TIP gives awards to kids with 99th percentile composites, compared with 8th grade norms. My DD has gotten this award in the past. IIRC, there were 250 or so kids in the TIP region who were recognized that year.

The curve for the talent search kids is to the right of the "average" 8th/9th grade curves. So, the talent search pool is very impressive. Or, as my DD said, it doesn't say much about the average 8th grader.