Maryland's Largest School District
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
About the Centers (Grades 4 and 5) The Centers for Enriched Studies (CES) provide a learning environment for Grade 4 and 5 students that accelerates and extends the MCPS reading language arts curriculum. It is designed to meet the needs of advanced and motivated learners in Language Arts, Social Studies and Science. The program focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
How We Review Students (Grade 3) Every January, MCPS automatically reviews the reading data of all Grade 3 students to identify candidates for this program. Families do not need to apply. We review data the system already has, including:
Outcomes of the Review If a student meets the criteria for literacy enrichment:
Selection Process Students in the candidate pool are eligible. Because space is limited, students are invited through a lottery system.
2025-2026 school year Information
The information above applies to students currently in grade 3 who will be in grade 4 for the 2026-2027 school year
2024-2025 school year Information
The information below from last school year is provided for reference.
*This information is for familes of students who will be in grade 4 for the 2025-2026 school year.
Las 5 cosas principales que debe saber sobre la literatura enriquecida de 4to. grado y CES
The central review process that occurs during Grade 3 is designed to review student academic profiles and identify students who may need literacy enrichment in Grades 4 and 5. Students identified as needing enriched literacy will receive services in their local elementary school or be placed by lottery in one of the Centers for Enriched Studies (CES).
Local and regional elementary school programs offer enriched literacy opportunities that enrich and extend the MCPS curriculum. Students who attend a regional CES program attend this school full time. A student’s home address determines which CES site they are eligible for.
For more information, send an email:
Updated 12/15/2026
There are 9 regional and 4 local Centers for Enriched Studies locations. The location students attend is determined by their home address. Central stop transportation is provided to regional programs.
AdmissionCriteria-based lottery (More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School serves the following attendance areas:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop.
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Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based lottery(More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Chevy Chase Elementary School serves the following attendance areas:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop. |
Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based lottery(More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Clearspring Elementary School serves the following attendance areas:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop.
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Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based lottery(More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Cold Spring Elementary School serves the following attendance areas:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop.
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Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based lottery(More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Drew ES serves the following attendance areas:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop.
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Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based lottery(More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Fox Chapel ES serves the following attendance areas:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop. |
Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based Lottery (More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Mill Creek Towne Elementary School serves the following attendance areas:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop.
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Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based Lottery (More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a selective process. It begins with an automatic review of every Grade 3 student using multiple data points. Students who meet the criteria are placed in a candidate pool. From that pool, admission is determined by a lottery. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Oak View Elementary School serves the following attendance areas: Base High School Clusters:
Specific Elementary Schools:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop.
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Related Information
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AdmissionCriteria-based Lottery (More about admissions)Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process. The process uses multiple criteria and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. RegionRegional (More about regions)Regional centers serve a designated catchment that is based on a geographic area. Your local elementary school can help identify the center to which your home address is assigned. The Center for Enriched Studies at Pine Crest Elementary School serves the following attendance areas: Base High Schools :
Specific Elementary Schools:
TransportationCentral Location Stops (More about transportation)MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Centers for Enriched Studies, parents may need to provide transportation to the central stop.
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Related Information
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The following schools have Centers for Enriched Studies that serve their local population only.
Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a criteria based, centrally managed process. The process uses multiple criteria and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students.