JOHNS HOPKINS TALENT SEARCH NOW OPEN

National academic Talent Search looks for local gifted students

Media Contact: Matt Bowden
Email: mtbowden1@jhu.edu
Phone: (410) 735-6045

BALTIMORE  Fall 2006— Now through December 1, families can enroll their gifted 2nd-8th grade children in the annual nationwide academic Talent Search offered by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

What does a child do in the Talent Search? Once signed up, students take “above grade-level” tests that show their mathematical and verbal abilities. Students in 7th and 8th grade take the SAT or ACT—the same tests taken by college-bound juniors and seniors. Students in 2nd-6th grades take the SCAT--similar to the SAT and ACT but scaled for younger students. Students take the test in or near their hometowns.

Test results provide several important benefits. One, they show a student’s performance, both individually, and compared to tens of thousands of other bright young people nationwide. Two, families can use the results to plan next steps in a child’s education and to track academic progress. And three, results can qualify students for CTY’s summer and online courses for highly gifted children.

Last year, over 84,000 students participated in CTY’s Talent Search. Just over 10,000 enrolled in CTY’s Summer Programs, and a further 7,100 took an online course through CTY Distance Education.

CTY students comprise some of the brightest young people of their generation. In 2005 alone, six received Rhodes scholarships, two took top places in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, three finished in the top ten in the national MathCounts championship, and two earned top awards in the Siemens Westinghouse Science Competition.

The enrollment fee into the Talent Search is $35. Financial aid is available. Students may contact their school guidance counselor for a CTY Talent Search application or may register online at www.cty.jhu.edu. Information: 410-735-6278, or email ctyinfo@jhu.edu.

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About The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY)

CTY conducts the nation's oldest and most extensive academic talent search and offers educational programming for students with exceptionally high academic ability. CTY parallels, and complements, a gifted child’s regular school experience. CTY’s programs and students have been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and other premier American publications. Other information:

• CTY is a nonprofit center at The Johns Hopkins University.
• CTY draws students from 19 states and DC, as well as students from over 71 countries.
• 2005-2006 saw over 84,000 second- through eighth graders participate in CTY’s Talent Searches.
• CTY provided $5 million in financial aid to over 2,150 students in 2005-6.
• In the 2005-6 Talent Search, 19.8% of students in CTY’s Talent Search were identified as underrepresented.
• Gifted students qualifying for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program may join the Talent Search virtually for free.

More information is available at www.cty.jhu.edu, including a May 4 story that aired on NPR about middle schoolers and the SAT.

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