Ok I need some advice: my daughter attends Seabrook elementary and it is a lovely school and we are zoned for Glenarden Woods, which gets mixed reviews. She got a 30 on the verbal/English component and an 89 on the logic/non verbal component of the OLSAT, which was bizarre. I think if we had her retested she would get a higher score overall, but is it worth it? Or should I try for 3rd grade? Will it be impossible to get into Glenarden Woods in 3rd grade? The middle school we are zoned for (Thomas Johnson) is absolutely terrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

Where did you have the private testing done? How much did it cost? Dad has a score of 89 on the non verbal and 30 on the verbal. :/. But I really like her elementary so I am thinking of leaving it alone until 3rd grade. Is it too hard to get into the TAG center by then?

We went to a private psychologist (maybe a PsyD) near Annapolis. You can go to any professional who can administer an IQ test. If you child had the OLSAT in the last year (maybe 2?) it has to be a different test. All the school needs is a final score in a report from the doctor. You do not need a full academic screening which is super expensive.

We paid less than $300 but that is only because I called around to a lot of different places. I had quotes as high as $1000. UMD does it and has a sliding scale but they were more money than the private person we used.

We stayed at our neighborhood school but we wanted to get her identified so we had options.

It is harder to get into a TAG center at later grades but not impossible. Depends on your TAG center assignment.

Can you expand on this? Does being in a neighborhood school pull-out program, or just TAG identified, mean you can continue to an MS TAG program, or are those only for kids who went to the special ES centers? What options does identification give you?

A neighborhood TAG program makes you eligible for any TAG middle school but there are only so many seats at each school. If you are not at at TAG elementary center you must enter the lottery at 5th grade for entry into 6th.
If you go to a TAG center elementary school prior before 6th grade you get automatic entry to the TAG middle school program.
If you are zoned for Tasker, Kenmoor or Walker Mill middle schools you have a very good chance of entry via the lottery at 6th grade.
If you are zoned for Greenbelt you have an almost zero chance of getting in. All of their seats go to kids with continuity from TAG centers.
Parents and residents really need to advocate for a new TAG center in the North of the county.

So if your kid is TAG identified and in, say, Greenbelt ES, they will go to Greenbelt MS, there just won't br space for them in the TAG classes? That sucks. I've heard the school is a very different experience depending.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

Where did you have the private testing done? How much did it cost? Dad has a score of 89 on the non verbal and 30 on the verbal. :/. But I really like her elementary so I am thinking of leaving it alone until 3rd grade. Is it too hard to get into the TAG center by then?

We went to a private psychologist (maybe a PsyD) near Annapolis. You can go to any professional who can administer an IQ test. If you child had the OLSAT in the last year (maybe 2?) it has to be a different test. All the school needs is a final score in a report from the doctor. You do not need a full academic screening which is super expensive.

We paid less than $300 but that is only because I called around to a lot of different places. I had quotes as high as $1000. UMD does it and has a sliding scale but they were more money than the private person we used.

We stayed at our neighborhood school but we wanted to get her identified so we had options.

It is harder to get into a TAG center at later grades but not impossible. Depends on your TAG center assignment.

Can you expand on this? Does being in a neighborhood school pull-out program, or just TAG identified, mean you can continue to an MS TAG program, or are those only for kids who went to the special ES centers? What options does identification give you?

A neighborhood TAG program makes you eligible for any TAG middle school but there are only so many seats at each school. If you are not at at TAG elementary center you must enter the lottery at 5th grade for entry into 6th.
If you go to a TAG center elementary school prior before 6th grade you get automatic entry to the TAG middle school program.
If you are zoned for Tasker, Kenmoor or Walker Mill middle schools you have a very good chance of entry via the lottery at 6th grade.
If you are zoned for Greenbelt you have an almost zero chance of getting in. All of their seats go to kids with continuity from TAG centers.
Parents and residents really need to advocate for a new TAG center in the North of the county.

To clarify, if you are in a TAG ES center for 5th grade, you get automatic entry in to TAG MS programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

Where did you have the private testing done? How much did it cost? Dad has a score of 89 on the non verbal and 30 on the verbal. :/. But I really like her elementary so I am thinking of leaving it alone until 3rd grade. Is it too hard to get into the TAG center by then?

We went to a private psychologist (maybe a PsyD) near Annapolis. You can go to any professional who can administer an IQ test. If you child had the OLSAT in the last year (maybe 2?) it has to be a different test. All the school needs is a final score in a report from the doctor. You do not need a full academic screening which is super expensive.

We paid less than $300 but that is only because I called around to a lot of different places. I had quotes as high as $1000. UMD does it and has a sliding scale but they were more money than the private person we used.

