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Central Review and Centers for Enriched Studies

The grade 3 central review process looks at school system literacy performance data of grade 3 students in January.  Students whose data indicate a need for enriched and accelerated reading language arts instruction are centrally recommended for enriched literacy instruction at their local school and placed in the canidate pool for Centers for Enriched Studies.  It is not necessary for current MCPS students to submit an application for consideration.

The Centers for Enriched Studies provide a learning environment for Grade 4 and Grade 5 students that enriches, accelerates, and extends the MCPS reading language arts curriculum. It is designed to meet the needs of gifted and motivated learners in language arts, science, and social studies. The program focuses on critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills.  Students are invited to the program by lottery from the canidate pool established in the grade 3 central review process. 

Information for the 2024-2025 school year

The process and timeline for the  2024-2025 Grade 3 Central Review Process are currently being finalized.  This page will be updated in early December 2024 with information for the 2024-2025 school year.  The information below provides an overview and timeline of the process from the previous school year.

Information for the 2023-2024 school year*

2023-2024 Resources

Updated information for the 2024-2025 school year will be posted in early December 2024. The information below provides and overview of the timeline and process from the 2023-2024 school year. 

*This information is for familes of grade 3 students who will be in grade 4 for the 2024-2025 school year. 

2023-2024 Timeline

The updated time for the 2024-2025 school year will be posted in early December 2024. The information below provides and overview of the timeline  from the 2023-2024 school year. 

  • January 2024 - Parent Outreach
  • February 2024
    • Data collection and review.  No application necessary for current MCPS students.  
    • Deadline for private/homeschooled students to submit documents - February 26,  2024 (More Information
    • Lottery conducted
  • Week of April 8, 2024 Central Review and Lottery Results sent to families
  • April 16- April 23, 2024 Invited Family Events at CES sites
  • April 26, 2024 - Deadline to appeal Central Review results

Top 5 Things to Know About the Central Review Process and Enriched Literacy in Grades 4 and 5

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 enriched literacy services for Grades 4 and 5.  Students identified as needing enriched literacy services will receive services in their local elementary school, typically through the Enriched Literacy Curriculum (ELC), or be placed by lottery in one of the Centers for Enriched Studies (CES).

Local and regional elementary school programs offer enriched literacy programming that enriches and extends 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.

  1. There is no application or action for MCPS families of Grade 3 students.
  2. The central review will consider student data such as report cards, MAP-R scores (locally normed), student services, and reading level.  
  3. The central review will occur after the close of the Winter MAP Window.  The lottery will occur in mid-March.  Families will receive results letters in early April.
  4. This process is separate from the math course placement process and the Gifted and Talented designation process.
  5. Gifted and Talented designation is not a consideration or requirement for participation in the ELC or the CES lottery process.

For more information, send an email:

  • DCCAPS@mcpsmd.org questions about the central review and the lottery process
  • AEIQuestions@mcpsmd.org questions about the CES curriculum and the GT Identification process

Updated 1/24/2024


CES Program Description

The Centers for Enriched Studies provide a learning environment for Grade 4 and Grade 5 students that enriches, accelerates, and extends the MCPS reading language arts curriculum. It is designed to meet the needs of gifted and motivated learners in language arts, science, and social studies. The program focuses on critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills.

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students.   

Region

Regional (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:

  • Richard Montgomery
  • Rockville
  • Wheaton
  • MSMC Feeder Schools (Brookhaven ES, Georgian Forest ES, Harmony Hills ES, Sargent Shriver ES, Strathmore ES, Viers Mill ES, Weller Road ES, and Wheaton Woods ES) 

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (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

 

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. 


Region

Regional (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:

  • Walt Whitman
  • Bethesda-Chevy Chase
  • Walter Johnson

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

Related Information

 

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. 


Region

Regional (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:

  • Damascus
  • Clarksburg
  • Seneca Valley (Cabin Branch ES, Gibbs ES, and Clarksburg ES)

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

 

Related Information

 

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. 

 


Region

Regional (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:

  • Winston Churchill
  • Thomas S. Wootton

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

 

Related Information

 

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. 

 


Region

Regional (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:

  • James Hubert Blake
  • Paint Branch
  • Springbrook
  • Sherwood

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

 

Related Information

 

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. 


Region

Regional (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:

  • Northwest
  • Poolesville
  • Quince Orchard
  • Seneca Valley
  • Clarksburg (Fox Chapel ES, Daly ES)

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

Related Information

 

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. 

Region

Regional (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:

  • Gaithersburg
  • Magruder
  • Watkins Mill

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

 

Related Information

 

Admission

Application (More about admissions)

Admission to the Centers for Enriched Studies is a competitive criteria based process.  The process uses multiple measures and begins with a central review of all current MCPS Grade 3 students. 

 


Region

Regional (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:

  • Montgomery Blair
  • Albert Einstein
  • John F. Kennedy
  • Northwood

Specific Elementary Schools:

  • East Silver Spring
  • Flora Singer
  • Forest Knolls
  • Highland View
  • Oak View
  • Rolling Terrace
  • Sligo Creek
  • Woodlin

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

 

Related Information

 

Admission

Application (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. 


Region

Regional (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 :

  • Montgomery Blair
  • Albert Einstein
  • John F. Kennedy
  • Northwood

Specific Elementary Schools:

  • Arcola
  • Glen Haven
  • Glenallan
  • Highland
  • Oakland Terrace
  • Pine Crest
  • Rock View
  • Kemp Mill

Transportation

Central Location Stops (limited geographic area) (More about transportation)

MCPS provides transportation from central stops for students in the Elementary Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, from the areas that the programs serve.

 

Related Information

 

Local Programs

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.

 

  • Rachel Carson ES
  • Piney Branch ES
  • Spark M. Matsunaga ES
  • Stonegate ES