Duke TIP Recognizes 210 SBISD Seventh-Grade Scholars

If you think America’s got talent, then just look around Spring Branch ISD – the district has academic talent galore.

For instance, take the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP). SBISD had 210 students enrolled in the seventh-grade Duke TIP program, which identifies students across the country who have scored at or above the 95th percentile on a grade-level standardized test.

In SBISD, eligible students are notified based on former Stanford, Iowa, CogAT and STAAR results, said Amy Ellingson, facilitator of advanced placement.

As part of the Duke TIP program, students take above-level college entrance exams to learn more about their abilities. Ellingson said that 175 SBISD students, from seven middle schools, took either the ACT or SAT this year.

Of those 175 scholars, 74 qualified for State Recognition, which meant scoring at least a 22 on any section of the ACT, or at least 550 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or 540 on the SAT math. These students are invited to a state recognition ceremony, held in various locations around the state.

Four Duke TIP seventh-graders qualified for the Grand Recognition Ceremony, held at Duke University.  To qualify, students taking the ACT had to score at least a 28 in science, a 29 in math or a 31 in either English or reading. Students taking the SAT had to score at least a 670 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or 680 in math.

Those scores are approximately equal to the 90th national percentile rank for college-bound seniors taking the ACT and SAT.

Students qualifying for grand recognition are invited to a ceremony at Duke University over the summer.

Duke TIP Executive Director Shawna Young knows firsthand the pride and the thrill of being recognized for academic success at an early age.

“As an alum of our 7th Grade Talent Search, I still remember how it felt to be recognized by Duke and TIP in seventh grade, as well as my excitement and anxiety at taking the SAT at such a young age,” Young said. “As an organization, we cherish the opportunity to celebrate each of our ceremonies honorees for such an outstanding accomplishment.”

SBISD’s Advanced Academic Studies department identifies academically gifted students, offers programs to enhance those students’ learning and supports those students and their teachers throughout the system.
Duke TIP has identified more than 2.8 million students to benefit from its programs and resources since 1980.

For more information about SBISD Advanced Academic Studies, please go to https://cms.springbranchisd.com/curriculuminstruction/academic-performance-support/departments/advanced-academic-studies.

For more information about Duke TIP, please go to www.tip.duke.edu.

Duke TIP 2017 Talent Search Results >>