Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
Johns Hopkins University's program for advanced K–12 students. Kids qualify through above-grade-level testing, then take rigorous online courses, summer programs on college campuses or family programs.
What is Johns Hopkins CTY?
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, known as CTY, is a program at Johns Hopkins University for academically advanced kids. Psychologist Julian Stanley founded it in 1979, growing out of an earlier math talent search. It was the first program to identify talented students through above-grade-level testing, and that idea still drives how it works.
CTY serves students from about age 6 through high school with online courses, summer programs and family programs.
How it works
- Create an account. Families sign up with CTY, which involves a membership step.
- Take a qualifying test. Students take an above-grade-level test such as the SCAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT or the Spatial Test Battery. A younger student taking a test built for older kids shows how far ahead they really are.
- Get an eligibility level. CTY-Level means ability about two grade levels ahead. Advanced CTY-Level means about four grade levels ahead. Some courses need the higher level.
- Pick a program. Choose from online courses, online clubs or summer programs.
Parents handle the testing, deadlines and logistics. Once a student is enrolled, CTY instructors do the teaching.
What it covers
| Format | What it is |
|---|---|
| Live online courses | Scheduled classes with an instructor and classmates |
| Asynchronous online courses | Self-paced work with instructor support |
| Session-based online courses | Shorter, set-length courses |
| Online clubs | Lighter, interest-based groups |
| Summer residential | Multi-week programs living on a college campus |
| Summer day programs | Commuter programs for younger students |
Course topics range across math, science, writing, humanities and computer science. Older students can take college-level material.
Who it's best for
CTY fits kids who are far ahead of their grade, get bored in regular classes and want both depth and a peer group of other advanced learners. It also works for homeschoolers who want accredited, advanced courses.
It's not for remediation or casual enrichment, and kids who don't want to test won't get in. For advanced math without a test requirement, look at Art of Problem Solving or Beast Academy. For lighter, interest-led classes, see Outschool.
Pricing at a glance
CTY charges for membership and for each program. Online clubs cost the least, full online courses cost more and multi-week residential summer programs are the biggest expense. CTY's website blocked our checks in October 2026, so we could not confirm this year's tuition. See CTY's online and on-campus tuition pages, linked above, for current figures and financial aid.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
CTY offers its own need-based financial aid for eligible US families, so start there. Some education savings account programs also allow academic course tuition as an expense, though residential camp costs are often handled differently. See scholarships by state and an example program like the Arizona ESA. Each program decides what it funds.
On Edulist, you can save CTY to your wishlist and apply once to the scholarship programs that fit your family.
How it compares
- Art of Problem Solving offers advanced online math and writing classes without a qualifying test.
- Russian School of Math is a year-round, after-school math program for strong students.
- Davidson Academy is a full-time school for profoundly gifted students.
- Stanford Online High School is a full online school for advanced teens.
Explore more enrichment programs, including options for gifted students, and online classes.
Who Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Students who test well above grade level and are bored in school
- Kids who want a peer group of other advanced learners
- Families looking for rigorous online courses or an academic summer away
- Homeschoolers who want accredited advanced coursework
Look elsewhere if
- Students who need help catching up or remediation
- Families who want low-cost, casual enrichment
- Kids who don't want to take a qualifying test
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) pros and cons
Pros
- Run by Johns Hopkins University since 1979
- Clear, test-based eligibility levels
- Many formats: live online, self-paced online, clubs and summer programs
- Accredited by the Middle States Association for K–12
- Financial aid for eligible US families
Cons
- Requires a qualifying above-grade-level test score
- Summer residential programs are costly
- Deadlines and testing add planning work
- In 2022, about a third of summer sessions were canceled at the last minute because of staffing shortages
What’s included
- Talent search that identifies advanced students through above-grade-level testing
- Two eligibility levels: CTY-Level and Advanced CTY-Level
- Accepted tests include SCAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT and the Spatial Test Battery
- Online courses: live, asynchronous and session-based, plus online clubs
- Summer residential and day programs on college campuses
- Financial aid for eligible US families
How much does Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) cost?
CTY charges separately for membership and for each course or program, and tuition differs widely between online clubs, online courses and multi-week residential summer programs. CTY's website blocked our checks in October 2026, so we could not confirm current figures. Check CTY's online and on-campus tuition and financial aid pages for the current year before you plan.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
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Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) FAQs
How does a student qualify for Johns Hopkins CTY?
Students take an above-grade-level test such as the SCAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT or the Spatial Test Battery. CTY-Level eligibility means ability about two grade levels above the student's grade, and Advanced CTY-Level means about four grade levels above. Some courses require the advanced level.
What does CTY cost?
It depends on the program. Online clubs cost far less than full courses, and residential summer programs cost the most. CTY posts current tuition on its online and on-campus tuition pages, and financial aid is available for eligible US families.
Does CTY offer financial aid?
Yes. CTY offers need-based financial aid to US citizens, eligible permanent residents and children who live permanently in the US. Families with unpaid balances from a prior CTY year are not eligible.
Is CTY accredited?
Yes. CTY is accredited by the Middle States Association for grades K–12, which can help homeschool families document advanced coursework.
What ages does CTY serve?
CTY serves students from about age 6 through high school. Program options and eligibility rules differ by grade, so check the specific course.
Is CTY online or in person?
Both. CTY runs live and self-paced online courses and online clubs during the year, and summer residential and day programs on college campuses.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: