Perfect SAT Score

During his four years at West Orange High School, Sahli Negassi balanced two sports, led two clubs, and excelled in multiple AP classes. This year, he reached a rare milestone — earning a perfect SAT score, a feat achieved by fewer than 1,000 students nationwide annually.

Negassi, 17, learned of his perfect score last summer, and the recognition continued when he became a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, honoring the nation’s top high school seniors. The average SAT score is 1050, but Negassi scored nearly perfectly on his first try. Unsatisfied, he took the test again, acing every question to achieve a 1600.

“I came into class and I was like, ‘I can do better,’” Negassi said. He prepared for the SAT on his own, using free online resources. Juggling classes and extracurriculars, he even studied during track meets, squeezing in practice sessions before and after races.

His principal, Oscar Guerrero, praised Negassi’s achievement, emphasizing that his success extends beyond academics. Negassi attributed his score to meticulous preparation, learning through practice questions that the SAT is less about raw intelligence and more about pattern recognition, memorization, and time management.

Born in New York City and raised in West Orange, Negassi credits his father for his early academic foundation, teaching him to read before he started school. The love and sacrifice of his parents, he said, instilled the determination that drives him today.

At West Orange High, Negassi became president of the math team and the National Honor Society. He captained the cross-country team, breaking a 5k record, while also playing in the string ensemble and competing on the varsity chess team.

Despite his accomplishments, Negassi remains humble. “I don’t consider myself a prodigy or a special case,” he said, emphasizing the role of his parents, teachers, and friends in his success. Their support helped him navigate his demanding schedule and thrive in every area of his life.

As he prepares for college, Negassi hopes to study law at Harvard, his top choice. For him, his achievements are a collective victory. “When I think of the score, I think it’s an achievement of us as a community,” he said. “My mother cooked the breakfast I ate that morning of the test — that’s just as important.”