At just 17 years old, Sahli Negassi, a senior at West Orange High School, has accomplished what less than 1% of students nationwide achieve—a perfect 1600 SAT score.
Negassi’s journey to academic success began early. Born in Manhattan and raised in West Orange, New Jersey, he attended Mount Pleasant and St. Cloud elementary schools before continuing his education at Edison and Roosevelt Middle Schools. Interestingly, he never attended preschool but credits his early exposure to his older siblings’ textbooks as the foundation for his intellectual curiosity.
“I walked out of [my] first period [class] and immediately called my mom,” Negrassi told WOBOE about when he first saw his score. “I showed it to a classmate, but then I got nervous and joked that it was Photoshopped. Even now, it still doesn’t feel real. But more than anything, I was relieved—I had finally proven to myself that it was possible.”
Unlike many students who enroll in expensive test prep courses, Negassi prepared for the SAT using free online resources, including Khan Academy, YouTube, and the SAT Educator Question Bank. He also credits his rigorous AP coursework, particularly in Language, U.S. History, and Calculus, for sharpening his analytical skills.
“Really, the hardest part of studying was finding time. I had to make it whenever I could—at meals, during slow class periods, on bus rides. Taking it one question at a time was good enough,” he shares.
Sahli is far from a one-dimensional scholar. He is a true renaissance student— a dedicated track and cross-country athlete since seventh grade, a former color guard performer for two seasons, president of the Math Team, chapter president of the National Honor Society, a varsity chess team member, a musician in the Royal Strings ensemble, and an active member of multiple honor societies.
Despite his academic achievements, Sahli remains humble and forward-thinking. He hopes to attend Harvard University and pursue a career in law.
“Give me 10 years and I’ll be out in the world doing something more important than a standardized test,” he said.
His advice for other students looking to achieve similar success: “Be intentional. Know what you want for yourself, and throw your whole body at it.”
Photo Credit: Matthew Stillman
