Can you tell me more about the Magnet Program and TAD Program for grades 3-5?

Q: Can you explain the difference between the Magnet Program and the TAD (Thinking and Doing) Program? Is admission to one program required to get into the other?

A: No. Students may qualify for both. However, the decision to participate in one or the other ( or both) is up to the parents.

The purpose of the Magnet Program is to provide a challenging program of study through extension, enrichment and acceleration of curriculum for those students identified as high achievers. The program goals also include the development of appropriate work habits, responsibilities and independence. The learning environment has been designed to meet the needs of our high achievers in grades 3 through 5 in regional centers at both Pemberton and North Salisbury elementary schools. Magnet criteria includes: a score of 85th percentile and above on their standardized tests, a GPA of 3.7 and above in reading and math, and teacher recommendation. Parents and students are advised in the spring of eligibility for Magnet.

TAD (Thinking and Doing) is a different instructional program for academically gifted students in the third through fifth grades. Identified students meet one class per six-day cycle with an itinerant TAD teacher. The units of study provide opportunities for the students to develop proficiency in concepts and skills of the regular curriculum while providing content, instructional strategies and settings for learning that may be unique for gifted students. TAD criteria includes: a performance of 90th percentile or above on their standardized tests, a cognitive score of 125 and above, and teacher recommendation.