Tennessee High School junior Jaxon Tabor recently earned a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT—an accomplishment achieved by approximately 0.2% of test-takers nationwide. Jaxon credits his success to both his hard work and the dedication of his teachers.
“Mr. Davis integrated ACT questions into our English class, so I was prepared for the format," Jaxon said. "I had practice on how the questions work, how they’re structured, and the best way to find answers. Mr. Sloan was also a big help."
Scoring a 36 opens doors for Jaxon’s future. “This means essentially a full ride through college,” he said. “I plan to go to ETSU, and something like this can easily give me a full ride. That means I can go get a degree, probably debt free, and be able to start my life on the right track.”
A student with a wide range of interests and accomplishments, Jaxon is an Eagle Scout. He’s also a dedicated member of the theater department’s backstage crew and is currently working behind the scenes on the school's production of Mamma Mia!.
Jaxon’s achievement has not gone unnoticed at home or by the Viking community. “My mom saw the score first and shrieked so loudly the dogs started howling—even the ones that had never howled before,” he laughed. “Since then, so many teachers have congratulated me. It really makes me feel like teachers here care.”
Tennessee High School Principal Kim Kirk shared her pride in Jaxon’s accomplishment: “We are incredibly proud of Jaxon. This kind of achievement takes an enormous amount of focus and perseverance, and it reflects not only his commitment but also the support of our dedicated teachers and staff who work hard to prepare students for success.”
Jaxon plans to pursue a degree in computer science or a STEM-related field after graduation.