It's a wonderful program. My kids enjoyed it. Nevertheless, your child will be fine without it. Not sure how the new ELA program stacks up.

Not crazy at all. Sounds like your kid is doing well at his home school and that the school is able to offer the enrichment he needs to receive appropriate challenge.

It's not too far away, perhaps 15 minutes, but our current school is practically in our backyard/in our neighborhood. He also has a younger sibling we would have to keep at the home school or ask to switch, which is not preferred.

What would the commute be like?

My kid's in a CES that's a 10 minute drive from our house, so it's not too bad to get there. He didn't really want to go to CES, but also didn't have many close friends from the home school due to being out from Covid. We made him go, and the first year was so-so for him. We liked the main teacher a lot, but he was ambivalent. Second year has been great - he's more engaged and has closer friends. I'm really glad we sent him, and he's looking forward to middle school back with his neighborhood friends -- who he sees around and also in before/after-care.

I really appreciate all of the replies so far. I feel like if there were certain other overwhelming factors the decision would be easier/clearer. If it didn't mean switching schools, it would be more attractive also. My child has been there since k.

Back in the pre-ELC days, I thought it seemed important to send my kid when he got in. Looking back, I don’t think going mattered that much. And now with the ELC option at the home school, I don’t think it would be worth the trouble if my younger child had gotten a spot at the CES and we would’ve declined.

It’s nbd if you don’t send him. But I’m not sure an 8 or 9 year old kid can fully comprehend what he’s deciding between, especially since it’s hard to compare what you know to something you haven’t directly experienced.

Kids have turned down these spots for decades now, you aren't unique. If your kid doesn't want to go, don't send them.

2/4 kids who got in from DC's school declined. It's very common.

Yes, please decline. DC is on the waitlist. More movement is good.

Anonymous wrote:We declined CES for that reason and also the longer commute. Not crazy at all.

+1 Not crazy. If you're at a school you child enjoys and your child is not bored no reason to pull him for two years. Plenty of extremely smart kids at our elementary turned down the CES. Some went to magnet middle schools and high schools and some stayed at their regular school. The outcome is the same.

If your child isn’t bored at school, likes his home school cohort, has good teachers, and will receive enrichment at home school, there’s not really a big benefit. The work would be more challenging, but he’d have a longer commute. My child has been to CES, middle school magnet, and is now at high school magnet. She feels the CES offered the least benefit.

If your child does not want to do it, then no, the pros do not outweigh the cons.

We declined CES for that reason and also the longer commute. Not crazy at all.

Anyone here decline CES as their child was very opposed to leaving their home school? They are offering ELC at the home school for 4th grade so he would be participating in that program if he stays. He does not claim to be bored at school, and he enjoys the school community, as well as the specials teachers at our current school. Compacted math will be available at both places. I know some parents would think it's crazy to turn this down, but my child feels very strongly and I'm not sure the pros outweigh the cons.