We got notice about a spot in CES at Piney Branch and would love some feedback (PBES but also generally! We have a lucky lottery kid, as she’s already in an immersion program. She’s an aspiring author and avid reader and so quite interested in the idea of the program, but would lose the immersion spot so decision feels big!

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Today, we were notified that my daughter was offered a spot at Oak View CES. I was surprised bc I expected that eligible students would be offered a chance to join the lottery. I did not expect to get a notice that we won a lottery that we didn’t know we entered. I’m not a fan of this process as I now feel pressured to make a decision (and quickly) when I don’t know enough about the program itself or whether it’s right for my kid.

They usually have an open house before decisions are due.

But if you think it’s even potentially an option for your kid, go ahead and accept. If you change your mind—at any time, before or after school starts—they can go back to their home school, no harm no foul. But it doesn’t work the other way around.

I’m pretty sure we got a message about this process back in January. It was hard to think about then, because it didn’t have specific information about my kid.
There is a lot of information on this site: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/elementary/center-enriched-studies/

Watch the videos- one is about the lottery and review and another is about the CES program.

We are thinking our kid will probably try it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today, we were notified that my daughter was offered a spot at Oak View CES. I was surprised bc I expected that eligible students would be offered a chance to join the lottery. I did not expect to get a notice that we won a lottery that we didn’t know we entered. I’m not a fan of this process as I now feel pressured to make a decision (and quickly) when I don’t know enough about the program itself or whether it’s right for my kid.

I’m the OP and I knew this was coming at some point but it’s weird to get a letter in the mail and literally no other information. I heard last year there was an open house but I don’t know if there will be one this year. It’s just not a lot of information.

We *could* make the logistics work but it would be a pain, particularly because the start time is different from our home school. So it would be great to have more of a sense of how worth it it will be. I will definitely reach out to 4th grade parents at our home school.

This afternoon, I also received an email from the assistant principal of Oak View inviting us to an open house next week.

I also got this email. I knew about the lottery (and MCPS has it somewhere on their site that parent notification was happening this week). I had figured the odds of acceptance were small, so it was a surprise!

I got a notice today that my daughter was offered a spot at Chevy Chase CES. Literally had no idea this lottery was a thing. Very strange to get this seemingly out of the blue and to have to make a quick turn decision. Do people know if Chevy Chase does any kind of open house or informational session?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today, we were notified that my daughter was offered a spot at Oak View CES. I was surprised bc I expected that eligible students would be offered a chance to join the lottery. I did not expect to get a notice that we won a lottery that we didn’t know we entered. I’m not a fan of this process as I now feel pressured to make a decision (and quickly) when I don’t know enough about the program itself or whether it’s right for my kid.

I’m the OP and I knew this was coming at some point but it’s weird to get a letter in the mail and literally no other information. I heard last year there was an open house but I don’t know if there will be one this year. It’s just not a lot of information.

We *could* make the logistics work but it would be a pain, particularly because the start time is different from our home school. So it would be great to have more of a sense of how worth it it will be. I will definitely reach out to 4th grade parents at our home school.

This afternoon, I also received an email from the assistant principal of Oak View inviting us to an open house next week.

Anonymous wrote:Today, we were notified that my daughter was offered a spot at Oak View CES. I was surprised bc I expected that eligible students would be offered a chance to join the lottery. I did not expect to get a notice that we won a lottery that we didn’t know we entered. I’m not a fan of this process as I now feel pressured to make a decision (and quickly) when I don’t know enough about the program itself or whether it’s right for my kid.

I’m the OP and I knew this was coming at some point but it’s weird to get a letter in the mail and literally no other information. I heard last year there was an open house but I don’t know if there will be one this year. It’s just not a lot of information.

We *could* make the logistics work but it would be a pain, particularly because the start time is different from our home school. So it would be great to have more of a sense of how worth it it will be. I will definitely reach out to 4th grade parents at our home school.

We got the letter that my child qualifies but did not get a spot in the lottery at our CES. Would be curious to know how many from our school qualified and how many got lottery spots.

Today, we were notified that my daughter was offered a spot at Oak View CES. I was surprised bc I expected that eligible students would be offered a chance to join the lottery. I did not expect to get a notice that we won a lottery that we didn’t know we entered. I’m not a fan of this process as I now feel pressured to make a decision (and quickly) when I don’t know enough about the program itself or whether it’s right for my kid.

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.

Anonymous wrote:We got the letter today that my DC was given a spot at the CES program at Barnsley. We are relatively happy at our home school all things considered and have not thought all that much about moving. DC is quite bored in class and the enrichment they received during 3rd grade was not that meaningful (not that I blame the teacher, who made an effort despite having some very behind students to help as well). I am not sure how much better that will be at a CES program because supposedly they start having enrichment classes in 4th at the home school. I suspect DC will not want to switch schools because they have a lot of friends and are not big fans of change in general.

Anyone with experience at Barnsley specifically or CES generally have any advice? Either it’s worth the extra logistics (I also have a younger child at the home school) or you tried it and regret it?

Not Barnsley specifically but my child attended the Oak View CES and it was definitely worth it. So I can't compare it to what your DC will get in terms of the enriched literacy curriculum (ELC) at the home school, but I can tell that what they won't get is being in a class with smart peers. This really made a difference and my DC made some great friends from other elementary schools. Also, CES teachers are required to take additional training in teaching enriched curriculum.

Yes, having the other kid at the home school is a bit of a pain, but it depends on how far the CES school is for you - and how close is your local elementary. Our ES is within walking distance so it wasn't too bad for us - the CES kid would walk to our home school to catch the bus, and the local school kid would walk to school a bit later. So a lot will turn on the specific logistics of your situation.

You may also want to speak to any parents of current 4th graders at your home school to find out how the school is implementing ELC. I think it varies.

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...

We got a not selected letter for pine crest. It says he qualified but was not selected.

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?

We got the letter today that my DC was given a spot at the CES program at Barnsley. We are relatively happy at our home school all things considered and have not thought all that much about moving. DC is quite bored in class and the enrichment they received during 3rd grade was not that meaningful (not that I blame the teacher, who made an effort despite having some very behind students to help as well). I am not sure how much better that will be at a CES program because supposedly they start having enrichment classes in 4th at the home school. I suspect DC will not want to switch schools because they have a lot of friends and are not big fans of change in general.

Anyone with experience at Barnsley specifically or CES generally have any advice? Either it’s worth the extra logistics (I also have a younger child at the home school) or you tried it and regret it?