Nine-year-old Preesha Chakraborty achieves Grand Honors in Johns Hopkins Talent Search

Preesha Chakraborty, a nine-year-old Indian-American student from Fremont, California, has been named among the “world’s brightest” students by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). The recognition follows her exceptional performance in above-grade-level academic testing conducted as part of the CTY Talent Search program, which evaluated more than 16,000 students from 90 countries.

Preesha Chakraborty’s achievement places her among a select group of high-performing students worldwide who demonstrated academic skills far beyond their current grade level. The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth identifies and supports students with advanced academic abilities, making this recognition a significant milestone in Preesha Chakraborty’s academic journey.

Preesha Chakraborty and her CTY Talent Search performance

Preesha Chakraborty is currently a student at Warm Spring Elementary School in Fremont. She participated in the CTY Talent Search during the summer of 2023, when she was in Grade 3. Despite her young age, Preesha Chakraborty undertook assessments that are typically attempted by much older students.

The CTY Talent Search uses challenging standardized tests, including the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), American College Testing (ACT), and the School and College Ability Test. These exams are designed to measure advanced verbal and quantitative reasoning skills. Preesha Chakraborty demonstrated strong performance across both sections, highlighting her academic readiness for higher-level learning.

According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, Preesha Chakraborty scored at a level comparable to the 99th percentile of advanced Grade 5 students. This placed her among the top performers in the program and earned her the Grand Honors designation, one of the highest recognitions offered by CTY. Each year, fewer than 30 percent of participating students qualify for either High Honors or Grand Honors.

Preesha Chakraborty earns Grand Honors recognition

The Grand Honors recognition awarded to Preesha Chakraborty reflects sustained excellence in above-grade-level testing. This distinction is reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability relative to their peers worldwide. Preesha Chakraborty’s results indicate advanced reasoning and problem-solving skills at a level well beyond expectations for her age group.

Through this achievement, Preesha Chakraborty has become eligible for more than 250 advanced academic courses offered by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. These programs are available to students in grades 2 through 12 and are designed to support continued intellectual growth through rigorous and engaging coursework.

Advanced academic opportunities now open to Preesha Chakraborty

As a Grand Honors recipient, Preesha Chakraborty can now access a wide range of CTY academic programs. These include courses in mathematics, computer programming, chemistry, physics, reading, and writing. The programs are offered in various formats, including online instruction and summer sessions, allowing students to learn at an accelerated pace.

For Preesha Chakraborty, eligibility for these programs provides structured opportunities to further develop her academic strengths while engaging with peers who share similar abilities. The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth designs its curriculum to challenge students intellectually while supporting long-term academic development.

Preesha Chakraborty’s early academic achievements

Preesha Chakraborty’s academic accomplishments began well before her CTY recognition. At just six years old, she earned a lifetime membership in the Mensa Foundation, the world’s oldest and most widely recognized high-IQ society. Mensa membership is limited to individuals who score in the top two percent on approved intelligence tests.

This early milestone highlighted Preesha Chakraborty’s advanced cognitive abilities and set the foundation for her continued academic progress. Her inclusion among the “world’s brightest” students by Johns Hopkins CTY further reinforces her standing as a young learner with exceptional potential.

Preesha Chakraborty and Indian-American representation in gifted education

Preesha Chakraborty’s recognition adds to a growing list of Indian-American students who have excelled in the Johns Hopkins CTY Talent Search. In recent years, students such as Samedha Saxena and Natasha Perianayagam have also been honored for outstanding performance in above-grade-level testing.

These achievements reflect the strong presence of Indian-American students in gifted education programs and their consistent performance in competitive academic environments. Preesha Chakraborty’s success continues this trend while highlighting the global reach of the CTY program.

About the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth is a non-profit organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. Founded in 1979, CTY has focused on identifying, supporting, and nurturing academically gifted students for more than four decades. The organization serves students from around the world through talent searches, advanced coursework, and research-based educational programs.

Preesha Chakraborty’s inclusion among the “world’s brightest” students reflects the Center’s mission to recognize exceptional academic ability at an early stage. Her achievement stands as a clear example of young talent being identified and supported on a global platform through rigorous and well-established assessment methods.