Alex W Spence Talented/Gifted Academy

Alex W. Spence Middle School and TAG Academy has been a great expereince for my sixth grader and has lived up to all my expectations. We love and appreciate our top of the line teachers and staff. Parents.. here is your chance to make a difference. Middle School Children are eager for you to get involved. Your involvement will set an example not only for your child, but others who through you will learn to be active in their communities. Kids need mentors, motivators and examples!! You're it!! Good Luck w/ the TAKS Spence!!
—Submitted by a parent

iM Now an 8th grader at Spence TAG academy &i've been at Spence since the 6th grade. I truly Love this school and i advise parents to have their children go there. The teachers really do care about you and they will try to get you to be successful. the work is hard since you take Pre-AP classes but it's worth it. I chose this school over Travis because you will have a better middle school experience at Spence. I never regretted coming to Spence &im soo sad im at my last year there. I truly suggest considering this school.
—Submitted by a student

It's been one full school year at Spence TAG Academy...with a new 6th grader. It started out very challenging for my child and US.. but I soon learned the teachers are excellent and care about my child in everyway. The TAG students are wonderful, and my child loves this school. We don't do much with the learning center but are involved with FOA, which is a great orgainzation. I always get emails returned from every teacher quickly. The parents don't get involved as much as they should. The children deserve to have parents support. They are doing their part so it would be nice to see the parents do their part and support their kids more. I hope next year gets even better.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately the TAKS scores listed here are not just for the Talented & Gifted Academy kids WITHIN The Alex W Spence School. If the TAKS scores for the Academy kids were separated, you'd see 'Commended' and at or near 100% proficiency on every subject. In fact, these are the kids who are scoring 99th percentile on the ACT as 6th graders when they take the ACT for fun. These kids love to learn, and the teachers love to challenge. I'm very pleased we chose this Talented & Gifted DISD Public School over the other choice!
—Submitted by a parent

I am the parent of a 6th grader at Spence Tag Academy and I am very happy she chose this school. I am so impressed that she is doing her core curriculum coursework at the high school level. She has an incredible selection of arts electives to chose from, including dance, piano, choir, drama and orchestra. Also, I have never met such a professional and dedicated group of teachers. If you are thinking about sending your child to the TAG academy, be aware that the TAG school qualifies for exemplary status based on its test scores. Parents are not always aware of this because for purposes of reporting, the grades are combined with the Spence Learning Center. Go to http://www.spencetag.com/taksscores2008 to see the fantatsic 2008 TAKS results for the TAG school.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a 6th grader at Spence TAG Academy and she loves it. We live in Richardson and I have asked my daughter several times if she wanted to attend Apollo Jr. high next year and she said no. All of her teachers are wonderful and they have no problem with me emailing or texting them when I have a concern. Academically, my daughter is being very challenged and is already doing pre-algebra which is wonderful. She has no problem interacting with any of the students at Spence and that includes the Learning Center. As the old saying goes, 'you can't judge a book by its cover', well that goes for this wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

We chose Spence TAG Academy over Travis for several reasons. 1) Superior in welcoming us, unlike Travis was. The principal, teachers, and other parents were ready and willing to accommodate every question and request we made when researching schools. I was encouraged to call and email them, and still am as a parent. 2) More arts classes than any other DISD Middle School, even the Arts Middle School, Greiner. My son is in an 8th Grade Advanced Piano class as a 6th grader. He'll be able to take French next year 7th grader and receive high school credit for it. 3) Academic contest participation. Spence TAG Academy supports and encourages their students in these endeavors. 4) These smart, responsible, motivated kids represent a real-world mix of people. They come together from their varied backgrounds and form friendships based on mutual respect and love of learning.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attends Spence and we are very happy with the school. My son attended the Winston Science Fair this Saturday and he had a wonderful time. The teachers encourage my son and give him the extra help he needs. The principal and assistant principals are a strict, no-nonsense group, but I believe they care. Just take a look at the school! It's clean and bright. It's a school worth looking into!
—Submitted by Connell Parent, a parent

I believe this school is one of the most violent schools in the district. The school administrators have favorites and also sterotype students. I wouldnt reccomend any one send their child to their school.
—Submitted by a student

My Child attends a w spence and it has been a great influence on her personality and grades.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child attends the Talented & Gifted Academy at Spence and we have been very pleased. There is a lot of interaction with the students who attend the community school which was very important to us. The teachers were exceptional! They were motivated, easily reached, and open to any comments or opinions we had as parents. Our child was involved in sports and drama and thoroughly enjoyed her experience in both. I think communication could have been better in some instances which would have allowed for more parental involvement but overall, we are very pleased with the education our child is receiving at Spence.
—Submitted by a parent

The TAG Program is Great! But there is a Regular sch-class program. Instead of focusing on the TAG Pgrms its missing TLC on the regular students and teachers that deal w/these students. More Learning Field Trips, the same attention the TAG Prmg gets. I've notice the Counsler don't return ph Calls. And they need a Drug/Gang Teen Program. It needs More Parent Envolvement as a positive attitude to get throught that school. Sadly I'm forced to send my daughter there.
—Submitted by elsa tovar, a parent