He had high achievement while studying at West Texas Military Academy

One of the most interesting facts about Douglas MacArthur is that he had high achievements while studying at West Texas Military Academy. MacArthur attended West Texas Military Academy and received the gold medal for "scholarship and deportment". With a final year average of 97.33 out of 100, he was elected valedictorian. Douglas' father and grandfather both unsuccessfully sought presidential appointments to the United States Military Academy at West Point, first from President Grover Cleveland and later from President William McKinley. Following these two rejections, Milwaukee high school teacher Gertrude Hull provided him with guidance and private tutoring. He then passed the test for an appointment from Congressman Theobald Otjen, earning 93.3. Later, he wrote: "It was a lesson I never forgot. Preparedness is the key to success and victory."

In his second year, MacArthur was a corporal in Company B, a first sergeant in Company A in his third year, and a First Captain in his final year. He was a member of the baseball squad and got 2424.12 merits out of a possible 2470.00, or 98.14 percent, the third-highest score ever recorded. On June 11, 1903, he graduated first in his 93-man class. Because it was traditional at the time for the top-ranking cadets to be commissioned into the United States Army Corps of Engineers, MacArthur was appointed as a second lieutenant in that corps.