Five Canyons District students earned perfect 36 composite scores on the ACT, the school board announced at its Tuesday, Sept. 15 meeting.

Corner Canyon High School's Sydney Hanks was among the five recognized. Hanks was joined by Alta High's Gabriel Carlton and Oliver Collings, Brighton High's Miles Higginson and Hillcrest High's Zhuocheng Wang.

A perfect 36 places a student among roughly the top 0.2% of all ACT test-takers nationwide, according to test-prep site Test Ninjas. The score stands out in a state where 89% of high school students take the exam, according to data compiled by OntoCollege.

That is five students out of tens of thousands.

The recognition came during a meeting that also included a Title IX update on girls' athletics across the district.

Title IX update outlines girls' athletics steps

Canyons District Director of High Schools Dr. Tom Sherwood presented a Title IX report during Study Session, reviewing the proportion of athletic participation and enrollment among girls and boys at the district's five comprehensive high schools.

Sherwood said "recent campus improvements, particularly softball-facility construction work at Jordan High, are helping create environments where there aren't identified inequalities or inadequacies for girls sports and activities."

The district has printed and distributed posters promoting girls' athletics to schools. Sherwood outlined additional steps: an interest survey gauging demand for future girls' activities and a communications plan to promote non-tryout girls' sports.

The presentation builds on annual Title IX reviews Sherwood has delivered to the board. At the September 2025 meeting, he reported all five high schools fell within recommended participation proportions. Sherwood noted Canyons had recently added boys and girls lacrosse, competitive cheer, girls wrestling and boys volleyball but said the district might still need additional supports for female-specific activities.

The board also approved its consent agenda Sept. 15, which included a memorandum of understanding with Alpine School District regarding Suncrest busing.

The next School Community Council training is Wednesday, Oct. 7, with sessions from 10 a.m. to noon and 6 to 8 p.m.