The scholastic quality of students at St. John Neumann Catholic Preparatory School in Kendall was reflected by 24 of 70 seventh and eighth graders who qualified for two major U.S. university talent search programs.
Both Duke University and Johns Hopkins University accepted the students under a National Youth Talent Identification programs after all 24 candidates scored in the 95th percentile or better in national standardized tests.
The identification program provides a measure of student ability advancement which traditional testing often fails due to the variation among many gifted students reaching the upper limits of scoring on grade-level exams.
By taking advanced above-level testing (at least two years above a student’s current grade placement) gifted students and their families gain a better understanding of where the student stands in relation to his or her gifted peers and appropriate levels of educational challenge.
“We are very proud of the students who by qualifying represent the best that St. John Neumann School can offer,” said Maria Elena Vilas, St. John Neumann principal. “Participation in these prestigious programs allow our academically talented students to fully realize their potential.”
St. John Neumann Preparatory School presently offers PK-3 through Grade 8 study, including a highly sophisticated computer lab and library offering a collection of more than 1,000 books, videos, computer programs, and other audiovisual teaching materials.
