Where are extracurricular reading and writing classes to learn in MoCo? I am just curious.

My kid was in CES and the experience was really teacher-dependent. We had a wonderful teacher in 4th grade: young, energetic, full of creativity and willing to work with the kids and change up the lessons to meet their needs and interests. Best teacher ever. The 5th grade teacher was absolutely terrible. No engaging or connected lessons, the kids would write essays that were never looked at or graded. Teacher was not good with feedback, even when they were wrong, and got very defensive. It honestly seemed like the teacher was coasting until retirement. That year was a big letdown.

The biggest benefit I saw was the social aspect. Like-minded, highly-motivated, quirky kids all in one class with similar interests. They would egg each other on to write better essays, get higher MAP scores, build better STEM projects, etc. I think they often got more out of each other than from what the teachers taught.

I echo the sentiment that coming from CES to a regular, non-magnet middle school environment was a major letdown. You worked harder in CES, for what really? My kid (an admitted nerd who loves school) doesn't get why most kids around him are goofing off and interrupting the teacher during lessons. Staying motivated in that environment can be a struggle at times.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy people value social network more than intellectual rigor. And, many private school admissions offices value wealthy parents more than the intellectual capacity of their students.

Those two statements mean that while there will be some bright kids in a private school class, there will also be some not very bright students who are there because their parents have a lot of money or are important DC people.

In a CES or MS magnet cohort, the kids are all exceptionally bright. It is an entirely different environment than private when it comes to intellectual challenge and encouragement, which comes as much from the peers as the teachers.

The CES and MS magnets were life-changing for both my kids.

I think you are talking about pre covid CES. Now it’s lottery based not merit, so the kids might not be the exceptionally bright kids..

The kids still need to qualify for the lottery. It’s not free and open to anyone

They only need 85 percentile locally norm to make it to the pool. I would not consider 85 exceptionally bright.

You can game the MAP tests pretty easily by just teaching your kid ahead of their grade level. In fact there are test prep programs that do just that. Which is why I think the sanctimony about letting in the “less bright” kids in the 85 pctile who happen to be in poorer schools is ridiculous. A major factor driving these high scores in wealthier areas is their opportunity for enrichment.

You're just confirming CES lets in “less bright” kids...whether they score 75% (IEP), 85% (Farms) or 99% (enrichment)

Actually they’re not making that confirmation. Their stating that the playings fields are not level and the scoring accounts for that.

+1 Two of the kids I know who got into CES go to a well-known math enrichment program that costs a good amount. They also do kiddie creative writing classes. Are they bright? Absolutely. Would they be 95% rather than 85% without that enrichment and well-resourced parents. Who knows. But I don't think we're talking about a CES full of Young Sheldons here--these are just bright kids who are clearly above grade level.

Well the CES program is not based on math scores so your experience is not super relevant.

Did you miss the part about where they also take extracurricular writing classes?

So if you do CES your child still has to do extracurricular reading and writing classes to learn? Our family doesn't have time for the added commute to school and extracurricular classes on top of that

The point, I think, was that the kids scored high enough to get in *because* of the enrichment classes.

It's much easier to prep for MAP tests than for the IQ-type tests—although people certainly tried to game those in the past, too. Assuming they have a reasonable level of aptitude, kids who have had enrichment beyond their grade level can do well because a lot of what MAP tests at the higher percentiles is based on exposure. The digital exam keeps giving you additional questions, on increasingly advanced concepts, until you miss too many.

With math, exposure is especially key. You can't solve a math question involving exponents if you've never seen one before and have no idea what it means, but if you've been introduced to the idea of squares and cubes, you could make an educated guess.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy people value social network more than intellectual rigor. And, many private school admissions offices value wealthy parents more than the intellectual capacity of their students.

Those two statements mean that while there will be some bright kids in a private school class, there will also be some not very bright students who are there because their parents have a lot of money or are important DC people.

In a CES or MS magnet cohort, the kids are all exceptionally bright. It is an entirely different environment than private when it comes to intellectual challenge and encouragement, which comes as much from the peers as the teachers.

The CES and MS magnets were life-changing for both my kids.

