Is the TAG program at Highland Park really any good?

[Anonymous]

I can't get a good read from everywhere I look. I see tons of boosters claiming they love it, yet also complain about the homework load, the teachers and the general school atmosphere. Can people give me an assessment please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't get a good read from everywhere I look. I see tons of boosters claiming they love it, yet also complain about the homework load, the teachers and the general school atmosphere. Can people give me an assessment please?

Highland Park is meh. The TAG teachers are mostly good but it is a poorly run school. Principal and 5 teachers were out on admin leave this year with no explainations. Specials got cut down to 20 minutes because the staff was needed to fill lunchroom duties. There isn't the community feeling like you find at other neighborhood schools.

The homework load has gotten lighter this year but all depends on the teacher.

[Anonymous]

I'd love more information about this, too. Was the issue with the principal and teachers on admin leave the same issue throughout the county -- the fact that there were not enough subs to cover? Or was something else going on?

Anyone with a current child there? Tell us about t it.

[Anonymous]

I do not have an a child there, but know a number of people that do. Most of them take the Highland Park spot just for the assurance of a TAG spot in middle school. They tend to prefer the overall environment of our neighborhood school, but the unknown of middle school is too much of a risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not have an a child there, but know a number of people that do. Most of them take the Highland Park spot just for the assurance of a TAG spot in middle school. They tend to prefer the overall environment of our neighborhood school, but the unknown of middle school is too much of a risk.

I have a acquaintance who refers to Highland Park as the purgatory you endure in order to get into Kenmoor.

Also, not all kids who go to HP are zoned for Kemoor...some go to Walker Mill if that makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

Huh. I don't want to send my kid into pergatory. This is disappointing.

[Anonymous]

Anyone with insight who is actually a current parent?

[Anonymous]

I too have noticed that in terms of writeups, all the other area surrounding TAGs are in competitions and participating in events and sadly Highland Park is never there...what will it take for PGPCS to allow those inbound TAG kids to go to a better elementary TAG program option? I heard Spellman was trying to get it in-house but not successful yet. When you compare Highland Park to Heather Hills, Greenbelt Elementary and University Park it leaves a lot to be desired....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too have noticed that in terms of writeups, all the other area surrounding TAGs are in competitions and participating in events and sadly Highland Park is never there...what will it take for PGPCS to allow those inbound TAG kids to go to a better elementary TAG program option? I heard Spellman was trying to get it in-house but not successful yet. When you compare Highland Park to Heather Hills, Greenbelt Elementary and University Park it leaves a lot to be desired....

Keep in mind that Heather Hills and Glenarden Woods are both TAG-Only schools. They just take TAG identified kids in grades 2-5. So there will be 4 second grade TAG classes (and TAG teachers) versus Highland Park, which is K-5 and has just one-TAG identified class in 2nd,3rd, 4th and 5th. So at Highland Park there might be one TAG identified class in 2nd grade and 3 non Tage 2nd grade classes. That makes for a very different program.

I don't know about Greenbelt Elementary and University Park -- they aren't TAG center schools, I don't think. Are parents happy with the TAG service there?

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem with HP is not the TAG program itself, it's the other BS that goes along with a poorly run school. Constant teacher absences and shortages caused disruption to the Music/PE/Art classes because those teachers had to be on lunch duty. Lunch periods were cut short and the overall atmosphere at the school is institutional. There isn't an active parent organization and the communication from the school is terrible. It does not have the feeling of community that other schools in PGCPS have.

The TAG kids are largely separated from the rest of the school which is a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest problem with HP is not the TAG program itself, it's the other BS that goes along with a poorly run school. Constant teacher absences and shortages caused disruption to the Music/PE/Art classes because those teachers had to be on lunch duty. Lunch periods were cut short and the overall atmosphere at the school is institutional. There isn't an active parent organization and the communication from the school is terrible. It does not have the feeling of community that other schools in PGCPS have.

The TAG kids are largely separated from the rest of the school which is a shame.

I just heard that they are mixing non-TAG kids into some of the TAG classrooms where there is under enrollment. It is a hot mess.

[Anonymous]

How can they change this? Is it Dr. Maxwell that has to make the change to get these TAG kids to a school where the program works or the PGPCS school board? Do parents need to petition?