BALTIMORE — Joi Haskins, a student from Reisterstown, was recently honored as one of the brightest young students in the nation at a regional awards ceremony for academically advanced children sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY).
The Center honored Joi, a participant in the CTY Talent Search, for her exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to academically talented second-through-eighth-grade students.
As part of the CTY Talent Search, which is going on now, advanced young learners take above-grade level tests that CTY has used for years to spot academic talent and reveal gaps between a child’s academic program and his or her actual capacity for learning. Seventh and eighth graders take the SAT or ACT—the same tests used for college admissions. These students, along with second through sixth graders, can take the School and College Ability Test (SCAT), an above-level test.
Joi, a student at The Park School, was one of more than 38,000 students from over 120 countries who participated in the CTY Talent Search. Because of the difficulty of the tests, only about 30 percent of students who participated earned an invitation to a CTY Awards Ceremony where they are individually honored for their academic performance and potential. Most students honored in 2014 CTY Awards Ceremonies also qualified academically for CTY’s summer courses and online classes.
“The CTY awards ceremony congratulates students for their academic achievement, and it recognizes the defining roles that parents, educators, and others play in developing the academic talents of our outstanding honorees,” said Elaine Tuttle Hansen, executive director of CTY. “For these advanced learners, as with all children, there should be no gap between their capabilities and the opportunities open to them.”
This spring, some 9,700 CTY Talent Search honorees were invited to participate in 43 CTY Awards Ceremonies across the country, and one in Hong Kong.
A global leader in gifted education since 1979, CTY is focused on recognizing academic talent in exceptional K-12 students and supporting their growth with courses, services, and resources specifically designed to meet their needs. Education Week called CTY “one of a set of remarkable nonpublic institutions dedicated to the discovery and nurture of the most talented young people for the highest levels of accomplishment.”
For more information about enrolling in the CTY Talent Search, visit: www.cty.jhu.edu.