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TAG Identification and Screening

Overview

Talented and Gifted (TAG) Screening Information

  • PGCPS students will participate in a universal testing screening process for talented and gifted identification in Grade 1 and 4.  Grade 1 student complete the Otis Lennon School Ability Assessment and Grade 4 students complete the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT).  Additional criteria used in the screening process include achievement assessment data, teacher checklist of gifted characteristics, and report card grades.
  • New registrants to PGCPS in grades 2, 3 and 5 will be tested.  Grade 2 and 3 students will complete the Otis Lennon School Ability Assessment and Grade 5 students will complete the Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT).
  • Parents and Teachers may nominate students for TAG screening by January 15th.  School based TAG Coordinators will complete the screenings based on exisiting assessment data.  Assessment data is valid for 2 years.  
  • Contact the TAG Coordinators or Middle School Professional School Counselor for screening.
  • Test data is valid for 2 years and TAG Coordinators can screen students using valid assessment data. Students with valid test data will not be retested.
  • TAG identification is a multiple criteria process including cognitive ability test data, achievement data, teacher checklist of gifted characteristics, and report card grades.
  • Parents/guardians may apply to the TAG Center Program via lottery DURING the screening process. Students MUST be TAG identified in order to receive placement into the TAG Center Program.
  • Test scores and TAG screening results will be sent home by the school.
  • Please do not request test data from the TAG Office.  School based staff provide the test results.
  • School-based TAG Coordinators will screen every student who scores 81 percentile or higher on the cognitive ability assessment.

Learning Development Strategies Parents Can Use at Home

Grade
The specific Testing Window will be set by the school.
Cognitive Ability Assessment

1

All 1st graders will be tested in November.

Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) Booklet

2

New registrants will be tested in December.

Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) Booklet

3

New registrants to PGCPS

Otis Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) Booklet

4

All 4th graders (who are not TAG identified) will be tested in December.

CogAT - online assessment

5

New registrants to PGCPS in 5th grade will be tested in December.

CogAT - online assessment

 

TAG Instructional Services

Students identified for gifted services will participate in the neighborhood school gifted program (Pull-out Program or TAG in the Regular Classroom (TRC) Program). Parents/guardians also have the option of applying to the TAG Center Lottery for participation in a TAG Center Program. The TAG Center School Programs offer a full-day advanced, enriched, and intensive instructional program to meet the unique and specialized needs of highly able students. Specially selected and trained teachers provide instruction. A TAG Center placement depends on a space-availability in accordance with lottery guidelines and program location is based on the student’s address. 

When to Apply

December 16, 2024 - March 14, 2025

Application

TAG Program Centers and Coordinators

  • Elementary School Centers and Coordinators
  • Middle School Centers and Coordinators

Elementary School TAG Centers and Coordinators

Elementary School
Contact Information

Accokeek Academy
(grades 2-8)

14400 Berry Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607
301-203-3200
http://www.pgcps.org/accokeek/

Elementary TAG Coordinator
Ellen St. Clair
Ellen.StClair@pgcps.org

Middle School TAG Coordinator
Tamara Shorter
Tamara.Shorter@pgcps.org

Capitol Heights Elementary 
(grades 2-5)

601 Suffolk Ave, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
301-817-0494
http://www.pgcps.org/capitolheights/

TAG Coordinator
Wendy Walton
Wendy.Walton@pgcps.org

Glenarden Woods Elementary
(grades 2-5)

7801 Glenarden Pkwy, Glenarden, MD 20706
301-925-1300
http://www.pgcps.org/glenardenwoods/

TAG Coordinator
Amanda Soto
Amanda.Soto@pgcps.org 

Heather Hills Elementary
(grades 2-5)

12605 Heming Lane, Bowie, MD 20716
301-805-2730
http://www.pgcps.org/heatherhills/

TAG Coordinator
Richard Johnson
Richar2.Johnson@pgcps.org

Longfields Elementary
(grades 2-5)

3300 Newkirk Ave,  Forestville,  MD  20747
301-817-0455
http://www.pgcps.org/longfields/

TAG Coordinator
Erica Bair
Erica.Bair@pgcps.org

Mattaponi Elementary
(grades 2-5)

11701 Duley Station Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
301-599-2442
http://www.pgcps.org/mattaponi/

TAG Coordinator
Amanda Meyer
Amanda.Meyer@pgcps.org

Valley View Elementary
(grades 2-5)

5500 Danby Ave, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
301-749-4350
http://www.pgcps.org/valleyview/

TAG Coordinator
Shawanda Spivey
Shawanda.Spivey@pgcps.org

Middle School TAG Centers and Coordinators

Middle School
Contact Information

Accokeek Academy
(grades 2-8)

14400 Berry Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607
301-203-3200
http://www.pgcps.org/accokeek/

Middle School TAG Coordinator
Tamara Shorter
Tamara.Shorter@pgcps.org

Benjamin Tasker
(grades 6-8)

4901 Collington Road, Bowie, MD 20715
301-805-2660
http://www.pgcps.org/benjamintasker/

TAG Coordinator
Janet Clarke-Green
Janet.Clarke@pgcps.org

Greenbelt Middle
(grades 6-8)

6301 Breezewood Dr, Greenbelt, MD 20770
301-513-5040
http://www.pgcps.org/greenbeltms/

TAG Coordinator (vacant)

Kenmoor Middle
(grades 6-8)

2500 Kenmoor Dr, Landover, MD 20785
301-925-2300
http://www.pgcps.org/kenmoorms/

TAG Coordinator
Beth Novick
BNovick@pgcps.org

Walker Mill Middle
(grades 6-8)

800 Karen Blvd, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
301-808-4055
http://www.pgcps.org/walkermill/

TAG Coordinator
Nadine Gaujean
Nadine.Gaujean@pgcps.org