My DD went to the Chevy Chase CES (4th to 5th grade) and greatly benefited from it, OP, particularly in terms of challenging writing assignments and getting used to managing larger projects in science and other topics. It was during Covid, so only half of her 4th grade year was spent in person, sadly. It would have been even better wholly in-person!!! I cannot recommend it enough. The Chevy Chase center is lovely and the teachers are excellent. When your child is in 3rd grade, you will be invited to meetings at your home school and given all the necessary information.
A few additional things:
1. There is no enrichment to speak of before the CES, even though some teachers make an effort to have groups of levels for reading, spelling, etc. It depends on the grade level teams and what they decide to do. You can ask. At Bethesda ES, my kids were in the most advanced reading and spelling groups during years when teachers offered them.
2. CES entry used to depend on results of the Cogat test, given to 3rd graders. However with Covid, I believe MCPS may have done away with it, claiming inequity because some parents prepare their kids intensively for the test and some don't. If they still give it, I encourage you to familiarize your child with the current format (buy the workbook on Amazon) so that they won't feel anxious the day of the test. It is less useful to prepare intensively for the test than it is to have a solid grounding in math, math games, reading and vocabulary!
3. During Covid, MCPS instituted a magnet middle school lottery for the kids that scored well on MAP tests and other indicators. My daughter was in pool, but was not picked out of the lottery for a magnet middle school. As a result, her home middle school has been a regression compared to what her CES offered. It's disappointing for the kids to have that experience, so bear that in mind. I don't know if they expanded the lottery for entry into CES and entry into the high school magnets.
4. If your child does not get into a CES, they can still get accelerated math instruction in their home school's compacted math class for 4th and 5th grade, which sets them up for an accelerated track in middle and high school. I highly recommend you maintain your child's math level so that they are eligible for compacted math. My oldest is a senior in high school and his college applications were bolstered by taking multiple AP courses, including several math ones, which can only be done if you get on the advanced track.
There is nothing to worry about at all, contrary to what PP suggests. But college admissions are so cutthroat these days, you might as well be aware right from the start of various accelerated and magnet programs, so as to make informed decisions for your child.
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