Talented and Gifted (TAG) Services

TAG SERVICE DESIGN

SSAISD TAG services are designed to provide an academically challenging education for learners who perform or show the potential to perform at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to other learners of the same age, experience, or environment and exhibit high performance capability in an intellectual or creative area and/or excel in a specific academic field.

SSAISD offers a variety of learning experiences and opportunities for Talented/Gifted students in grades K-12 which meet the unique needs of our students.  These services include, but are not limited to, integrating depth and complexity into the curriculum, requiring advanced level products, performances & demonstrations, and allowing identified Gifted/Talented students the opportunity to work with other identified students. 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TAG SERVICES

• Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) are a set of performance standards, curricula, and assessments for differentiating instruction and deepening academic learning. TPSP enhances TAG programs from kindergarten through high school.
• TAG Showcase Events offer our Gifted and Talented students an opportunity to engage in research throughout the school year to further their academic knowledge and to develop and foster research skills.  Once a semester, students have an opportunity to showcase their research at the showcase. 
• Book Studies provide a collaboration between students on a central theme and how it may impact them. 
  • K- Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
  • 1- Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons by Agnes Rosenthiel
  • 2- Captain Awesome to the Rescue by Stan Kirby and George O’Connor
  • 3- Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
  • 4- Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
  • 5- New Kid by Jerry Craft
  • 6 - Rat Saw God by Rob Thomas
• Destination Imagination Competition empowers kids to be the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators. This is the largest international creative problem-solving competition for kids and teens. 
• 90 Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which young filmmakers create weird short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in about a minute and a half. 
• UIL A+ Academics includes 20 different events for grades 2-8. These events span the curriculum and are designed to complement and expand upon what students learn in the classroom.
• Spelling Bees (English and Spanish) help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct language usage that will help them all their lives.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL TAG SERVICES

• Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) are a set of performance standards, curricula, and assessments for differentiating instruction and deepening academic learning. TPSP enhances TAG programs from kindergarten through high school.
• Honors Courses group students with peers of higher ability and motivation, so that enrichment and acceleration can occur.
• Pre-AP Courses allow students to slow down and focus on the most essential and relevant concepts and skills. Across these courses, students experience shared instructional practices and routines that help them develop and strengthen the important critical thinking skills that will help them achieve their full potential.
• UIL A+ Academics includes 20 different events for grades 2-8. These events span the curriculum and are designed to complement and expand upon what students learn in the classroom.
• Destination Imagination Competition empowers kids to be the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators. This is the largest international creative problem-solving competition for kids and teens. 
• Spelling Bees (English and Spanish) help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct language usage that will help them all their lives.
• Middle School Choice Academies (MSCA)
  Talented and Gifted supports the Office of Learning and Innovation with MSCA as well as MESA campuses.

  
  Dwight Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Academy - A Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math choice program focused on connecting students to high-demand jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Students will learn through a combination of project-based and personalized learning.

  
  Kazen Architecture, Construction, and Design Academy - Students will be creative and learn to design and build using state of the art technology while enjoying the Architecture, Construction, and Design Programs.  Architecture, construction, and design are becoming more specialized to meet the needs of the industry, including new design and building methods. Students will learn general design concepts, as well as valuable skills integrating tools and materials through hands-on projects.

  
  Shepard Fine Arts Academy - A choice program inspiring artistically talented students in a lifelong passion for learning, empowering them to achieve academic and artistic excellence. Students will learn through a comprehensive program in dance, music, theater and visual arts and a combination of project-based and personalized learning.

  
  Zamora Health Science Academy - A career-themed choice program focused on connecting students to high-demand jobs in the field of health professions. Students will learn through a combination of project-based and personalized learning.

HIGH SCHOOL TAG SERVICES

• Texas Performance Standards Project (TPSP) are a set of performance standards, curricula, and assessments for differentiating instruction and deepening academic learning. TPSP enhances TAG programs from kindergarten through high school.
• Honors Courses group students with peers of higher ability and motivation, so that enrichment and acceleration can occur. We currently offer:
  • Honors Math 6th
  • Honors Math 7th
  • Honors Math 8th
  • Honors Accelerated 6th+7th Math
  • Honors Accelerated 7th+8th Math
  • Honors Algebra 2
  • Honors Pre-Calculus
  • Honors English Language Arts 6th
  • Honors English Language Arts 7th
  • Honors English Language Arts 8th
  • Honors Spanish
• Pre-AP Courses allow students to slow down and focus on the most essential and relevant concepts and skills. Across these courses, students experience shared instructional practices and routines that help them develop and strengthen the important critical thinking skills that will help them achieve their full potential. We currently offer:
  • Pre-AP Algebra 1
  • Pre-AP Geometry with Statistics
  • Pre-AP English 1
  • Pre-AP English 2
  • Pre-AP Biology
  • Pre-AP Chemistry
  • Pre-AP Visual Arts
• AP Courses are classes developed by the college board to give high school students an introduction to college-level classes and also gain college credit before even graduating high school. We currently offer:
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP World History
  • AP US History
  • AP Government
  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP English Language
  • AP English Literature
  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Computer Science Principles
  • AP Spanish Language
  • AP Spanish Literature
• Academic Decathlon  is to develop and provide academic programming, curriculum, and assessment to promote learning and academic excellence.
• Destination Imagination Competition empowers kids to be the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators. This is the largest international creative problem-solving competition for kids and teens. 
• Spanish Spelling Bees help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct language usage that will help them all their lives.
• Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment
  • Dual Credit courses are courses taught by a college instructor or a South San teacher approved as an adjunct instructor; all curriculum, resources and grades are controlled by the professor/instructor and the college department. The student earns credit for a high school course that is matched to the content of the college course.  Grades for the high school course and college course are typically the same.  Examples include: English, US History, Speech, Culinary, IT, Aerospace, or Construction.
  • Dual Enrollment courses are courses taught by a college instructor who determines all curriculum, resources, and grades for the college course in collaboration with a high school teacher who helps to facilitate the college course and who manages all curriculum, resources and grades for the high school course. Students may have the option to accept or deny the college hours/transcription for the dual enrollment course.  Grades for the high school course may differ from grades for the college course.

    
    South San High Early College Academy - South San Antonio Early College Academy strives to inspire, empower, and educate students through mutual respect to foster ingenuity and compassion through a rigorous, supportive, and safe learning environment centered on high student expectations.
    
    
    South San High Academy of Health Sciences - Through high-quality, rigorous instruction and engaging, real-world educational experiences and internships, the students of the Health Science Academy at South San Antonio High School will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to build a foundation for a successful career in Health Science.
    
    
    West Campus High Early College Academy - West Campus High School Early College Academy strives to inspire, empower, and educate students through mutual respect to foster ingenuity and compassion through a rigorous, supportive, and safe learning environment centered on high student expectations.
    
    
    West Campus Institute of Data Science and Cybersecurity (P-TECH) - Pathway in Technology Early College (P-TECH) is a high school plan that focuses on getting students ready for college and providing opportunities to earn college-level, credit-bearing coursework through Dual Credit classes. Students enrolling in P-TECH’s four- to six-year Cyber Security program as 9th graders can earn industry-based certifications, Level 1 and Level 2 certificates, and/or an associate’s degree or from Palo Alto College; all while completing their high school diploma requirements — at no cost (FREE) to their family.