School for the Talented & Gifted
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| TAG Magnet | |
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| Address | 1201 E. Eighth Street Dallas, Texas 75203 |
| Contact Information | Phone: 972 925 5970 Fax: 972 925 6018 |
| Principal | F. Michael Satarino |
| District | Dallas Independent School District |
| Grades | Ninth to Twelfth Grade |
| Enrollment | 198 |
| Number of Teachers | 15 |
| School Colors | Blue and Yellow |
| Mascot | Griffin |
The School for the Talented and Gifted at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center (commonly referred to as TAG or TAG Magnet) is a college preparatory magnet secondary school in the Dallas Independent School District. It is distinctly known for its liberal arts, Advanced Placement Program intensive education style focused on students within a small scale learning environment.
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[edit] History
The School for the Talented and Gifted was established in 1982 as part of the desegregation court order. Its curriculum was designed to provide a comprehensive academic program to serve identified talented and gifted students in grades nine through twelve. Originally located in west Dallas on the L.G. Pinkston High School campus. In the 1990s, DISD allocated money for a new "magnet center" as an experiment in accelerated high school education. This magnet center would house six different schools, each offering college-preparatory and pre-professional programs alongside a solid academic education. The TAG Magnet, along with five other magnet schools, moved to the new Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Magnet Center in the fall of 1995. Initially, TAG students were taught alongside the students at the other magnet schools. But after it threatened the existence of TREK because of lack of supervising teachers, TAG was given permission to have their own teaching staff that was specialized in talented and gifted teaching methods for the classroom.
[edit] Information
The School for the Talented and Gifted draws students from across the Dallas Independent School District. The current enrollment of students reflects the culturally diverse fabric of the larger school district as best as it can following the repeal of the Desegregation Mandate by Judge Barefoot Sanders.
During the spring semester a screening process is initiated to place incoming students at the TAG Magnet for the following year. A holistic, case-study approach is used by the screening committee, which is comprised of the principal, the counselor, teachers, and community representatives. Multiple identification criteria are used in the screening process including academic transcripts, TAKS/ITBS scores, a behavioral assessment scale, a student portfolio, and anecdotal information. Careful attention is paid to pre-established guidelines to insure that the student population is ethnically balanced.
[edit] Curriculum
The Mission of the School for the Talented and Gifted is to provide an environment in which the unique worth, dignity, and abilities of each individual are not only recognized but cultivated and celebrated as well. We wish to provide an educational experience that empowers highly capable students to interact with their intellectual peers in creative, academic, aesthetic, and social endeavors in order to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow and to become life-long learners, responsible citizens, and contributors to the betterment of society as a whole in an ever-changing world.
The School for the Talented and Gifted requires the Advanced High School Program as described by the Texas Education Agency – this program is entitled the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP), and it is the highest academic program allowed by the state. The school then takes that program and makes it more demanding by including the Pre-AP and AP curriculum. The table below compares the two programs – both programs require 26 credits:
| Area of Study | Required Credits for Distinguished Achievement | Required Credits for TAG Enhanced
Distinguished Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| English
4 credits required |
English 1, English 2, English 3, English 4 | English 1 Pre-AP, English 2 Pre-AP, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition |
| Math
4 credits required |
Must include Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry | Must include Algebra 2 Pre-AP, Geometry Pre-AP, Pre-Calculus Pre-AP, AP Calculus AB |
| Social Studies
3.5 credits required |
World History, World Geography, American History, U.S. Government (one semester) | AP World History, AP Human Geography, AP American History, AP U.S. Government (one semester) |
| Science
4 credits required |
Must include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics | Must include Biology Pre-AP, Pre-AP Chemistry, AP Physics B, and one more Class class from AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics C, or AP Environmental Science |
| Economics
0.5 credit required |
