I find it ironic that the people pushing for more classroom segregation are often the ones talking about mixing the buildings the most. As if the ideas of mixing class rooms are toxic but mixing the buildings provides magic benefits. Or as if putting high achievers off to the side as to not be affected by the plebeians is noble in academics but immoral for SES academics.

Your desire to keep your child untethered is no different than the W’s desire, and poor kids and the education gap could be helped by just mixing kids by age and letting the rest fall where it may. But on the same token we have to be honest that the collective is help back by the weight of the needy and inept.

I think what it comes down to is this - there are kids who are high achievers who are just outside this CES bucket (for whatever reason) and are grossly under-served by MCPS. So what are the options:
1> Expand these CES type programs - unlikely to happen especially with the current school board who are focused on other issues! Serving the top quartile of kids is the LOWEST priority for them.
2> Private School - not an option for many of us!
3> Enrichment at home actively engaging the kids, museum visits, theatre etc. Sure!
But does it need to be more organized? It is very hard for a parent to figure out what level of math/reading/writing supplementing to do by themselves. And so we are back to looking at places like Kumon/Dr Li/ etc etc. Makes me cringe but how else do you get these kids to aim for higher.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CES doesn’t matter if you are happy with the avg peer group at the school. If there is a big difference from the top to the bottom then cross your fingers as that is the only way you can get away with sticking so many (ehemmm) gifted kids in a classroom together and concentrating the ( ehemmm ) not-gifted kids behind.

Don’t worry even though they are separated they are (ehemmm) equal. Oh wait MoCo doesn’t even pretend they are equal. They just pretend the kids they pluck out are smarter

Are you saying the all the kids chosen to go the CES really are not smart? MCPS decided who goes or who doesn’t!

I am saying the gap between those picked and those not picked is over stated. If you have a bunch of kids getting stuff ahead of the curve (presented or naturally) and then a test to see who is ahead of the curve. It is fairly predictable who will be ahead of the curve and that has panned out over the years with those selected to the point the system need to be changed. Also go look at the classrooms and the overall types of kids will be skewed compared to the general population, also not a coincidence. The passionate white middle-class mom screaming for enrichment might not admit that it is a dog whistle but what does anyone here want to bet about what the classroom looks like in here mind when she closes her eyes if she doesn’t get that into it?

Anonymous wrote:CES doesn’t matter if you are happy with the avg peer group at the school. If there is a big difference from the top to the bottom then cross your fingers as that is the only way you can get away with sticking so many (ehemmm) gifted kids in a classroom together and concentrating the ( ehemmm ) not-gifted kids behind.

Don’t worry even though they are separated they are (ehemmm) equal. Oh wait MoCo doesn’t even pretend they are equal. They just pretend the kids they pluck out are smarter

Are you saying the all the kids chosen to go the CES really are not smart? MCPS decided who goes or who doesn’t!

CES doesn’t matter if you are happy with the avg peer group at the school. If there is a big difference from the top to the bottom then cross your fingers as that is the only way you can get away with sticking so many (ehemmm) gifted kids in a classroom together and concentrating the ( ehemmm ) not-gifted kids behind.

Don’t worry even though they are separated they are (ehemmm) equal. Oh wait MoCo doesn’t even pretend they are equal. They just pretend the kids they pluck out are smarter

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For affluent families who can afford other ways of enrichment (private tutors, weekend classes etc), whether CES or not does not make much difference, indeed.

For poor families, it could have a much great impact.

Totally agree.
I strongly support MCPS's move to admit more FARM students and minority students to CES. I think they shall and could do more in the future.

Exactly. The point isn’t that CES is bad. It is that CES isn’t wide spread enough. K and 1st parents should start now to lobby for MCPS to expand the program to each school.

That’s a different point but even more valid: expand the great programs.

If voters want to make the great programs about serving the poor or ESOL kids then they can vote for that. Or vote with their feet.

Anonymous wrote:Teach your kids who didn’t get in to be gracious. DC got in and BF didn’t, and BF kept saying the program was for “nerds” who “don’t have friends.” Really?

Our school all learned the word CRAPSHOOT and SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR. We hope CES can help solve the achievement gap.

My DD heard the same things. That she is a nerd and a weirdo and only 'those' kids go to CES. DD is nothing like that. Highly social has a close group of good and caring friends (who thankfully don't say things like this. While CES isn't something to brag about, it isn't some sort of punishment or a school for the socially deviant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teach your kids who didn’t get in to be gracious. DC got in and BF didn’t, and BF kept saying the program was for “nerds” who “don’t have friends.” Really?

This is so true. You can actually see that in these forums. Parents whose kids didn’t get in bashing the kids who got in. A lot of parents here think their kids are little Einsteins who deserve all the enrichment from a public school system!

It cuts both ways. Take the high road, regardless of your child's situation, and ignore what others say. Teach your kids the same.

Anonymous wrote:Teach your kids who didn’t get in to be gracious. DC got in and BF didn’t, and BF kept saying the program was for “nerds” who “don’t have friends.” Really?

This is so true. You can actually see that in these forums. Parents whose kids didn’t get in bashing the kids who got in. A lot of parents here think their kids are little Einsteins who deserve all the enrichment from a public school system!

Teach your kids who didn’t get in to be gracious. DC got in and BF didn’t, and BF kept saying the program was for “nerds” who “don’t have friends.” Really?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter is very smart, but didn't get into CES either. However, we plan to do our own version of CES at home. There are plenty of home schooling resources available that meet or even exceed what CES teaches. As much as it may be bragging rights, CES doesn't really matter in the long run. Kids can still take AP classes in high school, skip grades if they can test out of the material, etc... Also, there are plenty of coding and robotics camps during the summer, lots and lots of educational toys at a reasonable cost (e.g., robotics kits, game programming tutorials).

