WEST ORANGE SENIOR EARNS PERFECT 1600 SAT SCORE

Sahli Negassi, a senior at West Orange High School, achieved a perfect 1600 on the SAT, a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of test-takers nationwide.

Born in Manhattan and raised in West Orange, Negassi built a strong academic foundation through early exposure to his siblings' textbooks, despite not attending preschool.

He prepared for the SAT independently, using free resources like Khan Academy, while his AP coursework in U.S. history, calculus, and language reinforced his skills. Balancing SAT prep with AP exams and track competitions was a challenge.

“The hardest part was finding time to study. I fit it in wherever I could—during meals, slow class periods, and bus rides,” Negassi said.

Beyond academics, he competes in cross-country and track, leads as president of the math team and National Honor Society, plays varsity chess, and performs in the Royal Strings ensemble.