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David Balogun: Boy 9 Years Old Graduates From High School With GPA 4.0, Enters University and Becomes One of the Youngest Students in the History of Southern New Hampshire University
In February 2023, a 9-year-old boy named David Balogun received his high school diploma in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and quickly made news in several countries. What drew attention was not a symbolic recognition or an honorary award. The certificate issued to David was an official high school diploma, equivalent to the 12th grade of the American education system. The document was issued by Reach Cyber Charter School, an online public school in Pennsylvania focused on digital education and accelerated learning. David completed all academic requirements with a GPA of 4.0, the highest grade in the United States education system.
To achieve this result, he followed an extraordinary path: he completed ten school grades in less than three years, something practically unprecedented in the American educational system. The Balogun family lives in Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Both the father and the mother have advanced academic degrees. Henry Balogun is an engineer, and Ronya Balogun is a pharmacist and psychotherapist. They also run an outpatient psychiatric clinic.
Although they recognized early on that their son had above-average intellectual abilities, the parents themselves say they did not imagine how quickly David would advance in the educational system.
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IQ Assessment Reveals Profound Giftedness as Early as First Grade
The first concrete sign that David Balogun possessed high intellectual abilities appeared when he was just 6 years old. At that time, his parents decided to submit him to a formal giftedness assessment. The tests indicated an IQ of 141, a value classified by experts as “profoundly gifted”, one level above the traditional gifted category.
The results showed that, even in first grade, David was already performing at a level equivalent to second and third grades in math and English.
In light of this diagnosis, the mother contacted the school and explained that her son had already mastered much of the curriculum content. The institution agreed to advance him by a year. However, shortly thereafter, a global event would accelerate this learning process.
Online Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerates David Balogun’s Schooling
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of schools across virtually all of the United States. It was at this moment that the parents began to seek educational alternatives that would allow for a more flexible education.
During this search, they discovered Reach Cyber Charter School, an online public school in Pennsylvania specialized in digital education and STEM-focused education — science, technology, engineering, and math. David entered the school as a third-grade student when he was just 7 years old.
The educational model of the institution operated asynchronously, allowing each student to progress at their own pace. This meant that whenever David mastered a subject, he could immediately advance to the next discipline.
This system ended up creating the ideal environment for a student with a high level of giftedness. In just two and a half years, David progressed from third grade to completing high school. During this period, he also accumulated college credits while taking courses at Bucks County Community College, all while completing the school curriculum.
When he finished the program in January 2023, the executive director of the school, Jane Swan, described David as “a change agent with the potential to impact the world”.
At that moment, he had just turned 9 years old.
Harvard, Princeton, and University of Pennsylvania Reject Application Due to Age
After receiving his high school diploma, the family began the process of searching for universities. David had clear preferences. He wanted to study at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world: University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Harvard University.
All three universities reviewed the situation. And all three rejected the application. The decision was not related to the student’s intellectual capacity. The reason was simply age.
American universities have strict rules regarding the presence of minors on college campuses. If David were accepted, an adult would need to be designated to accompany him at all times. Henry Balogun explained the dilemma in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer:
“Am I going to send my 9-year-old to Harvard while I still live in Pennsylvania? No.”
Another obstacle arose during the application process. The online forms of some universities simply did not accept candidates under 13 years old, preventing the completion of the application.
Southern New Hampshire University Accepts the Student and Offers Full Scholarship
The solution came from within the family itself. An aunt of David was already studying at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and suggested that the parents investigate the institution.
The university has one of the largest online higher education systems in the United States, allowing students to take undergraduate courses without the need to live on campus. For the Balogun family, this represented the ideal scenario: David could study at the university level without leaving home and without facing the social environment of a campus full of adults.
After reviewing the student’s academic history, the university decided to accept him. More than that: they offered full scholarship covering undergraduate and master’s degrees in computer science and information technology.
With this, David Balogun became one of the youngest students in the history of Southern New Hampshire University, an institution founded more than 90 years ago. The university president, Paul LeBlanc, commented on the decision in an official statement:
“We are excited to welcome David to our community. He is an extraordinary young man, and we will ensure his education aligns with his capabilities.”
Interest in Astrophysics and Conversation with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Although he is enrolled in computer science, David has broad academic interests. He claims that he intends to study astrophysics, focusing on black holes, supernovae, and extreme cosmological phenomena.
In an interview with the WGAL network, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson joined live to talk with him. Tyson commented that he also decided to become an astrophysicist when he was 9 years old. The difference is that, at that age, Tyson was still in fourth grade.
During another interview with CNN, David demonstrated an understanding of cosmology concepts, such as redshift, the redshift of light emitted by objects expanding in the universe, which is used to measure astronomical distances.
Mensa Member and Recipient of Award for Gifted Education
David is also a member of Mensa International, an organization that brings together people with high IQ. To join the society, it is necessary to score among the top 2% of the population in standardized intelligence tests.
In 2022, while still in high school, David received the Distinguished Student Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education. His father describes him as someone with photographic memory and extremely developed auditory memory.
“Sometimes you think he is not paying attention. But he can repeat everything word for word,” said Henry Balogun.
The mother adds that her son often has different interests from other children his age. David recognizes this but explains that he can interact with both adults and other gifted children.
Despite Attending University at Age 9, David Still Finds Time to Play
Despite his extraordinary academic journey, David remains a child. When he’s not studying programming or computer science, he plays with his younger sister, Eliana, who is 6 years old. He also enjoys making paper airplanes, practicing piano, and training in martial arts.
Another hobby is developing apps and working on small website creation projects. The parents describe the experience of educating a gifted child as a continuous process of adaptation.
“There is no manual for this,” said Ronya Balogun. “Sometimes, when there is no path, you have to create a new one.”
David Balogun’s Message to Other Gifted Children
David often ends interviews with a reflection on education and opportunities. He believes that many other gifted children could follow similar paths, but not all have access to the necessary educational tools.
“I think there are many people who could do something similar, but they don’t have the resources or opportunities,” he said.
He states that he is not interested in fame. His goal is to contribute to society through science and technology.
“If we have more innovators and more people capable of helping to build the future, that is more important than me being famous.”
In the meantime, David continues studying computer science online at Southern New Hampshire University, from his home in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. At 9 years old. And he still finds time to make paper airplanes.
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