CTY's programs are designed for academically highly able students in grades Pre K - 12. Admission is based on the student's performance on one of several different tests. Most students are admitted by first registering for the CTY Talent Search, which identifies, assesses, and recognizes students with exceptional mathematical and/or verbal reasoning abilities. Talent Search participants then arrange to take the appropriate above-grade level test, and their scores on that test determine which programs and courses they are eligible to take. During the summer months families should contact CTY Diagnostic and Counseling Center at dcc@jhu.edu to arrange for the testing necessary to establish eligibility to enroll in CTYOnline courses. CTY focuses on challenging students in their areas of strength, not on remedial studies. Students who excel in the mathematical reasoning portion of the test become eligible to take courses in math, science, or computer science. Those who achieve qualifying scores on the verbal (or reading) portion of the above grade test become eligible to take writing, humanities, social science, or foreign language. If you already have the student's scores for SCAT, College Board SAT, or ACT, use the convenient CTY Eligibility Assessment form to find out which programs and courses the student may take. (Those who took the PLUS test in earlier years should check PLUS news.) Grades Pre K - 1
Grades 2 - 6
Grades 7 and Above
PSAT for Grades 9 to 12 Students in grades Pre K - 6 qualify for CTYOnline distance education math courses by achieving scores on the assessments shown below. Once admitted, they may continue to enroll in distance math courses for which they are eligible until the end of the 2nd grade (if they qualified by one of the qualifying tests for Grades Pre K - 1), or until the end of 7th grade (if they qualified by SCAT scores). By the end of 7th grade, students must have qualifying ACT or College Board SAT scores to continue enrolling in CTYOnline. Students should participate in the CTY Talent Search to take the SCAT during grades 2 though 6 or to take the ACT or College Board SAT in the 7th or 8th grade. CTY offers math courses to students beginning in Pre-kindergarten. To qualify for CTY distance math courses before grade 2, the student must achieve one of the following scores: - WISC-IV, WPPSI-III, Stanford-Binet V: Full Scale, Verbal, OR Performance/Perceptual Reasoning/Nonverbal composite score 127 or higher
- CogAT: Verbal, Nonverbal, Quantitative, OR Composite Score 97th percentile or higher
- KeyMath: Total Score 97th percentile or higher
- Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement - III, WIAT-II, or K-TEA: math composite 97th percentile or higher.
Students in grades 2 - 6 take the School and College Abilities Test (SCAT) to qualify for CTY programs. This computerized above-grade level test is offered through the CTY Talent Search during the school year and through the CTY Diagnostic and Counseling Center during the summer months.
Grades
K - 6 | Grade when
tested | Qualifying Mathematics Scores
required for math, computer science,
or science courses | Qualifying Verbal Scores required for writing, humanities, foreign language, or social science courses | | 2 | 435 SCAT Quantitative | 430 SCAT Verbal | | 3 | 440 SCAT Quantitative | 435 SCAT Verbal | | 4 | 450 SCAT Quantitative | 440 SCAT Verbal | | 5 | 465 SCAT Quantitative | 450 SCAT Verbal | | 6 | 475 SCAT Quantitative | 455 SCAT Verbal |
By the end of grade 7, students must have qualifying scores on the ACT or College Board SAT to continue enrolling in CTY distance courses. Students should register for CTY's Talent Search and take the ACT or SAT during the 7th grade so their scores will be available by the end of grade 7. At this time, only the ACT Reading, SAT Verbal (prior to 3/05), or SAT Critical Reading score (3/05 or later) will be considered for CTY humanities course eligibility. Grades
7 and above | Grade when
tested | Qualifying Mathematics Scores required for
math, computer science, or science courses | Qualifying Reading Scores required for
writing, humanities, foreign language,
or social science courses | | Minimum Score Required | STB Option - Minimum
Score Required | Minimum Score Required | | 7 | 430 SAT-M or
16 ACT-M | 400 STB* and
380 SAT-M | 410 SAT-CR/V or
15 ACT-R | | 8 | 480 SAT-M or
18 ACT-M | 400 STB* and
430 SAT-M | 460 SAT-CR/V or
18 ACT-R | | 9 | 530 SAT-M or
20 ACT-M | 400 STB* and
480 SAT-M | 510 SAT-CR/V or
21 ACT-R | | 10 | 580 SAT-M or
23 ACT-M | 400 STB* and
530 SAT-M | 560 SAT-CR/V or
24 ACT-R | | 11 | 630 SAT-M or
25 ACT-M | 400 STB* and
580 SAT-M | 610 SAT-CR/V or
27 ACT-R | | 12 | Contact CTY Administrators | | Key | M = Math, CR = Critical Reading (tested 3/05 or later), V = Verbal (tested prior to 3/05); R = Reading | | * Note: there is no Spatial Test Battery (STB) option for students who take the ACT |
Official PSAT scores may be submitted for students in grades 9 - 12, who are too old to participate in the CTY Talent Search. Grade when
tested | Qualifying Mathematics Scores* | Qualifying Verbal Scores | | 7 | >=43 PSAT-M | >=41 PSAT-V | | 8 | >=48 PSAT-M | >=46 PSAT-V | | 9 | >=53 PSAT-M | >=51 PSAT-V | | 10 | >=58 PSAT-M | >=56 PSAT-V | | 11 | >=63 PSAT-M | >=61 PSAT-V | | 12 | >=68 PSAT-M | >=66 PSAT-V | | * Note: there is no STB option for students who take the PSAT |
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