CES PBES

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This year - there has been a lot of work - up to 2 hours of homework/night and many angst-filled parent meetings about it. Yes, some fun projects. A lot of writing and reading. An above grade novel about every 3 week with a literary essay (higher expectations than your usual book report) expected after every book.


These are exactly the type of kids that should not be pushed into a CES program. Kids that belong in a CES program are the ones that thrive on intensive writing assignments and love doing them. The kids that belong in the CES program are the ones who would be reading for hours whether it was required homework or not. There are plenty of smart kids that do not thrive on this or want to spend lots of extra time doing academic work. There is nothing wrong with this and for these kids the home school is the best place. Later on the kids may decide that they are more passionate about an academic subject than playing ball and still end up in a magnet.

Too many parents see the CES as a way to get away from the lower performing kids and there is too much pressure on the kids to expand the CES program in certain schools to appease these parental demands. These parents then turn around and complain that the workload is too intensive. If the program reduces the workload and waters down the program to appease them then it really isn't a gifted center anymore.


You know, as a parent of a high energy child who had basically checked out due to lack of interest in class, I would have to disagree with you on this. He does read a lot, way more than any kid at his home school, but he is coming from a school that gave him almost no work at all and the adjustment to a heavier load was pretty rough. Many of the CES kids are very, very high energy and after a long day of working hard in class they really benefit from some time to run around and move. They are only 8! And not all CES kids love the structure of the projects and writing assignments...they would rather be inventing their own projects. Some kind of reasonable balance needs to exist so that they do get enrichment and rigorous assignments at school (which I really love that he gets and he is so much happier and more engaged), but also recognizes that many of these aren’t kids who are bored at home, looking for something to do... they have a long list of things they like to invent and play and figure out. Being bright and needing school enrichment shouldn’t also mean needing to sit on the couch for two hours every night after school at this age.

You're actually making the case that there should be more enrichment in your home school not that your kid should be in a CES program. I agree that MCPS misses the boat on providing an engaging and challenging age appropriate curriculum in the home schools. This doesn't mean though that those kids should be pushed into a GT center and then not enjoy doing the work. If 2.0 wasn't so bad, many parents wouldn't be pushing to get kids into a CES when that isn't the right place for that child.

NP here - it really seems the "HG" part is gone as a defining aspect of the CES. Yes some are there, but really it's now 2/3 of the way towards FCPS AAP.

Parent of high energy child here. Perhaps. Or perhaps some would like it to be a program only for children of parents who feel that kids should do piles of enrichment all day long and weekends, too. You do you. There are clearly some kids who LOVE the homework assignments. I feel we might be hijacking the PBES because he is at a regional center, but the homework issue really is a universal CES issue. But HGC or CES, I suspect he would have been eligible. He was more than off the charts and clearly alone at his home school in ability. Don’t misunderstand. He loves the CES program and enjoys the class and challenges. And can sit well and behave for class. But in my opinion, that is enough. And he is not the only one. Many gifted/bright/whatever you want to call them children are particularly high in energy. That is part of the package. And when they are young, they need time to play and run and be free kids as well as learn a lot at school. The homework has sometimes felt like overkill, and I don’t see why he needs to be doing middle school levels of homework at this age, but overall, we would do CES again in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

+1 Agree with PP. However, there is something off about one PBES class in particular. Interested to see how the Principal handles it.

[Anonymous]

Our kid loved 4th grade CES at PBES last year. There was alot of work, but they went into the program knowing it would be. They loved the books read, the projects, and were at times overwhelmed by the writing requirements, but they adjusted and learned to prioritize. This year in 5th has been very different. Much less work, but less excitement as well. Our kid still says 4th grade, and the teacher who taught the 4th grade program last year, was awesome. I do think the school could be more upfront about the amount of work the kids will be required to do, so the kids and the parents aren't surprised by the amount of work.

[Anonymous]

Its a real shame that PBES has expanded entrance to so many kids that are not really gifted. Now their parents are complaining that the work is too hard and there is too much work. Truly gifted kids need more challenging, intensive work that requires learning how to prioritize. Real gifted kids will go deep without being asked to go deep. The "high energy" kid that is not happy about doing the work is NOT gifted. He may be smart and well rounded and that is perfectly fine but he doesn't belong in a GT program.

The parents of these kids are watering down the program, pressuring the teachers to draw back the level of work to accommodate their kid who shouldn't be there.

The CES at PBES needs to be MUCH smaller so it can focus on being an actual gifted center or it needs to split into two programs. One program for actual gifted kids and one program for "high energy" kids whose parents just want the label but not the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its a real shame that PBES has expanded entrance to so many kids that are not really gifted. Now their parents are complaining that the work is too hard and there is too much work. Truly gifted kids need more challenging, intensive work that requires learning how to prioritize. Real gifted kids will go deep without being asked to go deep. The "high energy" kid that is not happy about doing the work is NOT gifted. He may be smart and well rounded and that is perfectly fine but he doesn't belong in a GT program.

The parents of these kids are watering down the program, pressuring the teachers to draw back the level of work to accommodate their kid who shouldn't be there.

The CES at PBES needs to be MUCH smaller so it can focus on being an actual gifted center or it needs to split into two programs. One program for actual gifted kids and one program for "high energy" kids whose parents just want the label but not the work.

