Each year St. Bernard students qualify to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. Participation in the TIP program gives the student the opportunity to take an out of level test. Students must score in the 95th percentile in an area of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in order to qualify to participate. Students who qualify and register take the Explore Test, an eighth grade test, in the fifth or sixth grade. Six graders who qualify and register take the ACT or SAT, college entrance tests in the seventh grade. Other goals of the program are to motivate students to focus on their academic achievement, reward positive performance, disseminate educational information to students and the families, and offer independent learning opportunities for students.
Recognition ceremonies for students who receive state recognition for their scores on the ACT or SAT are held at Vanderbilt University in the spring of each year. Students who receive grand recognition, the top 2 percent of all students taking the test, are invited to Duke University for recognition.
Visit www.tip.duke.edu