I think you are talking about pre covid CES. Now it’s lottery based not merit, so the kids might not be the exceptionally bright kids..

The kids still need to qualify for the lottery. It’s not free and open to anyone

They only need 85 percentile locally norm to make it to the pool. I would not consider 85 exceptionally bright.

You can game the MAP tests pretty easily by just teaching your kid ahead of their grade level. In fact there are test prep programs that do just that. Which is why I think the sanctimony about letting in the “less bright” kids in the 85 pctile who happen to be in poorer schools is ridiculous. A major factor driving these high scores in wealthier areas is their opportunity for enrichment.

You're just confirming CES lets in “less bright” kids...whether they score 75% (IEP), 85% (Farms) or 99% (enrichment)

Actually they’re not making that confirmation. Their stating that the playings fields are not level and the scoring accounts for that.

+1 Two of the kids I know who got into CES go to a well-known math enrichment program that costs a good amount. They also do kiddie creative writing classes. Are they bright? Absolutely. Would they be 95% rather than 85% without that enrichment and well-resourced parents. Who knows. But I don't think we're talking about a CES full of Young Sheldons here--these are just bright kids who are clearly above grade level.

Well the CES program is not based on math scores so your experience is not super relevant.

Did you miss the part about where they also take extracurricular writing classes?

So if you do CES your child still has to do extracurricular reading and writing classes to learn? Our family doesn't have time for the added commute to school and extracurricular classes on top of that

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy people value social network more than intellectual rigor. And, many private school admissions offices value wealthy parents more than the intellectual capacity of their students.

Those two statements mean that while there will be some bright kids in a private school class, there will also be some not very bright students who are there because their parents have a lot of money or are important DC people.

In a CES or MS magnet cohort, the kids are all exceptionally bright. It is an entirely different environment than private when it comes to intellectual challenge and encouragement, which comes as much from the peers as the teachers.

The CES and MS magnets were life-changing for both my kids.

I think you are talking about pre covid CES. Now it’s lottery based not merit, so the kids might not be the exceptionally bright kids..

The kids still need to qualify for the lottery. It’s not free and open to anyone

They only need 85 percentile locally norm to make it to the pool. I would not consider 85 exceptionally bright.

You can game the MAP tests pretty easily by just teaching your kid ahead of their grade level. In fact there are test prep programs that do just that. Which is why I think the sanctimony about letting in the “less bright” kids in the 85 pctile who happen to be in poorer schools is ridiculous. A major factor driving these high scores in wealthier areas is their opportunity for enrichment.

You're just confirming CES lets in “less bright” kids...whether they score 75% (IEP), 85% (Farms) or 99% (enrichment)

Actually they’re not making that confirmation. Their stating that the playings fields are not level and the scoring accounts for that.

+1 Two of the kids I know who got into CES go to a well-known math enrichment program that costs a good amount. They also do kiddie creative writing classes. Are they bright? Absolutely. Would they be 95% rather than 85% without that enrichment and well-resourced parents. Who knows. But I don't think we're talking about a CES full of Young Sheldons here--these are just bright kids who are clearly above grade level.

Well the CES program is not based on math scores so your experience is not super relevant.

Did you miss the part about where they also take extracurricular writing classes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy people value social network more than intellectual rigor. And, many private school admissions offices value wealthy parents more than the intellectual capacity of their students.

Those two statements mean that while there will be some bright kids in a private school class, there will also be some not very bright students who are there because their parents have a lot of money or are important DC people.

In a CES or MS magnet cohort, the kids are all exceptionally bright. It is an entirely different environment than private when it comes to intellectual challenge and encouragement, which comes as much from the peers as the teachers.

The CES and MS magnets were life-changing for both my kids.

I think you are talking about pre covid CES. Now it’s lottery based not merit, so the kids might not be the exceptionally bright kids..

I agree the cohort has changed somewhat, but the pool of high IQ kids is deep compared to the very few magnet seats available, so I'm sure all the selected kids are still very smart.

They should still give the highest scoring kids a chance.

Meh. It’s not a major difference, even if you have yourself convinced that scoring in the 99 pct on the MAP makes a kid so much smarter than one who scored at the 85 percentile.

