When 38 seventh-graders at Bowling Green Junior High School took the ACT with high school juniors and seniors, they performed notably well. 

As many as 21 junior high students tested at or above the nationally averaged scores of juniors and seniors when taking the test through the Duke University Talent Identification Program.

Jennifer Davis, Bowling Green Independent School District’s director of elementary and secondary programs, said taking the test through Duke TIP gives students the confidence to challenge themselves in high school while also opening doors in the future. 

“It’s just a good time in their lives because they’re looking ahead to their future academic endeavors,” Davis said.

Duke TIP searches 16 states for seventh-graders who’ve scored at or above the 95th percentile on a grade-level test. Students are invited by the educational nonprofit to take the ACT or SAT. Once the results are in, test takers are offered academic services and resources to further their development, according to a news release from the Bowling Green school district. 

Students in seventh grade scoring at or above the 50th percentile of high school juniors and seniors are given state recognition, while those with grand recognition test at or above the 90th percentile. 

The Bowling Green school district sports 14 students scoring at or above the 50th percentile. They include James Bush, Joseph Coffey, Eric Eastman, Parker Evans, Megan Jones, John Klein, Addison Kolzow, Audrey Kries, Samuel Kurtz, Andrew Lawless, Jackson Littlefield, Sophia Moore, Tucker Strow and Ethan Taylor. 

Another seven students tested at the state and grand level with scores in the top 10 percent of high school juniors and seniors. They include Abigail Adams-Smith, Sachi Barnaby, Samuel Chang, Anna Neal, Emma Simpson, Lydia Speer and Jason Zhang. These students can attend the recognition ceremonies next month at Duke University and Western Kentucky University, respectively.  

“We are extremely proud of our students for performing so well on a college entrance exam as seventh-graders,” Davis said. “Our district will certainly continue to challenge and support these students to help them achieve even higher scores during their high school years.” 

Warren County Public Schools also had students score well through Duke TIP, although the district did not release the students’ names. 

“We’re proud of the incredible accomplishments of the 27 students who qualified for state recognition in the seventh-grade Duke TIP program,” county schools Superintendent Rob Clayton said in a comment issued through district spokeswoman Morgan Watson. “These students are academic leaders who put forth a tremendous amount of effort inside the classroom each and every day and we commend them for their success.” 

Davis pinned the success of students to Kentucky’s adoption of modified Common Core standards, which she said are more in line with college expectations. Regular curriculum reviews, supportive parents and tending to gifted students’ needs are also important, despite a general lack of funding for the latter. 

Katy Munger, a spokeswoman with Duke TIP, said the program gives parents a more precise understanding of their child’s abilities. Those who enroll in the program for a $75 fee get access to resources up to their senior year in high school. Resources range from educational activities, summer programs, advice for college prep and meeting gifted kids’ needs, along with other services.

“Our goal is to support gifted children worldwide and help them develop their full potential,” she said. 

— For more information about Duke TIP visit www.facebook.com/duketip/?fref=ts.

— Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @aaron_muddbgdn or visit bgdailynews.com.