Barnsley CES

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

Both my kids are in high school now, and they were both offered a spot at Barnsley.

One took it, and the other did not. There were things that were fantastic about Barnsley (peer group, fewer classroom distractions, interesting curriculum & projects, really great specials teachers).

There were also things that were fantastic about 4th & 5th grade at the neighborhood elementary (local playmates, better field trips, fantastic 5th grade project).

I wouldn't say that one was better than the other. There were differenet positives for both.

The Barnsley bus got to our local stop around 8:30 am and dropped off around 4:45 pm. Our kid really enjoyed the very social bus!

We left it up to the kids, and they were happy with their decision.

They've both done well in middle school and high school. Leave it up to your kid!

I think the ones for which a CES is a definite option are those who are struggling socially in ES and who might benefit from new classmates.

[Anonymous]

Is the CES program at Barnsley the same as the Twice Exceptional program, or does Barnsley have both CES and 2E?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can see one addressed to my 3rd grader in USPS informed delivery, but it didn't show up with today's mail. Do they send these out to everyone in the pool or just those who were selected?

I believe the communication goes out to all 3rd graders. We got a notification that my kid didn't meet the criteria to be in the pool, but I'm confused because I double checked all the criteria described and he meets all of them...

Do you know their locally normed map score? I think you can only get it by emailing or calling DCAPPS. At least that’s how was before. If you are at a school with low FARMS it makes a big difference. The local norm only compares to other kids at MCPS schools that are like your school. So your kid could be in the top 15 percent of scores nationwide, but more like the top 25 percent in MCPS schools that are like your school.

Thanks for this question. From what I can tell, the local norm is included on the last MAP report and he's above that (and the requirement is above 85th percentile "or" above local norm). Anyway, I've reached out to see if I can get some clarity on what I'm missing.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,
I was in your position 2 years ago and made a similar post (though a different CES program). In may opinion, it was well worth it. We were able to get a COSA for my younger child so they could both go to the same school.
My child was also bored at our home school. She was very reluctant to leave her friends, but in hindsight is so glad that she did the CES program. She's made great friends and has been consistently challenged by the work. No more boredom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

Both my kids are in high school now, and they were both offered a spot at Barnsley.

One took it, and the other did not. There were things that were fantastic about Barnsley (peer group, fewer classroom distractions, interesting curriculum & projects, really great specials teachers).

There were also things that were fantastic about 4th & 5th grade at the neighborhood elementary (local playmates, better field trips, fantastic 5th grade project).

I wouldn't say that one was better than the other. There were differenet positives for both.

The Barnsley bus got to our local stop around 8:30 am and dropped off around 4:45 pm. Our kid really enjoyed the very social bus!

We left it up to the kids, and they were happy with their decision.

They've both done well in middle school and high school. Leave it up to your kid!

I think the ones for which a CES is a definite option are those who are struggling socially in ES and who might benefit from new classmates.

Thank you SO much for this. I think the hardest thing is to know how 4th at the CES would compare to 4th at our home school. My child is very bored in 3rd but we have been told that they will be eligible for both ELC and compacted math at the home school. So it seems like hopefully they will be less bored at home school as well. Can you talk at all about the 4th grade year at the home school vs the CES?

My child surprised me by being much more interested than I expected. They are very socially aware and had some guesses as to which friends might also be eligible because of the kids she’s been put with since k and always in the special groups with them. However the whole lottery system is confusing and I cautioned them not to run around asking people if they got a letter yesterday! I think if even one friend also went they might be interested. Hard to say. I am thankful they are happy at home school, this truly is a great problem to have.

I am struggling to even figure out the logistics and understand exactly how inconvenient this would be. We would not pursue a transfer for our younger child for very specific reasons so it would definitely mean two schools next year.

[Anonymous]

The CES program in general has gone down hill quite a bit since MCPS lowered the standards for admission. Just keep that in mind when you collect info on the experience of others. If their DC attended CES more than a few years ago, their experience isn't all that relevant to today's CES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The CES program in general has gone down hill quite a bit since MCPS lowered the standards for admission. Just keep that in mind when you collect info on the experience of others. If their DC attended CES more than a few years ago, their experience isn't all that relevant to today's CES.

