Seven seventh-grade students from Floyd County Schools are now recognized among some of the most academically talented seventh graders in the U.S.  The students are being recognized for their exceptional scores on the ACT or SAT by the Duke University Talent Identification Program’s (Duke TIP) 7^th Grade Talent Search.  The seven students qualified for state recognition as a result of their performance on the SAT or ACT. 

26 seventh-graders from Floyd County Schools were invited to participate in the Duke TIP Program this year and take the SAT or ACT.   The Duke program identifies students in sixteen states in the Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest who have scored in the 95th percentile on a grade-level achievement test. As part of the program, these academically talented students take above level college-entrance exams (SAT or ACT) to learn more about their abilities. 

Duke TIP hosts annual Recognition Ceremonies to honor the 7th graders who score highest on these SAT or ACT exams. This year, of the 66,198 participants nationally, 21,115 students (32%) have been invited to attend a State Recognition Ceremony and 1,804 students (3%) have been invited to the Grand Recognition Ceremony.

The seven Floyd County students will attend the State Recognition Ceremony to honor seventh graders who have earned scores equal to or better than half the college-bound seniors who took the the SAT or ACT.

Floyd County students invited to the State Recognition Ceremony for 2008 include:

1. Casey Chapman - Armuchee Middle School
2. Bennett Garland - Armuchee Middle School
3. Natalie Shoemaker - Armuchee Middle School
4. Beth Cagle - Model Middle School
5. Elizabeth Dempsey - Model Middle School
6. Amelia Pearson - Model Middle School
7. Brianna Taylor - Model Middle School.

The Grand Recognition Ceremony honors seventh graders who have earned scores equal to or better than 90% of college-bound seniors who took the same tests. The event will be held May 19 at Duke University in Durham, NC.