Rooftop Revelations: Son of single mom details how he got a perfect ACT score in a violent community

Pastor Corey Brooks spoke with Chicago native Mario Hoover about how he was able to escape the failed public school system and get a perfect score on his ACT.

There will be critics who argue that Mario is an exception to the rule. But is he really, or is that a rationalization that critics comfort themselves with? One can make the more compelling argument that Mario’s success exposes just how many youths in low-income public schools have been robbed of a rigorous education by teachers and administrators who pass along even the most illiterate of kids. The sad reality is that Mario had to escape the public school system to become his best self. His remarkable achievement is a testament to the hidden potential that lies within these overlooked communities. 

That is why on the 80th day of his 100-day rooftop vigil to raise funds for a community center designed to provide support systems to low-income students, a proud Pastor Corey Brooks invited Mario to the freezing roof for a conversation by the campfire.