One Family - 3 Perfect ACT Scores!

Reprinted from Traditions, Spring 2017-2018
July 24, 2017

The John and Connie McMahon family achieved a remarkable achievement that is statistically almost impossible. With daughter Claire’s recent news that she earned a 36 on the ACT, a perfect score, the McMahon family has the distinct honor of having three perfect ACT scores in one family.

Matt ’15 was the first McMahon to achieve a perfect score, which was just slightly above his two older siblings who also earned high scores. The probability of any student earning a
 36 is somewhere in the area of 1 our of every 1000 test takers, so this was an exceptional accomplishment.

One year later, Michael ’17 received word that he, too, scored a 36. The two McMahon brothers were both now a
part of an elite group of students who aced the ACT. “We were so happy for both our boys,” said mother Connie McMahon. “They like to challenge each other in a spirit of sibling rivalry, so this was quite a story around our dinner table.”

Not to be outdone, Claire ’18, the youngest of the McMahon children, just received word that she has also earned a perfect score.

“This achievement by any one of these students is impressive,” noted Mona Passman, Principal. “But it is truly unheard of to have multiple perfect scores in one family!”

ACT, Inc. agrees although they don’t actually have statistics on such a feat because it would be so rare.

“The ACT is not an IQ test, but rather an academic achievement test
 that measures what a student has learned throughout their years in school,” noted Ed Colby, Senior Director at ACT. “So, a
 top score of 36 on the ACT reflects a student’s hard work and dedication in school. It’s rare enough for any student to earn
 a 36 composite score, but three siblings in one family - each earning a top score - is a truly remarkable achievement.”

“Our family takes school seriously,” noted Connie McMahon, a CDH math teacher. “Being smart is so much more than a test score...we see our kids giving their best in classwork and building the skills that help them do well.”

John McMahon, father, is very appreciative of the role Catholic schools has played in their five children’s academic development. “ Catholic schools have provided a nurturing, challenging and supportive environment that builds on the varied individual traits of each kid.” He notes that he has five children with five very different personalities and interests, but they shared the common trait to put all their energy into school and the activities they chose.

With four of their children graduating from Cretin-Derham Hall, and one more who will graduate next year, the McMahons have a true love for CDH. “My kids were blessed to be a part of a caring community that works hard to make sure each student will excel,” noted Connie. She recalled a recent conversation at home, “When we asked them what they thought of their high school experience, one of my kids summed it up by saying, ‘At CDH, they taught me to be an independent learner – anything I wanted to learn, I could learn and they challenged me to achieve it.”

When asked about the McMahon secret to testing success, Connie believes that while they have strong abilities, they are also confident and competitive enough to get a 36.

“When you see a sibling get such good scores, it gives the younger kids the confidence that it is actually an attainable goal. And within our family, the competition factor is alive and well. 
It started with our oldest kids who set the bar quite high, and they all worked hard to reach it,” explained Connie.

Claire will be a senior at CDH next year. The other four McMahons have either graduated from or attend Georgetown University for college.

This article and more are featured in the Spring 2017-2018 issue of the CDH Magazine, Traditions.