Ignore this troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

Both my kids are in high school now, and they were both offered a spot at Barnsley.

One took it, and the other did not. There were things that were fantastic about Barnsley (peer group, fewer classroom distractions, interesting curriculum & projects, really great specials teachers).

There were also things that were fantastic about 4th & 5th grade at the neighborhood elementary (local playmates, better field trips, fantastic 5th grade project).

I wouldn't say that one was better than the other. There were differenet positives for both.

The Barnsley bus got to our local stop around 8:30 am and dropped off around 4:45 pm. Our kid really enjoyed the very social bus!

We left it up to the kids, and they were happy with their decision.

They've both done well in middle school and high school. Leave it up to your kid!

I think the ones for which a CES is a definite option are those who are struggling socially in ES and who might benefit from new classmates.

Thank you SO much for this. I think the hardest thing is to know how 4th at the CES would compare to 4th at our home school. My child is very bored in 3rd but we have been told that they will be eligible for both ELC and compacted math at the home school. So it seems like hopefully they will be less bored at home school as well. Can you talk at all about the 4th grade year at the home school vs the CES?

My child surprised me by being much more interested than I expected. They are very socially aware and had some guesses as to which friends might also be eligible because of the kids she’s been put with since k and always in the special groups with them. However the whole lottery system is confusing and I cautioned them not to run around asking people if they got a letter yesterday! I think if even one friend also went they might be interested. Hard to say. I am thankful they are happy at home school, this truly is a great problem to have.

I am struggling to even figure out the logistics and understand exactly how inconvenient this would be. We would not pursue a transfer for our younger child for very specific reasons so it would definitely mean two schools next year.

If it matters, your DC will also be in compacted math at the CES school. The primary difference is ELA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the CES program at Barnsley the same as the Twice Exceptional program, or does Barnsley have both CES and 2E?

Barnsley has both programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the CES program at Barnsley the same as the Twice Exceptional program, or does Barnsley have both CES and 2E?

They have both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the CES program at Barnsley the same as the Twice Exceptional program, or does Barnsley have both CES and 2E?

Barnsley has both programs.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

Both my kids are in high school now, and they were both offered a spot at Barnsley.

One took it, and the other did not. There were things that were fantastic about Barnsley (peer group, fewer classroom distractions, interesting curriculum & projects, really great specials teachers).

There were also things that were fantastic about 4th & 5th grade at the neighborhood elementary (local playmates, better field trips, fantastic 5th grade project).

I wouldn't say that one was better than the other. There were differenet positives for both.

The Barnsley bus got to our local stop around 8:30 am and dropped off around 4:45 pm. Our kid really enjoyed the very social bus!

We left it up to the kids, and they were happy with their decision.

They've both done well in middle school and high school. Leave it up to your kid!

I think the ones for which a CES is a definite option are those who are struggling socially in ES and who might benefit from new classmates.

Thank you SO much for this. I think the hardest thing is to know how 4th at the CES would compare to 4th at our home school. My child is very bored in 3rd but we have been told that they will be eligible for both ELC and compacted math at the home school. So it seems like hopefully they will be less bored at home school as well. Can you talk at all about the 4th grade year at the home school vs the CES?

My child surprised me by being much more interested than I expected. They are very socially aware and had some guesses as to which friends might also be eligible because of the kids she’s been put with since k and always in the special groups with them. However the whole lottery system is confusing and I cautioned them not to run around asking people if they got a letter yesterday! I think if even one friend also went they might be interested. Hard to say. I am thankful they are happy at home school, this truly is a great problem to have.

I am struggling to even figure out the logistics and understand exactly how inconvenient this would be. We would not pursue a transfer for our younger child for very specific reasons so it would definitely mean two schools next year.

4th grade at the home school was fine for my child who stayed. There were definite ELC strengths at Barnsley...they read and wrote more and also performed a modified Shakespeare play. Math was similar in 4th grade due to the compacted option. I believe everyone in the Barnsley class was in compacted math. At the home school, it was a smaller group for math. They had reading groups at the home school.

