MCPS Center for Enriched Studies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When our kid was in PBES 4th grade CES they were given choices of what books to read

This is interesting. My kid was in 4th Grade CES at Piney Branch, so not sure what this parent is talking about. The kids were not permitted to select any book they wanted (at least not my kid). It is also true that the spelling lists were very different between the two groups as well.

My kid was also in PBES CES for 4th and they had a choice of three books and my kid usually got their #1 choice. In 5th, there was no choice of books and everyone read the same one.
In 4th there were two spelling lists: very difficult and not difficult at all (totally making this up, but think words like pneumonic vs. plywood). In 5th there was no "spelling" but they did some latin thing.

We were part of the large cohort (2 classes) so I wonder if they caved to admit more kids over the summer and then realized that not all could actually handle the CES programming (and why should they...if CES programming is truly challenging and for gifted kids, then ~20% of a grade should not be able to cut it). That certainly seemed to be the case. No offense intended, but an observation based on the conflict and strife that went down the year before last.

My child just finished the 4th grade CES at PBES. They also got to choose from 3 books. They don't have sufficient copies of all books for every kid but in practice, they only didn't get their first choice once. As to the year with two classes, I think that was part of the problem but I think it also had impact on the students not in the program. The standards were reasonably high last year. I knew of one family whose student was rejected with a 98% cogat. The families who I know who were admitted were all 99% across the board.

[Anonymous]

then realized that not all could actually handle the CES programming (and why should they...if CES programming is truly challenging and for gifted kids, then ~20% of a grade should not be able to cut it).

Probably should read the full complaint. It's enlightening. The teacher and principal there should be fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

then realized that not all could actually handle the CES programming (and why should they...if CES programming is truly challenging and for gifted kids, then ~20% of a grade should not be able to cut it).

Probably should read the full complaint. It's enlightening. The teacher and principal there should be fired.

Just give us the link then. I'm not willing to work that hard for my gossip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

then realized that not all could actually handle the CES programming (and why should they...if CES programming is truly challenging and for gifted kids, then ~20% of a grade should not be able to cut it).

Probably should read the full complaint. It's enlightening. The teacher and principal there should be fired.

Link or it didn’t happen.

[Anonymous]

My kid was in the PBES CES the first year there were 2 full classes. One of the teachers was new to CES so I think there might have been some differences between how the two classes were taught and the overall workload. However, after a parent meeting partway through the year the workload was cut back some. I don't think this scandal with the "TPMS CES" is a thing. 5th grade was a dud in comparison (not helped by covid). Distance teaching was non-existent (it was just a 20 minute attendance taking on zoom and then self-guided work for the most part, which took about 30 minutes maximum). Also, the CES is almost entirely white, so definitely something to keep in mind in a majority-minority school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

then realized that not all could actually handle the CES programming (and why should they...if CES programming is truly challenging and for gifted kids, then ~20% of a grade should not be able to cut it).

Probably should read the full complaint. It's enlightening. The teacher and principal there should be fired.

I understand you've read the complaint, but this isn't common knowledge. What are you taking about -- is this an actual court case? Or is there a way to find MCPS complaints online? That seems dicey with FERPA stuff. If you're encouraging people to read something at least provide the link or a way to find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

they got caught lowering the kid's grades in the system

That's horrible. They should fire the Principal at that school.

This didn’t happen.

Agree - this seems pretty out there.

I think this might be the first PP? I remembered this post because it seemed rather...frantic. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/855206.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FWIW DC was in the 4th grade at PBES this year and nothing like this went on. Seems more likely this happened at the fictional TPMS CES program.

.

Actually MCPS didn't deny it, so its with the State of Maryland right now

MCPS didn’t deny that an Asian kid got kicked out of a program that doesn’t exist????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

they got caught lowering the kid's grades in the system

That's horrible. They should fire the Principal at that school.

This didn’t happen.

Agree - this seems pretty out there.

I think this might be the first PP? I remembered this post because it seemed rather...frantic. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/855206.page

Oh, good guess. To which I would say this - admission to the MCPS middle school magnets is, and has always been, a crapshoot. Not only is it extremely competitive, but it's also really hard to predict.

Of all the factors that go into the mix, though, grades seem pretty unimportant and ONE bad grade wasn't going to sink the chances of a kid who otherwise has outstanding test scores (CogAT and MAP).

First PP also reminds me of another poster on here, who had a different complaint but the same "I don't have to tell you the details but just trust that I'm the victim" mentality. I'm going to go back and see if that person has a MS aged kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

then realized that not all could actually handle the CES programming (and why should they...if CES programming is truly challenging and for gifted kids, then ~20% of a grade should not be able to cut it).

Probably should read the full complaint. It's enlightening. The teacher and principal there should be fired.

Link or it didn’t happen.

There is no link because it's more fan fiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

they got caught lowering the kid's grades in the system

That's horrible. They should fire the Principal at that school.

This didn’t happen.

Agree - this seems pretty out there.

I think this might be the first PP? I remembered this post because it seemed rather...frantic. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/855206.page

Ah, yes, makes sense that it's the same person. That thread was delightful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone talk about the culture of Oak View? Esp for 4th grade?

And let me say that I am also very concerned/curious as to how CES will go with remote learning. Since it is likely that at least some of the fall will start that way.

Oak View is great. Strongly recommend. The principal is great and it's just a really well-run school in general. The 4th grade team changed this last year, but the teacher that I know in 4th is amazing, and then one of the previous 4th grade teachers moved to 5th and she's also great. My child had an amazing experience and is off to a great MS experience in part due to the support they got at OVES.

+1. Very happy with our Oak View CES experience. Teachers and staff there are wonderful. It was a challenging program, but not overwhelming for my kid.

Not to derail this - but thank you! So good to hear and a big plus as think about distance learning in the fall.