The only real difference that I see between CES and non-CES students is that enrichment comes from parents for the latter kids.

If your kid got in, would you still have made the statement that CES doesn’t matter in the long run? The problem with most of you whose kids didn’t get into the the CES is you’re licking each others’ wounds and devaluating the prestige of being in the CES. Do yourselves a huge favor, and teach your kids to give credit where credit is due! The kids who made it to the CES deserve to be praised and uplifted instead of being doubted! To make up stories like some parents pulled strings to get their kids in is just plain stupid!!!

Parents like you are what makes the CES insufferable! Unfortunately, there is one too many parents (and aptly their children) who think like you, and it's just pathetic. Hopefully the apple falls very far away from the tree if you have a child at a CES.

FWIW, I have a child who does pretty well at a CES, but I would never for a second think he is gifted or somehow more deserving of the CES spot than some of his peers at the local school.

I can see the two perspectives here: 1) One parent who suggests that CES means nothing, and 2) One parent who wants to give credit to where credit is due. Both are normal emotions during this time of the year; and oftentimes, that is what most parents do — advocate for their kids. We can all agree to disagree that our view can be biased based on the results of the CES evaluation. What I do not get are parents who question the process and those who create hypotheticals about the process.

You don't get it. There are parents on this board whose kids got into the program and completed it, mine included. I find it laughable that someone is actually labeling it as "prestige".

You also don’t get the angst of the parents whose kids didn’t get in —some even comparing their non-amitted kids as better than others who got in. And you have to understand that every family would look at this differently. From a socioeconomic perspective, cultural, and family dynamics. Some culture sees this as a type of challenge, some families whose members are high achievers may look at this as the norm, and some whose socioeconomic background is less than the average middle class in MoCo, it is an achievement and one that gives them them the feeling of accomplishment and prestige. Not everyone looks at things through your lens!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter is very smart, but didn't get into CES either. However, we plan to do our own version of CES at home. There are plenty of home schooling resources available that meet or even exceed what CES teaches. As much as it may be bragging rights, CES doesn't really matter in the long run. Kids can still take AP classes in high school, skip grades if they can test out of the material, etc... Also, there are plenty of coding and robotics camps during the summer, lots and lots of educational toys at a reasonable cost (e.g., robotics kits, game programming tutorials).

The only real difference that I see between CES and non-CES students is that enrichment comes from parents for the latter kids.

If your kid got in, would you still have made the statement that CES doesn’t matter in the long run? The problem with most of you whose kids didn’t get into the the CES is you’re licking each others’ wounds and devaluating the prestige of being in the CES. Do yourselves a huge favor, and teach your kids to give credit where credit is due! The kids who made it to the CES deserve to be praised and uplifted instead of being doubted! To make up stories like some parents pulled strings to get their kids in is just plain stupid!!!

All kids deserve this, eh?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter is very smart, but didn't get into CES either. However, we plan to do our own version of CES at home. There are plenty of home schooling resources available that meet or even exceed what CES teaches. As much as it may be bragging rights, CES doesn't really matter in the long run. Kids can still take AP classes in high school, skip grades if they can test out of the material, etc... Also, there are plenty of coding and robotics camps during the summer, lots and lots of educational toys at a reasonable cost (e.g., robotics kits, game programming tutorials).

The only real difference that I see between CES and non-CES students is that enrichment comes from parents for the latter kids.

If your kid got in, would you still have made the statement that CES doesn’t matter in the long run? The problem with most of you whose kids didn’t get into the the CES is you’re licking each others’ wounds and devaluating the prestige of being in the CES. Do yourselves a huge favor, and teach your kids to give credit where credit is due! The kids who made it to the CES deserve to be praised and uplifted instead of being doubted! To make up stories like some parents pulled strings to get their kids in is just plain stupid!!!

Parents like you are what makes the CES insufferable! Unfortunately, there is one too many parents (and aptly their children) who think like you, and it's just pathetic. Hopefully the apple falls very far away from the tree if you have a child at a CES.

FWIW, I have a child who does pretty well at a CES, but I would never for a second think he is gifted or somehow more deserving of the CES spot than some of his peers at the local school.

I can see the two perspectives here: 1) One parent who suggests that CES means nothing, and 2) One parent who wants to give credit to where credit is due. Both are normal emotions during this time of the year; and oftentimes, that is what most parents do — advocate for their kids. We can all agree to disagree that our view can be biased based on the results of the CES evaluation. What I do not get are parents who question the process and those who create hypotheticals about the process.

You don't get it. There are parents on this board whose kids got into the program and completed it, mine included. I find it laughable that someone is actually labeling it as "prestige".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter is very smart, but didn't get into CES either. However, we plan to do our own version of CES at home. There are plenty of home schooling resources available that meet or even exceed what CES teaches. As much as it may be bragging rights, CES doesn't really matter in the long run. Kids can still take AP classes in high school, skip grades if they can test out of the material, etc... Also, there are plenty of coding and robotics camps during the summer, lots and lots of educational toys at a reasonable cost (e.g., robotics kits, game programming tutorials).

The only real difference that I see between CES and non-CES students is that enrichment comes from parents for the latter kids.

If your kid got in, would you still have made the statement that CES doesn’t matter in the long run? The problem with most of you whose kids didn’t get into the the CES is you’re licking each others’ wounds and devaluating the prestige of being in the CES. Do yourselves a huge favor, and teach your kids to give credit where credit is due! The kids who made it to the CES deserve to be praised and uplifted instead of being doubted! To make up stories like some parents pulled strings to get their kids in is just plain stupid!!!

My kid got in (and is attending). I don't think it will make much, if any, difference in the long run. It's fine and might be marginally better than the neighborhood school (not even positive on that). But let's be real here -- it's fourth grade.