Five Canyons School District students earned a perfect 36 on the ACT, placing them among the 0.22 percent of test-takers nationwide who hit the exam's ceiling.

The district announced the results Nov. 2, alongside Class of 2026 data showing Canyons continues to lead all five Salt Lake County school districts in ACT performance. According to the district's announcement, 71.7 percent of Canyons students earned a composite score of 18 or higher. That figure is more than seven percentage points ahead of the next-highest Salt Lake County district.

The scores hit close to home. Brighton High School, Corner Canyon High School and other Canyons schools serve families across Cottonwood Heights and surrounding communities.

Among the five perfect scorers, Corner Canyon High School senior Sydney Hanks was profiled by ABC4 in September after earning her 36. Hanks said she set out to beat her older brother's score of 34 and found out her results while playing pickleball with friends.

"… I ran and grabbed my phone and I looked, and I refreshed the page, and I had a perfect 36!" Hanks told ABC4.

Charter schools trail the district

Canyons also outperformed two local charter school systems in the data. At American Preparatory Academy, 56.5 percent of students scored 18 or higher across English, reading and math. At Summit Academy, 55.5 percent reached that benchmark, according to the district's announcement.

The district described its 71.7 percent figure as the share of students earning a composite score of 18 or higher. The charter school figures were described as scoring 18 or higher across individual subject areas. The district's announcement did not clarify whether the two measures use the same calculation.

Statewide scores also climbing

The Canyons results come as ACT performance improves across Utah. A Utah State Board of Education (USBE) news release dated Oct. 14 reported that Utah's Class of 2026 average composite score rose to 20.1, up from 19.9 in 2025. The national average was 18.8.

A total of 44,756 Utah public school students from the Class of 2026 took the ACT, representing 91 percent of high school graduates. Utah was one of 16 states that tested 90 percent or more of graduates and ranked first among that group in average composite score.

"We are proud of the growth shown by Utah students, teachers, and schools as we focus on ensuring every student is prepared for postsecondary success," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Molly Hart said in the USBE release.

Utah funds ACT testing for all public school juniors each spring at no cost, according to USBE.