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CTYOnline - Admissions & Eligibility

CTYOnline programs are designed for academically gifted students in grades Pre K - 12. Eligibility for admission is based on the student's performance on one of several specific tests depending on the student's grade in school. See Eligibility Guidelines and Qualifying Scores for CTYOnline for the qualifying tests and scores that determine for which programs and courses a student is eligible to enroll.

How can I arrange for eligibility testing during the summer?

Although eligibility testing  for students between Grades 2 - 8  is generally arranged by CTY Talent Search during the academic year, during the summer the Diagnostic and Counseling Center arranges for eligibility testing. Students who are interested in arranging for eligibility testing between June 3rd and August 31st should visit Taking the SCAT during the Summer for details and to print out the form. Students who wish to test after September 15th should register through Talent Search, which identifies, assesses, and recognizes students with exceptional mathematical and/or verbal reasoning abilities during the academic year. Talent Search begins accepting applications after September 1st.

What courses will I be eligible to take?

CTY focuses on challenging students in their areas of strength, not on remedial studies.  Students who excel in the mathematical reasoning portion of the test become eligible to take courses in math, science, or computer science.  Those who achieve qualifying scores on the verbal (or reading) portion of the above grade test become eligible to take writing, humanities, social science, or foreign language. If you already have the student's scores for SCAT, College Board SAT, or ACT, use the convenient CTY Eligibility Assessment form to find out which programs and courses the student may take.  (Those who took the PLUS test in earlier years should check PLUS news.)

Eligiblity Guidelines and Qualifying Scores for CTYOnline

Grades Pre K - 1
Grades 2 -  6
Grades 7 and Above
PSAT for Grades 9 to 12

Students in grades Pre K - 6 qualify for CTYOnline distance education math courses by achieving scores on the assessments shown below. Once admitted, they may continue to enroll in distance math courses for which they are eligible until the end of the 2nd grade (if they qualified by one of the qualifying tests for Grades Pre K - 1), or until the end of 7th grade (if they qualified by SCAT scores). By the end of 7th grade, students must have qualifying ACT or College Board SAT scores to continue enrolling in CTYOnline. Students should participate in the CTY Talent Search to take the SCAT during grades 2 though 6 or to take the ACT or College Board SAT in the 7th or 8th grade.

Grades Pre K - 1

CTY offers math courses to students beginning in Pre-kindergarten. To qualify for CTY distance math courses before grade 2, the student must achieve one of the following scores:

  • WISC-IV, WPPSI-III, Stanford-Binet V: Full Scale, Verbal, OR Performance/Perceptual Reasoning/Nonverbal composite score 127 or higher
  • CogAT: Verbal, Nonverbal, Quantitative, OR Composite Score 97th percentile or higher
  • KeyMath: Total Score 97th percentile or higher
  • Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement - III, WIAT-II, or K-TEA: math composite 97th percentile or higher.

Grades 2 - 6

Students in grades 2 - 6 take the School and College Abilities Test (SCAT) to qualify for CTY programs.  This computerized above-grade level test is offered through the CTY Talent Search during the school year and through the CTY Diagnostic and Counseling Center during the summer months. For more information about SCAT testing during the summer and to print out the necessary form, please visit here.

Grades 
K - 6

Grade when
tested

Qualifying Mathematics Scores
required for
math, computer science,
or science courses

Qualifying Verbal Scores required for writing, humanities, foreign language, or social science courses
2435 SCAT Quantitative430 SCAT Verbal
3440 SCAT Quantitative435 SCAT Verbal
4450 SCAT Quantitative440 SCAT Verbal
5465 SCAT Quantitative450 SCAT Verbal
6475 SCAT Quantitative455 SCAT Verbal


Grades 7 and Above

By the end of grade 7, students must have qualifying scores on the ACT or College Board SAT to continue enrolling in CTY distance courses. Students should register for CTY's Talent Search and take the ACT or SAT during the 7th grade so their scores will be available by the end of grade 7. At this time, only the ACT Reading, SAT Verbal (prior to 3/05), or SAT Critical Reading score (3/05 or later) will be considered for CTY humanities course eligibility. 

Grades
7 and above

Grade when
tested

Qualifying Mathematics Scores required for
math, computer science, or science courses

Qualifying Reading Scores required for
writing, humanities, foreign language,
or social science courses
Minimum Score RequiredSTB Option - Minimum
Score Required
Minimum Score Required
7430 SAT-M or
16 ACT-M
400 STB* and
380 SAT-M
410 SAT-CR/V or
15 ACT-R
8480 SAT-M or
18 ACT-M
400 STB* and
430 SAT-M
460 SAT-CR/V or
18 ACT-R
9530 SAT-M or
20 ACT-M
400 STB* and 
480 SAT-M
510 SAT-CR/V or
21 ACT-R
10580 SAT-M or
23 ACT-M
400 STB* and
530 SAT-M
560 SAT-CR/V or
24 ACT-R
11630 SAT-M or
25 ACT-M
400 STB* and
580 SAT-M
610 SAT-CR/V or
27 ACT-R
12

Contact CTY Administrators

Key M = Math, CR = Critical Reading (tested 3/05 or later), V = Verbal (tested prior to 3/05); R = Reading
* Note: there is no Spatial Test Battery (STB) option for students who take the ACT

PSAT Scores for Grades 9 - 12

Official PSAT scores may be submitted for students in grades 9 - 12, who are too old to participate in the CTY Talent Search.

Grade when
tested

Qualifying Mathematics Scores*

Qualifying Verbal Scores

7

>=43 PSAT-M

>=41 PSAT-V

8

>=48 PSAT-M

>=46 PSAT-V

9

>=53 PSAT-M

>=51 PSAT-V

10

>=58 PSAT-M

>=56 PSAT-V

11

>=63 PSAT-M

>=61 PSAT-V

12

>=68 PSAT-M

>=66 PSAT-V

* Note: there is no STB option for students who take the PSAT

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CTY is accredited for grades 5 through 12 by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Phone: 410 735-4100 / 410 735-6200 / Email: ctyinfo@jhu.edu

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