Center for Enriched Studies
at Fox Chapel Elementary School
About The Program
The Center for Enriched Studies at Fox Chapel is a two year program for students in grades four and five. The program is designed for accelerated learners with a reading and writing intensive program.
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Students in the program were selected through an application process that begins in the third grade. This process includes report card and MAP data as well as a test administered in the winter. The program represents elementary schools from 5 different High School clusters located in the northern part of the county. The clusters are: Northwest, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, and Clarksburg.
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Along with seven other regional sites, Fox Chapel implements a curriculum designed by Montgomery County Public School's Office of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction. This particular curriculum includes a literacy component for advanced readers as well as integration into science and social studies curriculum. Fox Chapel also offers the county's Compacted Math curriculum and students are placed in the class based on the recommendations of their third grade Math teacher.
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One unique part of the program is the yearly Gemstone project, where students are asked to synthesize and create a project that epitomizes their studies. The fourth and fifth grade each have a different take on the project. This end of the year activity is an excellent reflection of the learnings that have happened over the year and include research and writing parts in addition to a connection to the arts and sciences.
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We offer two classes in fourth grade and two classes in fifth grade. The teachers work together in a departmentalized situation where there is one teacher who teaches two classes of reading/writing and another who teaches both math classes at each grade. Students also learn science and social studies with other students in the program.
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Teachers plan together both by grade level and as a Center team to discuss curriculum, strategies, and student needs. In addition to the Weekly Red Folder notices from the front office and PTA, teachers will keep the parents informed through newsletters and other announcements. They are available via email.
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Additional information about the county programs can be found here:
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Upon completion of the program, students enroll in the Middle School Humanities and Communications Program at Martin Luther King Middle School, the Middle School Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Program at Roberto Clemente Middle School, Argyle Magnet Middle School for Information Technology, A. Mario Loiederman Magnet School for Creative and Performing Arts, Parkland Magnet School for Aerospace Technology, various middle years programmes, local middle schools, and various private schools in the metropolitan area.