Are you saying kids scored 231 (99 percentile) and 210 (85 percentile) on map R are not major difference? Then you should be paid as 85 percent of your salary. It’s not major difference😂

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy people value social network more than intellectual rigor. And, many private school admissions offices value wealthy parents more than the intellectual capacity of their students.

Those two statements mean that while there will be some bright kids in a private school class, there will also be some not very bright students who are there because their parents have a lot of money or are important DC people.

In a CES or MS magnet cohort, the kids are all exceptionally bright. It is an entirely different environment than private when it comes to intellectual challenge and encouragement, which comes as much from the peers as the teachers.

The CES and MS magnets were life-changing for both my kids.

I think you are talking about pre covid CES. Now it’s lottery based not merit, so the kids might not be the exceptionally bright kids..

The kids still need to qualify for the lottery. It’s not free and open to anyone

They only need 85 percentile locally norm to make it to the pool. I would not consider 85 exceptionally bright.

You can game the MAP tests pretty easily by just teaching your kid ahead of their grade level. In fact there are test prep programs that do just that. Which is why I think the sanctimony about letting in the “less bright” kids in the 85 pctile who happen to be in poorer schools is ridiculous. A major factor driving these high scores in wealthier areas is their opportunity for enrichment.

You're just confirming CES lets in “less bright” kids...whether they score 75% (IEP), 85% (Farms) or 99% (enrichment)

Actually they’re not making that confirmation. Their stating that the playings fields are not level and the scoring accounts for that.

+1 Two of the kids I know who got into CES go to a well-known math enrichment program that costs a good amount. They also do kiddie creative writing classes. Are they bright? Absolutely. Would they be 95% rather than 85% without that enrichment and well-resourced parents. Who knows. But I don't think we're talking about a CES full of Young Sheldons here--these are just bright kids who are clearly above grade level.

Well the CES program is not based on math scores so your experience is not super relevant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you talk to parents of kids in the program?
Do you have a private school lined up now and have to accept or decline? Or are you just starting that process now?
Personally, I would try the free CES program and then apply to privates 4th grade year for 5th grade admission. (Or better yet wait until middle school.) But you will have to ask on the private schools forum for schools you are considering whether applying for 4th/5th/6th grade is better

We have a private school lined up. It's not a Big 3 but we feel like it will be good.

LOL then you are a fool financially and academically.

Science and math are subjects to study...

We did CES and then private starting in 6th. Anticipate a tutor for Math no matter how “advanced” your child is now at MCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy people value social network more than intellectual rigor. And, many private school admissions offices value wealthy parents more than the intellectual capacity of their students.

Those two statements mean that while there will be some bright kids in a private school class, there will also be some not very bright students who are there because their parents have a lot of money or are important DC people.

In a CES or MS magnet cohort, the kids are all exceptionally bright. It is an entirely different environment than private when it comes to intellectual challenge and encouragement, which comes as much from the peers as the teachers.

The CES and MS magnets were life-changing for both my kids.

I think you are talking about pre covid CES. Now it’s lottery based not merit, so the kids might not be the exceptionally bright kids..

The kids still need to qualify for the lottery. It’s not free and open to anyone

They only need 85 percentile locally norm to make it to the pool. I would not consider 85 exceptionally bright.

You can game the MAP tests pretty easily by just teaching your kid ahead of their grade level. In fact there are test prep programs that do just that. Which is why I think the sanctimony about letting in the “less bright” kids in the 85 pctile who happen to be in poorer schools is ridiculous. A major factor driving these high scores in wealthier areas is their opportunity for enrichment.

You're just confirming CES lets in “less bright” kids...whether they score 75% (IEP), 85% (Farms) or 99% (enrichment)

Actually they’re not making that confirmation. Their stating that the playings fields are not level and the scoring accounts for that.

+1 Two of the kids I know who got into CES go to a well-known math enrichment program that costs a good amount. They also do kiddie creative writing classes. Are they bright? Absolutely. Would they be 95% rather than 85% without that enrichment and well-resourced parents. Who knows. But I don't think we're talking about a CES full of Young Sheldons here--these are just bright kids who are clearly above grade level.