October 17, 2005
Hunt is on again for Washington state’s brightest fifth- through eighth-graders
The search is on again for the brightest fifth- through eighth-grade students across Washington.
The University of Washington’s Halbert & Nancy Robinson Center for Young Scholars is conducting the annual Washington Search for Young Scholars (WSYS) to identify the top 3 percent of the state’s students and to work with them, their families and their schools to develop more opportunities for gifted young people. Deadline for students to register for the search is Jan. 6.
“Because there are not a large number of gifted students, their needs are sometimes overlooked by local schools. But these children are a tremendous resource for the entire state and we want to nourish them and help them aspire to higher academic achievement,” said Robert Vaughan, associate director of the talent search.
“These children need opportunities to stretch their talents and we want to stimulate their interest with all colleges and universities, not just the UW.”
There are two parts of the young scholar search based on grade level. The program is looking for seventh- and eighth-grade students who scored in the top 3 percent in reading or mathematics in the past two years on such tests as the California Achievement Test, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills or the Stanford Achievement Test.
Fifth- and sixth-grades also can join the talent search. These students qualify if they scored in the top 3 percent in reading/verbal or math/quantitative section on a recent standardized achievement or aptitude test that compared them to students in Washington or nationally by grade level. High scores — above 439 in reading or 467 in math on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) — also qualify these students.
All students must send photocopies of their test results to WSYS by fax at (206) 685-3890 or by mail at WSYS, Box 351650, Seattle, WA 98195. To join the talent search, students also are required to register with WSYS and pay a $20 fee. With a parent’s assistance, this can be done at the WSYS Web site at http://depts.washington.edu/cscy/programs/wsys .
Seventh- and eighth-graders also must register and take the ACT or SAT I, college admissions examinations. The ACT will be given on Dec. 10 (registration deadline is Nov. 4) and Feb. 11 (registration deadline is Jan.6) and registration can be done online at www.actstudent.org. The SAT I will be given on Dec. 3 (registration deadline is Oct. 28) and Jan. 28 (registration deadline is Dec. 22). Registration can be done at www.sat.org . Test locations, available throughout the state, will be given when students register for either test. Students must request that their test results be sent to the University of Washington.
Students who qualify for the talent search will be invited to participate in a recognition event at the UW’s Seattle campus next March 18. Last spring, nearly 1,100 students from around the state participated in recognition ceremonies.
The talent search is designed to make parents and gifted children more aware of challenging academic programs available to them. Those who register with the talent research will be provided with information about advanced summer programs at the UW and elsewhere.
“Just like young athletes or young musicians, academically talented children need opportunities to stretch and expand their skills,” said Vaughan.
Students and parents can obtain more information about the Washington Search for Young Scholars by checking its Web site at http://depts.washington/edu/cscy/programs/wsys/ . Request for print material to be sent my mail should be directed to (206) 543-4160.
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For more information, contact Vaughan at (206) 543-4160 or rvaughan@u.washington.edu
