Talented and Gifted Program Overview


Highland Park ISD provides an array of learning opportunities that are commensurate with the abilities of talented and gifted (TAG) students and that emphasize content in the four core academic areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. These program options enable TAG students to work together as a group, work with other students, and work independently. Flexible pacing and grouping patterns, as well as independent investigations, are also employed in the four core academic areas to allow students to learn at a pace and level appropriate for the student's abilities and skills.

Parents who are interested in nominating their students for assessment and possible placement in the TAG program must initiate the process by completing a referral packet available at each campus.

No student can be assessed until a parent submits the referral giving written permission for testing.  The referral forms should be submitted to the campus TAG specialist.  Please note that the deadline for submitting kindergarten referrals is October 11, 2013; the deadline for submitting referrals for students in grades 1-11 is December 6, 2013.

Highland Park ISD provides many other opportunities relevant to a student's area of strength. These options for further talent development include Destination Imagination,  Academic Decathlon, National History Day, UIL competitions, Fine Arts Festival, theater productions, science fairs, National Honor Society, Student Council, art exhibits, and community service opportunities.


The TAG program coordinator collaborates with the TAG Advisory Committee which is made up of community members, parents of TAG students, administrators, and TAG Specialists.  The committee members serve in an advisory role and work to increase community awareness of the TAG program.  An annual evaluation of the HPISD TAG Program is based on student growth as determined by testing (standardized and criterion referenced) and/or evaluation of student products. Input from students, teachers, administrators, and parents is gained through conferences and evaluation instruments.


Program Design

Kindergarten and First Grade

The building gifted specialist and the classroom teacher provide differentiated lessons to all first-grade students on a weekly basis.  Lessons include creativity skills, analogies, patterns, syllogisms, tangrams, improvisation, and creative problem solving strategies. Kindergarten and first-grade students identified for Primary Able Learners (PALS) participate in challenging critical thinking activities and centers that build deductive reasoning skills, risk-taking, and analytical thinking.

Grades 2-5

Identified students are served in pull-out programs by campus specialists. The math pull-out program meets daily and provides differentiated curriculum that is advanced.  The Explorations pull-out program meets two hours weekly and provides a science, social studies, and language arts interdisciplinary curriculum.

Grades 6-8

TAG classes offer identified students instruction in the disciplines of language arts, science, social studies, and/or math. These classes offer appropriately differentiated learning experiences as well as an advanced, enriched curriculum.

Grades 9-12

High school classes for identified students fulfill requirements for graduation and include pre-AP TAG classes for ninth graders and AP TAG classes for students in grades eleven and twelve.  Classes offer appropriately differentiated learning experiences, advanced curriculum, and opportunities for enrichment.
Recognized Status

Highland Park ISD received "Recognized" status from the Texas Education Agency. HPISD is only one of six districts in the state to receive this designation over the four years of the DEC+ process. 

Please follow the links below for more information:

For further information, contact Lynda Walker, TAG Coordinator at walkerl@hpisd.org or 214-780-3082