Special Programs → Middle School Programs

Grade 5 Central Review for Enrichment and Middle School Criteria Programs

The grade 5 central review process looks at school system performance data of grade 5 students in December. Students whose data meet the criteria for enriched and accelerated instruction in middle school are centrally recommended for one or two enriched and accelerated courses at their local middle school and placed in the candidate pool for one or both of the corresponding regional middle school criteria-based programs; the Humanities and Communication program and/or the Math, Science, Computer Science program. It is not necessary for current MCPS students to submit an application for consideration.

Information For the 2024-2025 school year

 2024-2025 Timeline 

• September, 27 2024- Letter explaining the process sent to grade 5 families  (English   español)
• October 21, 2024- Middle School Magnet (Criteria Based) Parent Presentation- streamed on the MCPS Homepage*
  • Upcounty (Roberto Clemente and Martin Luther King Middle Schools)
    English 7:00 pm*  español  8:00 pm*
  • Downcounty (Eastern and Takoma Park Middle Schools)
    English  5:00 pm*  español 6:00 pm*

*Recordings will be posted above on October 22

• December 2024/ January 2025
  • Data collection and review.  No application necessary for current MCPS students.
  • Deadline for private/homeschooled students to submit documents- 12/2/2024 (more information) 
  • Lottery conducted
• Early February 2025 - Parent Notification of Central Review and lottery results
• February 14, 2025 - Deadline to appeal Central Review results

 2024-2025 Resources

• Grade 5 Central Review Process for MS Enrichment Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (Preguntas frecuentes en español)
• Information for private and homeschooled families and those new to MCPS
• Middle School Programs Flyer
• Family letter explaining the Central Review Process  (English   español)

Updated 9/26/2024