Duke University Recognizes Middle School Achievement

Posted by admin in All News, Upper & Middle School | 0 comments

In an awards ceremony last summer at UNT’s Academy of Mathematics and Science, five Liberty Middle School students were awarded medals from Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) based on their ACT/SAT scores.

Each year Liberty’s 4th and 7th graders who score at the 95th percentile or higher on the Stanford Achievement Test in the subjects tested receive news that they are eligible to join Duke TIP. Last year, 27 seventh graders from Liberty, almost 30 percent of the class, received this recognition from Duke TIP.

One of the benefits of joining Duke TIP as a 7th grader, in addition to including it on a college resume, is the opportunity to take college entrance exams alongside seniors.

Caleb Allison, Kennedy Collins, Todd Deetjen, Matthew Hulke, and Breann Smith earned scores equal to or better than half of the college-bound high school seniors who took the tests.

“I am extremely proud of all of our Duke Tip participants,” said Norm Parker, Middle School dean of students. “The program provides a wonderful opportunity to ‘practice’ taking the college entrance test, so that students become familiar with it and gain confidence for when they take it as juniors and seniors.

“We are so blessed with amazing teachers, a quality curriculum, and a wonderful, Christ-centered atmosphere that encourages and challenges our students to want to do their very best. It is learning at its highest level.”

In addition to taking college entrance exams, Duke TIP offers summer study programs, scholar weekends, e-seminars, “learn on your own” courses, language studies through Rosetta Stone, and a national directory of educational programs available during the school year and summer.

Congratulations to all of these LCS students on their outstanding academic accomplishments.