A local high school student became one of only handful of students in the country to earn a perfect score on his ACT test.

Michael Goldthwaite, a senior at Ursuline High School, scored a 36 on the exam.

The average score nationally is 21.

Goldthwaite, a 2010 National Merit semifinalist with a 4.171 grade point average, is one of only 86 students nationwide to earn a perfect score on the college entrance exam.