Gifted 7th-grade students receive academic challenges
Contact: Leslie Maxwell
Duke University Talent Identification Program
(919) 668-9127
leslie.maxwell@duke.edu
More than 67,000 academically gifted students take college admissions exams
Updated: April 8, 2009
DURHAM, N.C. — More than 67,000 academically talented 7th graders flexed their academic muscles by taking the SAT or ACT through the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) in late 2008 and early 2009.
They will sat for the exams in their hometowns alongside the usual group of college-bound 11th and 12th graders, and many earned scores that will rival or surpass those achieved by the older students taking the exams.
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) identifies 7th graders in sixteen states in the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest who have scored at the 95th percentile or above on a grade-level achievement test. These students are invited to participate in the Duke TIP 7th Grade Talent Search and take either the SAT or the ACT.
"With all of the demands on our educational system to provide services across the broad spectrum of students, it is vital that parents and educators have access to additional, external resources focused specifically on the gifted population,” said Duke TIP's Executive Director Martha Putallaz, Ph.D. “Within each gifted student is the potential for greatness, but without adequate opportunities and guidance, that potential may remain untapped. Duke TIP is here to help gifted students reach their full potential.”
Talent Search participants receive a comparative results summary to help interpret their scores. Duke TIP also provides participants with suggestions for using their ability more effectively, and a variety of educational materials, programs and publications. These publications, including a newsletter, a directory of educational opportunities around the country, resources for the college admissions process, help students learn more about fulfilling academic opportunities available to them and about the needs and interests of people like themselves.
* * *
About Duke TIP: The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a non-profit educational organization that is recognized as a leader in identifying and serving the educational needs of academically gifted youth. Through identification, recognition, challenging educational programs, information, advocacy and research, Duke TIP provides resources to gifted students, their parents, educators, and schools for the development of the students’ optimal educational potential.
###
