Barnes Middle School seventh graders (from left) Ayla Arcos, Eduardo Barrera, Sarah Burpo, Ivan Compton, Conner Kopplin, Amylynn McGrath, Ava Saldana, Araceli Salazar and Autiana Trigo have been invited to join the prestigious 7th Grade Talent Search for gifted students sponsored by Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP).

Each year, a select group of students in the United States are identified as academically gifted based on their exceptional standardized test scores in school and are invited to participate in the TIP program. Only students scoring in the 95th percentile or better on standardized tests qualify. Participants are then invited to take the above-grade level ACT or SAT tests designed for college-bound tenth and eleventh graders so that their academic abilities and potential can be more accurately evaluated. They also receive a variety of support services and gain access to research and other information about using their academic abilities more effectively.

“I am extremely proud of our nine TIP scholars. These students have worked hard during their years at Barnes, and I know that they will continue to grow academically as they progress to Seguin High School. I am looking forward to their future success,” said Nikki Bittings, Barnes Middle School principal.

Duke University’s TIP is a nonprofit educational organization that is recognized as a leader in identifying and serving the educational needs of academically gifted youth. Through identification, recognition, challenging educational programs, information, advocacy and research, Duke TIP provides resources to gifted students, their parents, educators, and schools to help gifted scholars reach their full academic potential. For more on Duke TIP talent searches, including qualification requirements for its 4th-6th Grade Talent Search and 7th Grade Talent Search, visit www.tip.duke.edu.