Isabella Campos, a seventh-grader at Signal Mountain Middle School, will be recognized at a national ceremony by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) for her exceptional score on the ACT college admission test
Several Signal Mountain students are among a select group being honored by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) for their exceptional scores on the ACT college admission test.
Seventh graders from Signal Mountain Middle School took the actual ACT on a Saturday morning in February alongside high school juniors, according to Jamie Brock, teacher of the Gifted at SMMS.
Isabella Campos will be recognized at the national recognition ceremony on May 22 at Duke University, alongside other seventh-graders in the nation who scored approximately equal to the 90th percentile for college-bound high school seniors taking either the ACT or SAT test.
Additionally, 13 other SMMS seventh graders will be recognized for their outstanding scores at Tennessee’s state recognition ceremony on May 8 at Belmont University. Those are Megan McPherson, Grace Farrimond, Ella Buck, Elanor Cornett, May Mon, Claire Smiley, Virginia Chimley, Clarke Bandy, Minah Sadrabadi, Janie Kennedy, Rocco Ahching, Jack Summerlin, and Katelin Little.
Duke TIP’s seventh Grade Talent Search identifies students across the United States who score at or above the 95th percentile on a grade-level standardized test. As part of the program, these academically talented students take above-level college-entrance exams to learn more about their abilities.
"Being asked to participate in the program is an honor,” Mrs. Brock said. “We typically have some students score state recognition and have had some score national recognition.”
Mrs. Brock explained that student participation is based on their performances on standardized testing, where students need to score above the 95th percentile in one subject area.
She pointed out that SMMS serves students from “two top elementary schools (Thrasher and Nolan) where many students receive Highest Average Awards at their fifth-grade graduations.
Once the students arrive at SMMHS, fewer awards are given, Mrs. Brock said.
“Participation in Duke TIP provides academic recognition,” she said, “and it serves as a reminder to the students that they are smart.”
She also noted Duke TIP’s summer enrichment opportunities are “top- notch academic experiences."
For more information, visit www.tip.duke.edu.
These seventh-graders at Signal Mountain Middle School will be recognized at a state ceremony by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) for exceptional scores on the ACT college admission test. Front row (l to r): Megan McPherson, Grace Farrimond, Ella Buck, Elanor Cornett, May Mon, Claire Smiley, and Virginia Chimley Back row (l to r): Clarke Bandy, Minah Sadrabadi, Janie Kennedy, Rocco Ahching, Jack Summerlin, and Katelin Little.