Who Can Apply?

Students qualify for Summer Challenge by scoring in the 97th percentile or higher on a recent (September 1, 2008 or later) nationally normed standardized aptitude or achievement test. Students may use verbal, math or composite scores to qualify.

All students new to the program must submit current qualifying scores.   WASL scores must be from Spring of 2009.  The minimum scores for the most commonly submitted tests are posted below.  (Students who qualified last year do not need to re-submit test scores for Summer Challenge.)

  • WASL (4th grade) – Reading 447 or Math 494
  • WASL (5th grade) – Reading 451 or Math 494
  • Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) – Verbal 97% or Quantitative 97%
  • Educational Records Bureau (ERB) – Verbal Reasoning 97%, Reading Comprehension 97%, or Quantitative Reasoning 97%
  • Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) – Reading Total 97% or Mathematics Total 97%
  • School and College Ability Test (SCAT) (5th or 6th grade) – Verbal or Quantitative - 97th percentile
  • Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) – Total Reading 97% or Total Math 97%
  • Note: Those students who have applied and qualified for 2009 Summer Challenge classes are already qualified for 2010 Summer CHALLENGE classes.

    Enrollment Considerations

    In considering application to this program, parents need to consider their child’s willingness to participate. There is a fine line between encouraging children to overcome natural and normal apprehensions about a new experience and forcing them into a situation for which they are not yet ready. No matter how enthusiastic parents may be about the program, we do not recommend enrolling children who are strongly reluctant to attend.

    News

    Transition School featured on ABC Nightline News on April 15. See the video here.

    Early Entrance Program (7th/8th grade)

    UW Academy (10th grade): Application materials are available for download. Apply now!

    Summer Program (5th-9th grades): Challenge Application begins Feb 1 at 8 AM; Stretch Application begins Feb 16 at 8 AM.

    Transition School (7th and 8th grades): The 2010-11 application is now available for download.

    Important Dates

    Sept 30: First day for TS and UW

    Nov 9: UW Academy Info Session, 7pm, Johnson Hall, Room 102

    Jan 4: Transition School Info Session, 7pm, Architecture Hall, Room 147

    Jan 11: UW Academy Info Session, 7pm, Johnson Hall, Room 102

    March 15: TS application due to Robinson Center

    March 18: UW Academy application due to Robinson Center