Economics (Free Enterprise) | Economics AP |
| Foreign Language
3 credits required |
3 credits required of the same foreign language | 3 credits required of the same foreign language but in the Pre-AP and AP curriculum |
| Fine Arts
1 credit required |
1 credit | 1 credit |
| Physical Education
1.5 credits required |
1.5 credit | 1.5 credit |
| Health
.5 credit required |
.5 credit | .5 credit |
| Speech
.5 credit required |
Communications Applications | Communications Applications |
| Technology Application
1 credit required |
Computer Science 1 | Computer Science 1 Pre-AP |
| Electives
2.5 credits required |
Must be from State-approved courses in language arts, science, math, social studies, foreign language, fine arts, or technology applications | Must be from State-approved Pre-AP and AP courses in language arts, science, math, social studies, foreign language, fine arts, or technology applications |
[edit] English Curriculum
A typical TAG student takes English 1 Pre-AP as a freshman, English 2 Pre-AP as a sophomore, AP English Language and Composition as a junior, and AP English Literature and Composition as a senior. In addition, students are required to take a semester of Communication Applications (Speech) as a freshman and Independent Study English as a senior. The Texas Education Agency has made it mandatory that all TAG students in the state must submit an “Exit-Level Project” during their senior year – this project requires finding a mentor in the community, researching and developing the project, and submitting the finished project to a set of judges at the state level. The projects are graded on a “1” to “5” scale, with “5” being the highest. The student must score a “3” or higher to graduate with a “TAG” endorsement on their diploma. TAG's Independent Study English course is this exit-level project. In addition to the required courses, students have choices of the following electives: Debate and Humanities (World Studies/Philosophy).
Since there is a selection process used to gain admission to the TAG Magnet; and, since one of the definitions of a TAG student is a national-norm reading score of “80” or higher, the school does not have students who read below grade level. However, since TAG requires an AP course (AP Human Geography) as freshman, the school does have students who do not read well enough to tackle a college-level course in their first year of high school. These students are referred to the Student Support Team (SST) for review. This leads to a parent-teacher-student conference attended by both the counselor and the principal. Parent, student, and teacher agree to work together as they check on progress achieved through tutoring hours before and after school. In some cases, additional projects are assigned to improve reading skills.
[edit] Math Curriculum
Again since there is a selection process used to gain admission to the TAG Magnet; and, since one of the definitions of a TAG student is a national-norm math score of “80” or higher, a typical TAG student comes to the TAG Magnet having taken Algebra 1 in the 8th grade. Thus the typical freshman math course is Geometry Pre-AP. Students take Algebra 2 Pre-AP as sophomores, Pre-Calculus Pre-AP and AP Statistics as juniors, and AP Calculus AB as seniors. Students who enter the school without Algebra 1 will take both Algebra 1 and Geometry Pre-AP as freshman and then follow the track mentioned above for their sophomore through senior years. If a student who has had both Algebra 1 and Geometry in their 7th and 8th grade years, begins their math curriculum with Algebra 2 Pre-AP as freshmen, Pre-Calculus Pre-AP as sophomores, AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics as juniors, and AP Calculus BC as seniors. Other students choose to "fast track" their math courses taking Algebra 2 Pre-AP and Pre-Calculus Pre-AP as sophomores thus allowing them to take AP Calculus BC as seniors. The school does have one math elective available for those advanced math students – Independent Study in Math. This course takes the students through Number Theory and Linear Algebra, as well as other topics they will encounter at the university level.
[edit] Awards
- TAG was ranked #1 High School in the United States in 2006 by Newsweek's Jay Mathews Challenge Index. Two students, Devan Earle and Chelsea Jones, appeared on the cover of the periodical.
- TAG is consistently rated the Best Public High School in Dallas by D Magazine.
- TAG is a NCLB Blue Ribbon School.
- Rated "Exemplary" by the Texas Education Agency every year since the inception of the program.
- Texas Business Education Council Honor Roll Award in 2004.
- UIL Champions for District 9-AAAAA in both 2004 and 2005.
Awards from the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board:
- Recognition for having the highest passing rates in the world for Art History, Computer Science, and Human Geography for 2004-05.
- Ranked first in the state of Texas for overall passing rates as a school since 2001.
- Two AP State Scholars are announced each year for each state, and TAG had both in 2002, one in 2004, and one in 2005.
