Nation’s Only Merit-Based High School Scholarship for Gifted Seeks Applicants

The Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA) is calling for gifted students nationwide to apply for a Caroline D. Bradley (CDB) Scholarship, the only merit-based, need-blind scholarships for gifted kids in the nation. The CDB Scholarship provides the opportunity for any gifted student, regardless of race or income, to go to the high school of their choice. Since its establishment in 2002, 72 of these students came from California with 11 selected in 2014. Over the last 16 years, the Scholarship has enabled 175 scholars from 29 states to attend high schools throughout the United States. For more information, go to www.educationaladvancement.org/caroline-d-bradley-scholarship.

Scholarship funds can be used to attend the high school that best meets the recipient’s individual academic and personal needs, including independent, parochial, day, boarding, charter or alternative schools. IEA also provides Scholarship recipients with academic guidance throughout their high school careers, and creates a peer network with ongoing communication and interaction.

“The CDB Scholarship addresses the unmet needs of our gifted children,” said IEA President, Elizabeth Jones. “While gifted students make up 5-7 percent of the student population, they receive less than 0.1% in funding. In 2014, roughly $70 billion was allocated to schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Of this, $11.5 billion was spent for special needs kids, while only $10 million was designated for gifted students. This scholarship gives gifted children the chance they need to grow and live a purposeful, meaningful life in whatever way they choose,” said IEA President, Elizabeth Jones.

Students apply for the CDB in the seventh grade and are required to complete a rigorous application process that includes three essays, middle school transcripts, two recommendations, and a work sample. Eligible applicants must also achieve scores of at least the 97th percentile on nationally-normed standardized tests, and score competitively with high school seniors on the SAT-1 Reasoning test. Caroline D. Bradley Scholars are also required to maintain top grades in challenging high school courses.

The 2015 deadline is April 21, 2015. Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee made up of admission directors and school administrators from top secondary schools, colleges and universities across the country, after which the chosen Finalists will participate in a personal interview. For more information, please visit at www.educationaladvancement.org.