The state of Michigan has over 3,000 elementary schools. Gallimore Elementary, home of the TAG program for talented and gifted students, is ranked number one, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Gallimore is also a Magnet school and a National Blue Ribbon School (2017 and 2023), and has flourished under the dynamic leadership of principal Aimee Bell.

“We help gifted learners deepen their understanding and focus,” she said. “Social and emotional supports are also vital for a nurturing environment.”

Currently, the TAG program has 320 students and 12 classroom teachers. However, it started with only 25 students when Dr. Rick Olenchak launched it in November 1977.

Dr. Olenchak is currently a professor of gifted education at Purdue University.

“In 1977, P-CCS wanted me to create a program to help optimize the skills of high-ability kids, but they didn’t have any mechanism to find them,” Olenchak said. “So I created the TAG program at Miller Elementary. Our goal was to spot talent and do something meaningful with it.”

The TAG program currently runs from elementary to middle school.

“TAG grades three to five are at Gallimore and grades six to eight are at East Middle School,” Bell said. “The Park (PCEP) offers acceleration, honors classes, differentiation, the International Baccalaureate program, and other academies.”

Flexible and divergent thinking, endless curiosity and the ability to make faster connections are some of the indicators of giftedness.

“Students here learn at a more accelerated pace,” Bell said. “Having mastered grade-level standards across a variety of disciplines, these students can present as outliers in their general education classroom, which makes it difficult for them to reach their fullest potential.”

How are TAG students discovered?

“The P-CCS District uses the NWEA MAP growth standardized test as a screener,” she said. “It’s given to all students two-to-three times per year. Those who meet eligibility scores in reading and math can choose to take the CogAT cognitive abilities test, which is the qualifying assessment. If students meet the qualifying scores they are invited to join TAG.”

TAG is a specialized experience.

“Gifted learners have many different complexities,” she said. “Give them the structure and the space, and they will exceed your expectations. We have some very creative, out-of-the-box thinkers with tremendous potential who need guidance and encouragement to thrive.”

The developmental trajectory of students with advanced aptitudes is complex.

“Purposeful work goes into helping each child reach their potential, not just purely academics,” Bell said. “We’re developing the whole child. We have groups like Science Olympiad, the Robotics team and the student-led Morning Announcements crew, among others.”

Teacher support is essential to this atmosphere of creative productivity.

“Our classrooms have a loose-tight structure, not lockstep same pace one-size-fits-all,” she said. “We recruit teachers with a growth mindset who keep growing and learning along with the kids.”

TAG remains a topflight sanctuary for high-ability students dedicated to stretching their own boundaries and capabilities via advanced challenges.