Each year Cape Coral High School continues to churn out students earning a perfect score on the SAT.
In recent years, four students from the local high school have earned an 800 on the math section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, arguably the most important exam for students to get into college.
Senior Christian Cousin earned a perfect score this year, while Alma Fidahic and Esteban Gonzalez, also in the 12th grade, scored an 800 last year. Cape Coral High graduate Kyle Ramey, who now attends the University of Florida, also earned a perfect score before graduating last year.
Principal Eric McFee said all of the students are in the International Baccalaureate or IB program, an advanced educational program preparing students for a more globalized world. It has been active at Cape Coral High since 2007.
“Until I came here, I’d never seen so many perfect SAT scores in math,” he said. “Every year we have at least one and it is kind of nice.”
Cousin, Fidahic and Gonzalez are all in Math Analysis, an IB class focusing on calculus. None of the three said they studied before taking the SAT, but credited their rigorous math classes led by teacher Charlie Pease — a former graduate of Cape Coral High who also earned an 800 on the SAT math test.
Pease also coaches the math team alongside fellow teacher Jim Propert, and at one time or another each of the students have been members of the school’s Math Team.
“Our math class is so rigorous,” Fidahic said. “We have to pay attention to the details of all the math problems.”
Fidahic added that she could not remember the last time she took a multiple choice math exam. Instead, each student has to work through long problems given to them by their teacher.
“I’m hoping to go to Georgetown,” said Fidahic, who wants to major in international relations.
Cousin and Gonzalez have both applied to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one for mechanical engineering and the other for aerospace or electric engineering, respectively.
“My reach school is MIT, but I’ll probably end up going to UF,” Gonzalez said.
He is currently taking Advanced Placement Calculus online and will start Calculus III at Edison State College in January, all in an attempt to get a jump-start on college requirements.
McFee said students are eagerly anticipating acceptance letters from college this week.
“A lot of these kids applied and they are waiting to hear what is going to happen,” he said. “Generally, they come out at the same time.”
Fidahic said she has five days until she receives her letter from Georgetown.
Each of the students underwent an application interview with local alumni from each of the prestigious schools to where they applied and they are looking forward to finding out whether they are accepted.
“I’m basically dying,” Fidahic said of agonizing over the wait.