John Breitfelder of New Canaan, a student at South Elementary School, was recently honored as one of “the brightest young students in the nation” at a regional awards ceremony for academically advanced children, sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY). The ceremony was held at Yale University on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8.
The center honored John, a participant in the CTY Talent Search, for his “exceptional performance on a rigorous, above-grade-level test given to academically talented second-through-eighth-grade students,” according to a release.
As part of the search, which is going on now, advanced young learners take above-grade level tests that CTY has used for years to spot academic talent and reveal gaps between a child’s academic program and his or her actual capacity for learning. Seventh and eighth graders take the SAT or ACT — the same tests used for college admissions. These students, along with second through sixth graders, can take the School and College Ability Test (SCAT), an above-level test.
John was one of more than 38,000 students from more than 120 countries who participated in the talent search. Because of the difficulty of the tests, only a fraction of the students who participated earned an invitation to a CTY awards ceremony where they are individually honored for their academic performance and potential. Most students honored in the awards ceremonies also qualified academically for CTY’s summer courses and online classes.
A global leader in gifted education since 1979, CTY is focused on recognizing academic talent in exceptional K-12 students and supporting their growth with courses, services and resources specifically designed to meet their needs.
John Breitfelder