William Allen Middle School Student Recognized Among Nation's Brightest

A student from William Allen Middle School in Moorestown has been recognized among the brightest students in the country by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

John Borton was recognized at a regional awards ceremony for academically advanced children.

The Center honored Borton, 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.

As part of the ongoing CTY Talent Search, 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.

Borton was one of more than 38,000 students from over 120 countries who participated in the CTY Talent Search.

Because of the difficulty of the tests, only about 30 percent of 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 2014 CTY Awards Ceremonies also qualified academically for CTY's summer courses and online classes.

"The CTY awards ceremony congratulates students for their academic achievement, and it recognizes the defining roles that parents, educators, and others play in developing the academic talents of our outstanding honorees,” said Elaine Tuttle Hansen, executive director of CTY. “For these advanced learners, as with all children, there should be no gap between their capabilities and the opportunities open to them."

About 9,700 CTY Talent Search honorees were invited to participate in 43 CTY Awards Ceremonies across the county, and one in Hong Kong this spring.

Three ceremonies were scheduled to be held in New Jersey, including May 10 at Rowan University, May 31 at Rutgers University and June 7 at William Paterson University.

Since 1979, CTY has been focused on ecognizing academic talent in exceptional K-12 students and supporting their growth with courses, services, and resources specifically designed to meet their needs.