ACT, started at the JTCC school in the 9th grade, where teachers encouraged him to challenge himself and think outside the box. “It’s difficult to tell where I’d be today if I didn’t attend the JTCC,” he said. He took the ACT in April 2016. When scores came out, he went online and was slightly disappointed by his score. Then he realized how impressive his score actually was nationally and cheered up a bit.

"Anyone who questions the value of the education at the JTCC should look at the students graduating this year and next," said Mark Santangelo, JTCC School Director. "These ACT exam results demonstrate the merits of our rigorous core curriculum through Laurel Springs and the students who rise to the challenge of it. When the student applies him/herself, he or she can acquire deep learning as well as the ability to master standardized testing."