Dean and Aiden Elhadary, twins and students at New Trier High School, completed their sophomore year with remarkable success, achieving perfect scores on the ACT exam. Aiden shared his excitement after learning his score in class, immediately texting his brother only to discover they both aced the test. The twins, both passionate about science, already have future academic aspirations. Dean intends to pursue a pre-med track, while Aiden considers majoring in biology or chemistry.
The Elhadary brothers earned a composite score of 36, a rare accomplishment only achieved by 0.25% of students who take the ACT, according to ACT Communications Director Juan Elizondo. Though the exam is commonly taken during a student’s junior or senior year, some sophomores opt to take it earlier to gauge their readiness for college. Aiden explained their early testing was aimed at identifying areas for improvement before future exam preparations.
Their mother, Jenny Elhadary, revealed that the twins spent a month preparing for each the SAT and ACT with the help of a private tutor. They met weekly for an hour to complete practice tests and primarily prepared independently. “I know she gave them practice exams and that’s all they did,” Jenny noted, emphasizing the twins’ disciplined study approach. Their father, Hamdy Elhadary, humorously noted one twin’s greater enthusiasm for studying.
At 15, Dean and Aiden stood with their parents, Jenny and Hamdy, at New Trier High School’s Winnetka campus, celebrating their success captured by photographer Alexandra Murphy. The twins credited their strong reading comprehension, honed from an early age, for their prowess in the English and reading segments of the exam. Dean also highlighted the importance of actively engaging in math classes.
Jenny Elhadary, working in healthcare as the vice president for clinical services at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Hamdy, a physician assistant in plastic surgery at Endeavor Health, noted their children often heard healthcare discussions at home. Post-college, both Dean and Aiden aim to enter the medical field, taking after their parents, though their specific focus remains undecided.
Outside academics, the twins participate in Science Olympiad, competing nationally with engineering projects and assisting students from Marie Murphy Middle School with the same. The family recently visited Duke University, the twins’ current top college choice, though they continue to explore options.
Hamdy Elhadary expressed pride in their achievement, acknowledging the excitement and significance of their perfect ACT scores.