ATYP Qualifying Information

• ATYP identifies and serves middle and high school high-ability students who need the challenge, are motivated to learn, and are capable of completing above-grade-level curriculum with fast-paced instruction.
• ATYP uses advanced high school and university level curriculum which culminates in Advanced Placement (AP) content and leads to student success in advanced classes.
• Currently, ATYP has math and language arts programs that focus on advancement and acceleration in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek (depending on enrollment).
• Students begin the program in 7th or 8th grade and continue for two to four years.
• ATYP follows the local public school calendar.
• Parents are responsible for the transportation of their students to and from ATYP; some districts provide a bus.
• For most students, the courses meet one day per week from 1:20 – 3:50 p.m. (AP classes meet two days per week).
• Classes are offered Tuesday through Thursday in Battle Creek (tentative) and Kalamazoo (and virtually, tentative). All class types/locations depend on enrollment.
• These students tend to take a seminar/study hall period during the last hour of the school day for the rest of the week (if possible). They do ATYP homework there, as well as other schoolwork. They do not attend a class for that subject at the middle school.
• Read the article "Why Getting 100% on Everything is Setting Gifted Students Up to Fail"

• Tuition is paid for by public schools for their enrolled students.
• Revenue from school districts pays for about 75% of ATYP’s costs.
• The other 25% comes from WMU (office, classroom, library access) and from donations.
• For students who are home-schooled or at private schools, the tuition is paid by the families.
• We currently charge districts $450 per class per semester.
• Families are responsible for three $50 installments for enrollment/participation fees per year, per student. Portions of these fees are paid at enrollment and at the beginning of each semester. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

• Your presence here means you’ve taken the first step; we’ve identified your student’s potential based on standardized achievement test scores (90th percentile or better) or from teacher, parent, or counselor recommendations.
• Register with CTD Assessment for the online SAT test in February - April or with ACT for an in-person ACT test in February or April. Submitting a portfolio is also a possibility.

• CTD Assessment is part of the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
• It seeks to serve gifted children and their families from Pre-K through grade 12.
• Even if you’re not interested in ATYP, we highly recommend CTD Assessment as a low-cost assessment option.
• More information is available about the CTD/ATYP Partnership.
• Testing dates and deadlines:
  • SAT testing dates (and registration deadlines) are Sunday, February 11 (2/2), Saturday, March 9 (3/1), and Saturday, April 14 (4/5), Saturday, May 18 (5/10). Registration will open December 1.
  • ACT testing dates are Saturdays, February 10 (1/5) or April 13 (3/8).
• CTD Assessment uses a three-step process
• Step One: Identifying students using: state test scores, achievement test scores, past talent search participation, qualification for school gifted program, teacher and/or parent nomination
• Step Two: Administer above-grade-level tests
• Definition: A test designed for older students taken by younger students.
• Rationale: Above-grade-level tests have enough ceiling (difficult questions) to differentiate among students with advanced abilities.
• Step Three: Access customized score report and targeted resources
• CTD Assessment provides a detailed score report showing how your student compares to other gifted students.
• CTD Assessment provides tailored recommendations useful for educational planning.
• CTD Assessment provides access to a curated set of resources and educational opportunities appropriate for gifted students.

• Either test is fine as both the ACT and the SAT contain high school material.
• The SAT is through CTD Assessment and will have more supporting information. The ACT will be administered at WMU with high school students.
• The ACT is in-person while the SAT is online.
• The ACT costs $68 and the SAT costs $55. Financial aid is available for the SAT only.
• Do not take the PSAT test; this is not used for ATYP qualification.

Registering for CTD Assessment step-by-step directions

Register for the ACT at https://my.act.org/account/create.

• Have several non-mechanical pencils and a calculator with you.
• Tests are long – bring a snack and water bottle.
• Cell phones must be off and watches cannot beep. Leave the phone at home if necessary.

• For more information, attend a Test Preview Seminar (described below).
• Take a practice exam found online for the test you are taking.
• Get a good night’s sleep and have a good breakfast.
• Arrive at the testing site on time: 7:45 am in-person or 15 minutes before the scheduled online start time.
• Special content prep classes are not recommended and do not help us determine the right placement.

• Held on Saturday, January 20; Sunday, January 28 (online, p.m.); or Saturday, February 24. A recorded session is also available after February 7.
• Held both in-person or online. Cost: $40
  • Tips and content: General Overview / English Overview / Math Overview
  • Seminar registration is available online.

• ACT/SAT scores for younger students are confusing when viewed out of context.
• CTD provides easy-to-understand material to help young students and parents interpret scores and plan educational needs for the future.
• Direct online registration for the SAT is not available for students under 13. 
• Students continue to receive information from CTD throughout high school.