Being at the home school made it easier to participate in before school/after school activities (chess, math olympiad, run club). My child who went to Barnsley didn't do any before/after school activities due to the logistics. My child who went to the neighborhood also ended up playing outside and riding their bike more with neighborhood kids.

We were lucky that both options were good. It's 4th and 5th grade, so remember the kids are still young, and it's only a 2 school year commitment (either option you choose). I don't feel it affected them academically at our home middle school. Both were more than capable of doing the work. The one who didn't go to Barnsley elected not to go to Eastern or Takoma. The other (who attended Barnsley) wasn't accepted at either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

Both my kids are in high school now, and they were both offered a spot at Barnsley.

One took it, and the other did not. There were things that were fantastic about Barnsley (peer group, fewer classroom distractions, interesting curriculum & projects, really great specials teachers).

There were also things that were fantastic about 4th & 5th grade at the neighborhood elementary (local playmates, better field trips, fantastic 5th grade project).

I wouldn't say that one was better than the other. There were differenet positives for both.

The Barnsley bus got to our local stop around 8:30 am and dropped off around 4:45 pm. Our kid really enjoyed the very social bus!

We left it up to the kids, and they were happy with their decision.

They've both done well in middle school and high school. Leave it up to your kid!

I think the ones for which a CES is a definite option are those who are struggling socially in ES and who might benefit from new classmates.

Thank you SO much for this. I think the hardest thing is to know how 4th at the CES would compare to 4th at our home school. My child is very bored in 3rd but we have been told that they will be eligible for both ELC and compacted math at the home school. So it seems like hopefully they will be less bored at home school as well. Can you talk at all about the 4th grade year at the home school vs the CES?

My child surprised me by being much more interested than I expected. They are very socially aware and had some guesses as to which friends might also be eligible because of the kids she’s been put with since k and always in the special groups with them. However the whole lottery system is confusing and I cautioned them not to run around asking people if they got a letter yesterday! I think if even one friend also went they might be interested. Hard to say. I am thankful they are happy at home school, this truly is a great problem to have.

I am struggling to even figure out the logistics and understand exactly how inconvenient this would be. We would not pursue a transfer for our younger child for very specific reasons so it would definitely mean two schools next year.

4th grade at the home school was fine for my child who stayed. There were definite ELC strengths at Barnsley...they read and wrote more and also performed a modified Shakespeare play. Math was similar in 4th grade due to the compacted option. I believe everyone in the Barnsley class was in compacted math. At the home school, it was a smaller group for math. They had reading groups at the home school.

Being at the home school made it easier to participate in before school/after school activities (chess, math olympiad, run club). My child who went to Barnsley didn't do any before/after school activities due to the logistics. My child who went to the neighborhood also ended up playing outside and riding their bike more with neighborhood kids.

We were lucky that both options were good. It's 4th and 5th grade, so remember the kids are still young, and it's only a 2 school year commitment (either option you choose). I don't feel it affected them academically at our home middle school. Both were more than capable of doing the work. The one who didn't go to Barnsley elected not to go to Eastern or Takoma. The other (who attended Barnsley) wasn't accepted at either.

OP here, this makes a lot of sense, thanks for the insight. My child has a lot of friends now but has had some social issues in the past so having to start over and not having the ability to do activities easily is a big factor. With that said they have been super bored so if we stay at our home school and next year is still not challenging enough I feel I will be kicking myself.

[Anonymous]

Everyone comes to the CES needing to make a new friend group, so socially it starts off as a pretty open environment.

[Anonymous]

My oldest is in the CES right now in 5th grade. Barnsley is his homeschool. I’m also a teacher in the county.

IMO the CES is nothing to write home about. Maybe the enriching experiences have changed since COVID, but to me it felt like a bunch of extra work in an environment of over achieving kids who want that (or whose parents want it). I would not travel for this program.

They also have a 2E program which is an absolute shit show. Barnsley is known for not honoring IEPs; my 6 year old started at Barnsley and is now elsewhere with an IEP that we had to fight for tooth and nail.

I used to sing this school’s praises from the rooftops. Now, the administration and counselors are negligent at best and purposefully harmful at worst. So many parents have had awful experiences, but just keep their heads down or move or apply for a COSA. It’s time to blow the whistle on what was once a truly great school.