It's one class out of 220 kids in the grade. The thread on the CogAT scores indicated only kids with 99% national were admitted. Parents who reported other scores in the high 90s were wait listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Its a real shame that PBES has expanded entrance to so many kids that are not really gifted. Now their parents are complaining that the work is too hard and there is too much work. Truly gifted kids need more challenging, intensive work that requires learning how to prioritize. Real gifted kids will go deep without being asked to go deep. The "high energy" kid that is not happy about doing the work is NOT gifted. He may be smart and well rounded and that is perfectly fine but he doesn't belong in a GT program.

The parents of these kids are watering down the program, pressuring the teachers to draw back the level of work to accommodate their kid who shouldn't be there.

The CES at PBES needs to be MUCH smaller so it can focus on being an actual gifted center or it needs to split into two programs. One program for actual gifted kids and one program for "high energy" kids whose parents just want the label but not the work.


It's one class out of 220 kids in the grade. The thread on the CogAT scores indicated only kids with 99% national were admitted. Parents who reported other scores in the high 90s were wait listed.

No, there is a document on MCPS shared accountability's section that has lots of data on the CES admits for last year. MCPS has been expanding the magnet seats in schools like PBES and accepting a much lower range of students. My guess is its from parental pressure for more seats. Its gone way too far at PBES. Its a bad cycle too. When you invite the "high energy" kids then even more parents start saying "wait my kid is just as smart as that kid, why weren't we admitted too". At this rate every non below grade level kid is going to end up in CES PBES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its a real shame that PBES has expanded entrance to so many kids that are not really gifted. Now their parents are complaining that the work is too hard and there is too much work. Truly gifted kids need more challenging, intensive work that requires learning how to prioritize. Real gifted kids will go deep without being asked to go deep. The "high energy" kid that is not happy about doing the work is NOT gifted. He may be smart and well rounded and that is perfectly fine but he doesn't belong in a GT program.

The parents of these kids are watering down the program, pressuring the teachers to draw back the level of work to accommodate their kid who shouldn't be there.

The CES at PBES needs to be MUCH smaller so it can focus on being an actual gifted center or it needs to split into two programs. One program for actual gifted kids and one program for "high energy" kids whose parents just want the label but not the work.

It's one class out of 220 kids in the grade. The thread on the CogAT scores indicated only kids with 99% national were admitted. Parents who reported other scores in the high 90s were wait listed.

Thanks for clearing that up.

[Anonymous]

Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.

Parents reported on this board that kids with high 97%+ were waitlisted. The only documented acceptances were 99%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.

Parents reported on this board that kids with high 97%+ were waitlisted. The only documented acceptances were 99%.

My DD who is a current 3rd grader at PBES socred 97% nationally on the CogAT and had 220s on their MAP-R was waitlisted as were other similar children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.


Parents reported on this board that kids with high 97%+ were waitlisted. The only documented acceptances were 99%.

My DD who is a current 3rd grader at PBES socred 97% nationally on the CogAT and had 220s on their MAP-R was waitlisted as were other similar children.

I'm surprised by this. I know kids with much lower stats that got in. 220 on MAPR in 3rd grade is not high. At some schools this is average but its in the high range at PBES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.


Parents reported on this board that kids with high 97%+ were waitlisted. The only documented acceptances were 99%.

My DD who is a current 3rd grader at PBES socred 97% nationally on the CogAT and had 220s on their MAP-R was waitlisted as were other similar children.

I'm surprised by this. I know kids with much lower stats that got in. 220 on MAPR in 3rd grade is not high. At some schools this is average but its in the high range at PBES.

Although it's anecdotal, this aligns with what I know. Three of DC's friends that were invited at PBES all scored 99% on the CogAT and had MAP-Rs in the high 220s. I'm also aware of one of DC's friends who scored 98% on the CogAT and was waitlisted. 75% of DC's reading group that is currently at level X did not make the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.

Parents reported on this board that kids with high 97%+ were waitlisted. The only documented acceptances were 99%.

My DD who is a current 3rd grader at PBES socred 97% nationally on the CogAT and had 220s on their MAP-R was waitlisted as were other similar children.

So now she is in class with the other local kids but with most of the smart middle class kids taken out. That sounds great, lucky you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.

Parents reported on this board that kids with high 97%+ were waitlisted. The only documented acceptances were 99%.

My DD who is a current 3rd grader at PBES socred 97% nationally on the CogAT and had 220s on their MAP-R was waitlisted as were other similar children.

So now she is in class with the other local kids but with most of the smart middle class kids taken out. That sounds great, lucky you

There were many very smart kids who were not invited to the program. Like I posted earlier 75% of DC's third-grade reading group at level X were waitlisted. I have no idea what their test scores are but I do know many children with MAP-R scores in the 220s and 97%+ CogAT scores that were also waitlisted this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm its not accurate at all. The CES PBES has many kids way below the mid 90s.

Parents reported on this board that kids with high 97%+ were waitlisted. The only documented acceptances were 99%.

My DD who is a current 3rd grader at PBES socred 97% nationally on the CogAT and had 220s on their MAP-R was waitlisted as were other similar children.

So now she is in class with the other local kids but with most of the smart middle class kids taken out. That sounds great, lucky you

Are you a PBES parent or an unconnected troll? Seriously, what's your problem? Don't you have a life?