Pupil receives awards for high scores
According to the Duke University Talent Identification Program Web site, Duke's program helps families learn their child's abilities.
William Sessions received a medal for his scores in Duke Universitys Talent Identification Program.
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So Columbia County residents John and Lark Sessions were pleased when their 12-year-old son, William, received a ribbon and a medal for his scores on the test.
"When I got the test scores back, I saw I had scored well on the test, so I knew they would send me something, but I didn't know what it was," William said.
To be eligible to take the test, pupils must have scored 90 percent or above on a grade level standardized achievement, aptitude or mental ability test. William said he first joined Duke's program and took the test last year when he was in the fifth grade, but he didn't "do as well as this year."
Last year's score was "somewhere in the mid 90s," but this year, William was one of 381 pupils out of 7,786 who scored 99 percent, his mother said.
The test, which was given at Episcopal Day School on Walton Way, tests math, science reasoning, language and social studies skills. William, who is home schooled, said his favorite subject is math and was on last year's home school Mathcounts team, which won fourth place in Columbia County.
Mrs. Sessions said she has William take achievement tests every year to make sure he's learning everything he's supposed to for his grade level.
"We just take it (home schooling) year-by-year," she said. "We're grateful for the gifts God has given him. We're grateful for the privilege to home school William and for the support in the community here."