First Badge

For parents and guardians

Free. Safe. Built to get your student certified.

First Badge is a free after-school club at Largo High School. Over twelve weeks, students work in small crews, earn six skill badges, and finish by taking the CompTIA Tech+ industry exam.

The schedule

Mondays and Tuesdays, 2:30–4:00 PM, Room 105. Students who can't attend in person join the same session live on Zoom; the link goes to families by email. Session 1 runs October to January. Session 2 runs late January to April. Every mission is also online for catch-up at home.

What students earn

Six badges, the CompTIA Tech+ credential, and, for students who come back in the spring, Cisco CCST IT Support, which is on Maryland's approved list of industry-recognized credentials.

Who runs it

Two Largo staff sponsors, Mr. Carlton A. James and Ms. Nikia Scott, with trained student Crew Mentors. A staff member is in the room at every meeting.

What we ask of families

Three small things.

  1. Sign the permission slip online (link below), including how your student gets home at 4:00 PM. It takes about two minutes.
  2. Send one short email a week by Thursday at 5:00 PM letting us know you've seen your student's progress. It earns points for their crew.
  3. Cheer them on. Badge Night showcases happen at the end of each session, and you're invited.

Our promises

How we protect your student.

Privacy

Student records stay in PGCPS systems. The First Badge app knows each student only by first initial, last name and class year, plus a 6-digit PIN and the skill card they fill in. It never asks for a student email, phone number or address. Scores are never posted by name; only crew totals are shown. The online permission slip saves directly to Largo High School's PGCPS Google account, and Badge Coach, our AI helper, does not save conversations.

Never a cost to join

First Badge is free, and exam fees are covered. Families may choose to make a voluntary Badge Bank contribution toward exam vouchers through the school, never through this website. A Scholarship Fund covers every student who needs it, and no student is ever treated differently either way.

School rules, every time

Every fundraiser and field trip follows Prince George's County Public Schools procedures and is approved by the principal. All money is handled by the school's financial secretary.

Students first

No individual leaderboards, no pressure to give, and recognition that has no cash value. Every student who shows up gets a crew and a fair shot.

Questions? Reach us directly.

Email either sponsor at their PGCPS address. We answer every message.

Download the parent guide (PDF)

Email the sponsors

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