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Effingham seventh graders qualify for Duke recognition program
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Because of their exceptional academic abilities, 38 seventh graders from Effingham County qualified for participation in the Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP) 7th Grade Talent Search, sponsored by Duke University.  

Of those 38 students, 37 took the same SAT or ACT test administered to high school students and 13 Effingham County seventh graders scored higher than 50 percent of the nation’s high school test takers.

As a result, these 13 middle school students (part of the 36 percent of all seventh graders who qualified) will be invited to attend a State Recognition Ceremony to celebrate their exceptional academic performance.  The students who qualified for State Recognition are: (from South Effingham Middle School) Tanner Beck, Connor Cremo, Miranda Hamilton, India Nelson, Austin Norwood, Logan Revell and Nathaniel Robinson; (from Ebenezer Middle School) Makenzie Kublin, Madison Lathrop, Kayla McCarthy, Kathryn Miles, Cody Morgan and Brody Taylor.

In addition to the students listed above, the following participated in the Duke TIP Talent Search: Christopher Barnes, Gideon Bartlett, Gabriele Bennett, Amanda Billington, Cole Counts, Connor Croasmun, Rory Devaughn, Jacob Elliott, Macy Floyd, Christian Hallisey, Anna Kessler, Jacob Mixon, Loren Moss, Daniel Mundy, Aaron Neidlinger, Caitlyn Richtman, Garrett Senter, Joseph Smiley, Nicholas Sturdevant, Brooke Syms, Tori Tindall, Charles Westerfield, Kailey Wobrock, Kirstin Zarkadas and Lane Zeagler.     

All of the academically gifted students who participated in the Talent Search will be given opportunities to participate in future enrichment programs at Duke. Duke TIP is a non-profit educational organization that is recognized as a leader in identifying and serving the educational needs of academically gifted youth.  

Through identification, recognition, challenging educational programs, information, advocacy and research, Duke TIP provides resources to gifted students, their parents, educators, and schools for the development of the students’ optimal educational potential.

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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