Long Island Student Achieves Perfect Score on Chemistry Regents Exam, Wins Teacher's Challenge

A Long Island high school student achieved a perfect score on his Chemistry Regents exam, earning $100 after meeting his teacher’s 25-year challenge. Jojo Yawson, a student at Baldwin High School, received a score of 100 on the exam in June, which was the last test to be graded. Teacher Anthony Simonelli expressed surprise at the result, stating, "When it came back with 100, my jaw almost hit the floor. Literally the last kid." This achievement occurs as New York State transitions to a new exam format and plans to phase out the high school diploma-required testing by 2028. For 25 years, Simonelli has challenged his students to score 100 percent on the final exam, offering a $100 reward delivered personally. Yawson, motivated by the incentive, believed it was achievable, stating, "You just have to get all the questions right. Like, it’s not impossible." Initially uncertain about his performance, Yawson was surprised to learn he had scored perfectly. He received the signed $100 bill from Simonelli, which he considered framing but might spend instead. Yawson previously scored 100 on the Biology Regents exam as a freshman. His mother, Ama Karikari, expressed pride in her son’s accomplishments, emphasizing the importance of inspiring students with learning accommodations. Simonelli noted that this might be the last opportunity for a student to achieve a perfect score on the Chemistry Regents due to upcoming changes to the exam. Former Governor George Pataki criticized the decision to phase out the Regents exams, arguing that it fails to address educational shortcomings in New York State. He stated, "Getting rid of the Regents is incredibly stupid," and suggested that the Education Department is attempting to mask the failure of schools to educate effectively.