55 out of 10GreatSchools

Alex W Spence Talented/Gifted Academy

Dallas, TX
  • Public
  • |
  • Grades 6-8
  • |
  • Enrollment: 735

Overview

Alex W Spence Talented/Gifted Academy
4001 Capitol Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204
(972) 925-2300
Alex W Spence Talented/Gifted Academy is located in Dallas, TX and serves grades 6-8.It received a GreatSchool rating of 5 out of 10
This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Student Diversity

Race

Percentage

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0%
Two or more races
1%
Native American
1%
Asian
3%
White
6%
Black
24%
Hispanic
67%

Reviews11 Reviews

4.0
parent
My child, who scored in the top 1% on the STAAR test, was excited about going to Spence. The TAG Coordinator portrayed it as such an amazing school, but the reality was much different. The school-within-a-school idea is terrible. It’s supposedly the best of both worlds for participating in extracurriculars, but the reality is that DISD didn’t want to build a new TAG academy, so they tried to combine it with a failing community school. The TAG students wear different uniforms than the community students, making them easy targets for bullies who resent them being there in the first place. The biggest problem we experienced was how the school treats students with disabilities. Usually, 504/ILP meetings are conducted at the start of every school year, so teachers know what the accommodations are & can follow them. Spence didn’t conduct a 504 meeting until I insisted & none of the teachers were aware of any accommodations until I gave them a list. But it didn’t matter since they refused to follow them anyway. We witnessed this same treatment given to other students with disabilities. I got the impression the TAG teachers felt disabled students were a waste of time. When I requested meetings with the faculty, it just made things worse. Teachers failed to show up for parent/teacher conferences & the few who did attend only did so to repeatedly tell me how all the problems had nothing to do with them or the school. When I wouldn’t stop trying to get help, the school began saying my child was a “discipline problem.” Previously, the only issue my child had ever had was talking too much in class. But Spence accusations ranged from insubordination to fighting. This is a common ploy to keep 504 numbers down & probably why Spence has such a high suspension rate. The one saving grace was the school’s counselor. She was caring person who let my child hide in her office when the situation became too overwhelming. On the day I withdrew my child from Spence, she told me how glad she was not to have to watch Spence destroy another sensitive kid. So, if your child is gifted, has no disabilities, can tolerate bullying & doesn’t require any help from the faculty or staff, Spence might be a good fit. If not, avoid this school & save yourself the heartache.
parent
I am a parent of a 6th grade TAG student. I had high hopes for this school, but am realizing many issues. They have no text books so when my student comes home to do homework, there is nothing to reference which makes it difficult to help when help is needed. Parents are 100% relying on the parent portal to keep tabs on grades and progress and little to no communication comes home form the school or teachers. It's difficult to get information from anyone. The first parent conference I had I almost left in tears because the teachers were accusatory in their tone towards me regarding my student's school habits and took offense when I asked questions regarding their teaching habits. There also seems to be animosity between the TAG kids and the community kids which causes a lot of problems. From the stories I am told, the community kids resent the TAG kids and single them out antagonistically in some cases. Two incidents directed at my student specifically have me considering looking at other schools for next year. I'm not really feeling like the TAG program here is what it's hyped to be. My student could do just as well in the GT program at Franklin Middle School.
other
I love this school it has helped me to be ready for high school and help manage my time with the extra curricular activities this is my last year in spence and I will miss all my teachers and the staff for all their hard work and support
parent
One of the best schools in the Dallas area. The teachers are dedicated and really love working with the students. Unlike some of the magnet schools in Dallas, it is part of a neighborhood middle school so the students have access to all the sports, music, and clubs that a traditional school has to offer. My son was academically challenged and loved going to school. I had ample opportunity to get involved in things going on at school. They went on 5 field trips each year, there is a parent organization that supports the TAG program and regular PTA. We had a great experience!
Showing 4 of 11 Reviews