We stayed at our neighborhood school but we wanted to get her identified so we had options.

It is harder to get into a TAG center at later grades but not impossible. Depends on your TAG center assignment.

Can you expand on this? Does being in a neighborhood school pull-out program, or just TAG identified, mean you can continue to an MS TAG program, or are those only for kids who went to the special ES centers? What options does identification give you?

A neighborhood TAG program makes you eligible for any TAG middle school but there are only so many seats at each school. If you are not at at TAG elementary center you must enter the lottery at 5th grade for entry into 6th.
If you go to a TAG center elementary school prior before 6th grade you get automatic entry to the TAG middle school program.
If you are zoned for Tasker, Kenmoor or Walker Mill middle schools you have a very good chance of entry via the lottery at 6th grade.
If you are zoned for Greenbelt you have an almost zero chance of getting in. All of their seats go to kids with continuity from TAG centers.
Parents and residents really need to advocate for a new TAG center in the North of the county.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

OLSAT isn’t an IQ test.

Sorry....I'm not that well versed in the nominclature. If you do no score above an 80% on the OLSAT you need to score above the 80% percentile on and IQ test. Email the TAG office if you want more information, they are super helpful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

OLSAT isn’t an IQ test.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

Where did you have the private testing done? How much did it cost? Dad has a score of 89 on the non verbal and 30 on the verbal. :/. But I really like her elementary so I am thinking of leaving it alone until 3rd grade. Is it too hard to get into the TAG center by then?

We went to a private psychologist (maybe a PsyD) near Annapolis. You can go to any professional who can administer an IQ test. If you child had the OLSAT in the last year (maybe 2?) it has to be a different test. All the school needs is a final score in a report from the doctor. You do not need a full academic screening which is super expensive.

We paid less than $300 but that is only because I called around to a lot of different places. I had quotes as high as $1000. UMD does it and has a sliding scale but they were more money than the private person we used.

We stayed at our neighborhood school but we wanted to get her identified so we had options.

It is harder to get into a TAG center at later grades but not impossible. Depends on your TAG center assignment.

Can you expand on this? Does being in a neighborhood school pull-out program, or just TAG identified, mean you can continue to an MS TAG program, or are those only for kids who went to the special ES centers? What options does identification give you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

Where did you have the private testing done? How much did it cost? Dad has a score of 89 on the non verbal and 30 on the verbal. :/. But I really like her elementary so I am thinking of leaving it alone until 3rd grade. Is it too hard to get into the TAG center by then?

We went to a private psychologist (maybe a PsyD) near Annapolis. You can go to any professional who can administer an IQ test. If you child had the OLSAT in the last year (maybe 2?) it has to be a different test. All the school needs is a final score in a report from the doctor. You do not need a full academic screening which is super expensive.

We paid less than $300 but that is only because I called around to a lot of different places. I had quotes as high as $1000. UMD does it and has a sliding scale but they were more money than the private person we used.

We stayed at our neighborhood school but we wanted to get her identified so we had options.

It is harder to get into a TAG center at later grades but not impossible. Depends on your TAG center assignment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

Which elementary is in your boundary? Even if the scores are lower than your preference you may be surprised at how well the school functions. DD’s elementary school has a greatschools score of 5 but is an outstanding school.

Haven't moved yet, could wind up anywhere along Rt 1. Trying to figure out how much MS/HS zoning matters, not nearly as worried about ES, but the ES possibilities are ranked between 2 and 5.

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

Which elementary is in your boundary? Even if the scores are lower than your preference you may be surprised at how well the school functions. DD’s elementary school has a greatschools score of 5 but is an outstanding school.

*DD

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

Where did you have the private testing done? How much did it cost? Dad has a score of 89 on the non verbal and 30 on the verbal. :/. But I really like her elementary so I am thinking of leaving it alone until 3rd grade. Is it too hard to get into the TAG center by then?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

Kid is 4 now, so yes, we do have time. Just don't want to move someshere without a viable school plan.

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?

The child must get an IQ score above the 80% on the OLSAT to be considered for TAG. My child didn’t pass the first time but we had private testing done and her new score was over 80.

Other options are charter schools, Arts programs, local middle schools or administrative transfers to other middle schools. Then of course there is private school. How old are your kids? If they haven’t started yet you have 7 years to figure it out.

I am trying to figure out how to navigate PG County schools before moving to the area, and it seems like whether your kid gets into TAG programs makes all the difference in middle school and then high school. So...what if my kid DOESN'T get into TAG programs? Move out to Howard or elsewhere at that point? How high is the threshhold? How much of an advantage is it to have educated and involved parents vs being an actually truly exceptional kid?