Precollege Programming

Office of Precollege Programming
Western 麻豆传媒应用 University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5288 USA
(269) 387-2773

ATYP Qualifying Information

Talent Search, CTD Assessment and ATYP

October 2024

  • 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.
  • 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 鈥 3:50 p.m. (AP classes meet two days per week).
  • Classes are offered Tuesday through Thursday in Kalamazoo. 
  • 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.
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  • Tuition is paid for by public schools for their enrolled students.
  • Revenue from school districts pays for about 82% of ATYP鈥檚 costs.
  • The other 18% 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 $475 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鈥檝e taken the first step; we鈥檝e identified your student鈥檚 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 - May or with ACT for an in-person ACT test in March. Submitting a portfolio is also a possibility.
  • ATYP 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 targeted resources or programs.
  • 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鈥檙e not interested in ATYP, we highly recommend CTD Assessment as an assessment option.
  • More information is available about the CTD/ATYP Partnership. Registration is easy .
  • Cost: $100.
  • Testing dates and deadlines:
    • SAT testing dates (and registration deadlines) are Saturday, February 8 (2/2), Sunday, March 9 (3/2), and Saturday, April 12 (4/4), Sunday, May 18 (5/11). Registration is open.
    • You may choose either the ACT or the SAT. You will not be taking the essay portion of either test and you will not be taking the Science portion of the ACT.
  • CTD Assessment provides convenient, remote, online testing and a converted SAT or ACT suite score
  • CTD Assessment provides access to above-level coursework and summer opportunities (both in-person and remote). 
  • In-person Practice ACT testing with ATYP is Saturday, March 1 (2/23).
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  • ATYP will not share the scores of any qualifying test we give with anyone.
  • Cost: $75 for in-person Practice ACT
  • Either test is fine as both the ACT and the SAT contain high school material and are about the same length.
  • The ACT seems to be better for math-oriented students, while the SAT is better for reading- and writing-oriented students.
  • The SAT and ACT are offered virtually through CTD Assessments and will have more supporting information. 
  • The ACT can be in-person while the SAT is only online.
  • Do not take the PSAT test; this is not used for ATYP qualification.
  • A financial aid letter stating the student meets the eligibility criteria, written on school letterhead and signed by a school official (Medicaid card or tax forms are other options), is required to be sent to ATYP before registration with CTD Assessments, the Practice ACT, or the portfolio.
  • Receiving free lunch at school does not automatically qualify you for financial aid. You must also meet income or other eligibility requirements.
  • Email @email for more information on the process.
  • Direct online registration is not available for students under 13 for the SAT or the ACT.
  • Testing is done at home; no need to travel to a test site or be in a room with high school students.
  • CTD provides a toolbox with resources for families of gifted students that includes online, summer, and school-year programs.
  • Students continue to receive information from CTD throughout high school.
  • If you plan to use your scores to qualify for any non-ATYP programming, you should use CTD Assessments.
  • Have several non-mechanical pencils and a calculator with you.
  • Tests are long 鈥 bring a snack and water bottle.
  • For in-person tests, 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鈥檚 sleep and have a good breakfast.
  • Be prepared to test on time: 
    • in person, plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
    • virtually, be set in front of your computer with all supplies 15 minutes before the testing time.
  • Special content prep classes are not recommended and do not help us determine the right placement.
  • Held on Saturday, January 11 (in-person, 9:30 a.m.), Sunday, February 16 (online, 4 p.m.), or Saturday, March 22 (in-person, 9:30 a.m.); a recorded session is also available.
  • Cost: $45 (financial aid is available, see above)
  • Tips and content: General Overview / English Overview / Math Overview
  • Seminar registration is available online.
  • Students will submit:
    • An email for a teacher who will provide a recommendation
    • An email for a counselor who will provide grades and NWEA/MAP Score or aptitude test score
    • Written student response on ATYP interest
    • Additional assessment information when asked
  • Cost: $50; financial aid is available, email atyp-info@wmich.edu for more information.
  • Deadline: Friday, March 14
  • A greater percentage of students do not qualify for ATYP using this method; it is not meant to be an 鈥渆asier鈥 method of qualification, rather an alternative. This option is meant to be more equitable for students for whom English is a second language or who have other barriers to test taking. 
  • You may not qualify for both math and English using this option; you must specify which subject you want to qualify for.
  • Families should discuss which method they want to use, and then select ONE.

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