The Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) is the largest program of its kind in the nation, representing participation from over 6,150 junior high and middle school in a 16 state region. The Talent Search identifies academically talented 7th graders based on standardized test scores at the 95th percentile or better in the area of language, reading, math, science, social studies or the composite score from their sixth grade test.
Candidates are identified and invited to complete either the SAT I: Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment college entrance examinations. TIP then provides the participants with comparative information concerning their academic abilities and resources for unique educational opportunities. Through the sharing of information, programming, recognition ceremonies, and the special attention that is inherent in the Talent Search identification process, TIP offers supplementation of local efforts to motivate, enrich, and academically challenge some of our community's brightest young people.
Each participant who completes the SAT or ACT receives the knowledge and experience of taking an out-of-level test. Students have the opportunity to build their test-taking skills - skills they will continue to need and use as the advance through school.
Higher scoring students are sent invitations to recognition ceremonies in their states where they receive a Certificate of Distinction noting the areas in which they earned high scores. Vanderbilt University hosts the recognition ceremony for the state of Tennessee. The top two percent of high scoring students are invited to a ceremony at Duke University.
Fifty three percent of the St. Bernard Academy sixth level qualified for taking the test in 2005.
The Duke University Talent Identification Program also recognizes talented fourth and fifth grade students. To qualify for the program and take an out of level test, students must score in the 90l percentile or above in some area on a grade level standardized achievement test, in the case of St. Bernard Academy, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Scores are derived from the third and fourth grade scores and students take the Explore test, an eighth grade test, in January, in the fifth and/or sixth grade.
Eighty six percent of the fourth level students and seventy one percent of the third level students qualified in 2005.
St. Bernard Academy offers other programs designed to assist students in learning and achievement. These include:
