Two American International School brothers have earned prestigious global recognition for their outstanding academic talent: Leighton Chu (Grade 9) and Aiden Chu (Grade 8) have both been awarded High Honors by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth .
The Center for Talented Youth (CTY), a nonprofit academic center of Johns Hopkins University, has been a global leader in gifted education since 1979. CTY identifies and nurtures the academic talents of advanced learners in grades 2–12 through accredited, challenging courses, research, and advocacy.
Placing in the top tier among 16,000 advanced students from over 75 countries, both brothers mastered the rigorous, above-grade-level School and College Ability Test (SCAT)—a high-pressure assessment requiring 110 questions in just 44 minutes.
Distinct Strengths, Shared Success
While both brothers shared a calm, disciplined approach to test preparation—focusing on time management and peer coaching rather than repetitive drilling—their academic ambitions highlight their unique passions:
- Leighton earned High Honors with Advanced Verbal designation (76th percentile). Motivated by an ambition to pursue future legal studies, Leighton aims to explore specialized CTY courses in Constitutional Law, International Law, and Global Politics.
- Aiden earned High Honors with Advanced Quantitative designation (78th percentile). Driven by a deep interest in Medicine and life sciences, Aiden is eager to dive into rigorous coursework in Genetics, Anatomy, and Biomedical Sciences.
“This is not just recognition of students’ performance on one test, but a testament to their curiosity and capacity for learning.”
During their test preparation, the brothers turned the challenge into a team effort. Leighton relied on his strong language background to assist Aiden with English reading and comprehension, while Aiden used his mathematical strength to guide Leighton through complex logic problems.
How AIS Cultivated Their Global Achievement
For both Leighton and Aiden, this international benchmark is the direct result of years of immersive education, character building, and tailored opportunities at AIS that transformed their learning mindsets from the inside out:
- Building Confidence Under Pressure: AIS’s supportive environment helped harness Leighton’s naturally outgoing personality into strong communication confidence, giving him the poise needed to take an intense global exam without stress. For Aiden, early public speaking opportunities on stage taught him to step out of his comfort zone and manage high standards with patience and resilience.
- Unique Technical & Logical Platforms: Both brothers took advantage of specialized AIS programs rarely offered at other schools, such as the award-winning TECHspert program. Becoming certified Apple Teachers (Leighton in 2022, Aiden in 2024) directly sharpened the critical reasoning, problem-solving, and logical analysis skills demanded by the CTY assessment.
- Global Experiential Learning: Immersive school trips to Singapore and Beijing broadened their worldviews, helping them connect standard textbook learning with real-world, international perspectives.
- Mentorship from Dedicated Faculty: Both brothers expressed deep, heartfelt gratitude to faculty members Mr. Green and Mr. Martin. Their continuous encouragement, steady guidance, and willingness to push academic boundaries inspired Leighton and Aiden to persevere through difficulty, embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, and maintain strong personal values.
A Parent’s Reflection on the AIS Journey
Having first enrolled at AIS in 2016, trying another international curriculum for a few years, and ultimately returning to AIS in 2021, the Chu family experienced firsthand what sets the school apart.
“Being back in the AIS community has really shown us that this is the best fit for our family. AIS is where my kids can truly thrive and feel settled. I really appreciate all the teachers and staff for their constant dedication… AIS welcomes and supports every single student, giving them the space to grow while guiding them to adhere to the right values and forge their own paths.”
Looking Ahead
Beyond their academic accomplishments, Leighton and Aiden are excited to take the next steps in their journeys. Both brothers look forward to attending three-week residential summer programs at top US university campuses to experience college life, engage with global peers, and participate in local community service projects together to put their knowledge into real-world action.
Congratulations to Leighton and Aiden on this extraordinary milestone!