- Named a “worldwide leader” for the participation and performance on Advanced Placement tests for 2003-2004.
[edit] Tradition
Integral to the TAG environment, traditions play a major role in school spirit. There are many traditions at the Talented and Gifted magnet, some are student traditions, such as Arts Week, ICAP, and Scrapbook, and some are school traditions such as TAG-IT, TREK, and TAG Forum. While some of these traditions have been lackluster in recent years, many students are still working hard to preserve them for future classes at TAG Magnet.
[edit] Arts Week
Arts Week is a well known tradition at TAG that allows each student to show off their artistic talents. Arts week usually occurs in the fall, but as of late, due to a lack of participation, it is also scheduled for the spring. The person in charge of Arts Week has a ceremonial duty to relieve themself of their position and induct a new leader at the end of each Arts Week.
[edit] ICAP
Independent Creative Arts Publication, or ICAP, is a bi-yearly pamphlet which contains many of the students' poems, artwork, and random submissions. ICAP is where the creativity of TAG students, staff, and friends can be expressed without censorship. ICAP is both for the enjoyment of the student body and also a place where unique ideas and views may be expressed.
[edit] Scrapbook
Scrapbook is a yearly tradition in which the senior class collectively pulls together a scrapbook of events throughout the year, and before graduation, publishes a copy for all the seniors and sells copies to any underclassman that wants one. The scrapbook is officially a collective publication of the members of the Senior Class and expresses their opinions and memories of the school. It is not officially sanctioned by the school.
[edit] Inklings Literary Magazine
Inklings is a monthly publication featuring student submissions of editorials, reviews, poetry, and general fiction stories. It is also TAG's first and only regularly published, school-affiliated magazine.
[edit] UIL Competitions
Students at the TAG Magnet participate in numerous University Interscholastic League (UIL) sponsored competitions including:
Accounting, Calculator Applications, Computer Applications, Computer Science, Cross Examination Debate, Current Events and Issues, Editorial Writing, Extemporaneous Informative Speech, Extemporaneous Persuasive Speech, Feature Writing, Headline Writing, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Literary Criticism, Mathematics, News Writing, Number Sense, One-Act Play, Poetry Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Ready Writing, Science, Social Studies, Solo and Ensemble (Band, Choir, and Orchestra), Spelling and Vocabulary.
[edit] Clubs and Organizations
The TAG Magnet also has several student and school run clubs and organizations including:
Academic Decathlon, Destination Imagination, Math Olympiads, Mock Trial, Robotics, Science Fair, Whiz Quiz, Ballet Folklorico, Chess Club, Cross-Country Club, Dallas Association of Minority Engineers (DAME), Gay and Straight Alliance (GASP), German Dance, Junior State of America (JSA), Pan-American Student Forum (PASF), Student Council, Students Against Global Abuse (SAGA), Texas Area Model of American States (TAMOAS), Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE).
[edit] References
- 2002-2003 No Child Left Behind – Blue Ribbon Schools Program (PDF). U.S. Department of Education (November 2002). Retrieved on December 27, 2006.
- School for the Talented and Gifted at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center. Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Newsweek: Top 100 High Schools in the United States
- Dallas ISD Home Page
- Greatschools.net TAG Magnet Page
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| High schools | .. full list Adamson | Hillcrest | Lincoln | Madison | Molina | North Dallas | Samuell | Seagoville | South Oak Cliff | Sunset | W. T. White | Woodrow Wilson |
| Middle schools | .. full list Hood | Quintanilla |
| Elementary schools | .. full list Casa View | Hooe | Junkins | Preston Hollow | Reagan |
| Magnet schools | Townview magnets: Government, Law, & Law Enforcement | Science and Engineering Magnet | Talented & Gifted | Business and Management | Education and Social Services | Health Professions Other High Schools: Skyline Career Development Center | Washington HS for Performing and Visual Arts | Lincoln Humanities/Communications Magnet Middle/High: Rangel Young Women's | PreK-8: Dealey Montessori | Stone Montessori | 4-8: Travis Academy/Vanguard |
