Fort Worth high schooler earns perfect score on AP computer science exam

A Fort Worth high school senior is one of only ten people in the world to earn a perfect score on an Advanced Placement computer science exam.

Miguel Padilla, 17, recently took the computer science test requiring students to design, write, analyze and document computer programs. Nearly 60,000 took the test and Padilla is one of only 10 who made a perfect score.

“I didn't feel like it was that hard because I had already put a lot into it. So it was pretty shocking that I was able to get this, to do this,” Padilla said.

He attended the Harmony School of Innovation in Fort Worth since the 4th grade and gives a lot of credit to his computer science teacher.

"She always gave me extra work and always like pushed me a little bit more than what everybody else was doing because she always said that I could do it.  So, she just did it and she just pushed me to more and I just did it, and here I am,” Padilla said.

In appreciation, Padilla gave her a framed and autographed copy of his score card.

Angelica Garcia said he's so gifted he can complete complex assignments faster than she can -- despite having a master's in digital mathematics and having worked two decades as a computer programmer. 

"If I'm going to keep something from my years of teaching this is going to be something that I always treasure. I love,” Garcia said.

Aside from his brilliance teachers and his parents says he always happy, humble and willing to help others.

Padilla is the son of proud Mexican immigrants -- his father an electrical engineer, his mother owns a small business.  

Miguel's dream is to attend MIT, then work for Google focusing on artificial intelligence and other complex subject matter most of us would never understand.