+1 CES teachers are really great. The program is so much more interesting than what was offered at the home school. Another point missing in CES-related discussions is the learning that's possible when the teacher's time is no longer diverted by the bottom half of the class. A CES class (even with a child who scored in the 69th percentile per PP) can move much faster and cover more depth than a non-CES class with a much wider range of student abilities. On the other hand, there is something to be said for the social-emotional learning that can take place in a more diverse classroom. I wouldn't discount the advantages of attending a CES program, but it's not a clear cut choice either.

The principal at Barnsley sucks but the CES teachers are great.

Just putting out a different perspective. My child was in Barnsley CES after covid started and really thrived. Stopped getting teased for being smart at the local school, made a great group of friends, and loved the projects and more challenging assignments. I hope families don't count out the CES program because of this thread.

OP here and I really appreciate the responses. We are pretty much decided on turning down the spot because the additional logistics just don’t seem merited based on what we have learned about the program. But maybe we will regret it…