Questions about Richard Montgomery IB program

[Anonymous]

Can someone please explain how it works? I looked at the website, and read a couple old threads on DCUM, but I still have questions.

1. It seem to be a four-year program, where students must test into it in 8th grade, and stick with it through 12th grade. Correct?
2. How do students test in? What are the criteria? I could not find them listed anywhere.
3. How many students are in the program at each grade level?
4. What percentage each RM class are in the IB program?

Any help appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Here is some information:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high/ib.aspx

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/high/HSMagnetBrochureRichardMontgomery.pdf

Application/testing information:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/admissions/applications.aspx

[Anonymous]

I love what I think is the concept behind IB. I love the idea of an international curriculum that's heavy on theories of knowledge (which I assume is something like research methods with a little philosophy thrown in, but here's a problem: I can't really tell).

I have to agree, the IB program description on the RM website is a lot of wordy jargon and colorful octagons.

Every fall each magnet program has an open house. Starting in September, check RM's website for an announcement of when the open house will be. Unfortunately, for us at least, even the open house wasn't very helpful. RM staff kept waving their arms around and saying "we're international!" in really enthusiastic tones. Then there were breakout sessions with monosyllabic IB students. DC was so unimpressed I couldn't even get him to apply (although I tried, hard!) and he's now ensconced in another magnet. Maybe RM has improved the open house presentation in the past year or so? Or go and prepare yourself ahead of time with a lot of focused questions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain how it works? I looked at the website, and read a couple old threads on DCUM, but I still have questions.

1. It seem to be a four-year program, where students must test into it in 8th grade, and stick with it through 12th grade. Correct?
2. How do students test in? What are the criteria? I could not find them listed anywhere.
3. How many students are in the program at each grade level?
4. What percentage each RM class are in the IB program?

Any help appreciated.

My daughter is a rising senior in the IB program at Richard Montgomery; below are my answers to your questions:

1. The IB diploma program is really on two years (11th and 12th grade); the majority of students enter the program in 9th grade (by applying/testing-in during 8th grade) but for the first two years (9th and 10th grade) they are taking Pre-IB courses (i.e., perequisites for IB courses). They usually take Pre-IB courses with MYP (the IB middle years program) who are continuing with that program from Julius West (?) middle school. A number of these students also join the IB program at RM once they apply/are accepted during their 10th grade year (the last year of the MYP program). The overwhelming majority (95%+) of students in the IB program at Richard Montgomery "stick with it through 12th grade" and earn an IB diploma.

2. The application is usually available by the first week of October (on the MCPS website, special programs page) and is due the first week of November. The admissions test is administered the first week of December; you can expect to receive an acceptance/waitpool/rejection letter late February/early March.

3. There are approximately 100 "magnet IB" students per grade (my daughter's class started out with 107 students but had dropped to under 100 students by the start of 10th grade just from families moving out of the county; I'm pretty sure that her class is back over 100 with the addition of students from the MYP program last year/in 11th grade).

4. I'm not sure I understand this question. The IB students make-up about 20% of the school's population -- i.e., there are approximately 500 students in each grade and approximately 100 of them are in the magnet program. As a 9th grader, 4-5 out of 7 classes will be Pre-IB/MYP; as a 10th grader, 6-7 out of 7 classes will be Pre-IB/MYP; as a 11th grader 6-7 out of 7 classes will be IB; and as a 12th grader, 5-7 classes will be IB; basically, once a student has taken the required gym, health, and tech courses, it's pretty much all "magnet courses with magnet students." However, because RM has one lunch period and a wide variety of clubs/extracurricular activities, it has been relatively easy for my daughter to develop close friendships with students who are not in the IB program (although majority of her close friends and even acquaintances are other IB students).

[Anonymous]

http://www.ibo.org/

diploma programme
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/

RM is the only test-in prograh in MCPS. Wherever you go - test in or not- the curriculum/standards are EXACTLY the same. So in open programs, kids who don't feel as though the program is for them will opt out themselves, as it's truly rigorous. In test-in programs, some will opt out, but most have been screened (for lack of a better term). So many high-fliers complete it.

[Anonymous]

program, I meant

Anonymous wrote:http://www.ibo.org/

diploma programme
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/

RM is the only test-in prograh in MCPS. Wherever you go - test in or not- the curriculum/standards are EXACTLY the same. So in open programs, kids who don't feel as though the program is for them will opt out themselves, as it's truly rigorous. In test-in programs, some will opt out, but most have been screened (for lack of a better term). So many high-fliers complete it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.ibo.org/

diploma programme
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/

RM is the only test-in prograh in MCPS. Wherever you go - test in or not- the curriculum/standards are EXACTLY the same. So in open programs, kids who don't feel as though the program is for them will opt out themselves, as it's truly rigorous. In test-in programs, some will opt out, but most have been screened (for lack of a better term). So many high-fliers complete it.

The only test-in IB program, you mean. The Blair science magnet and CAP are also test-in. Other MoCo high schools like BCC have IB programs but you get in with, I believe, just a certain GPA and an expression of interest.

[Anonymous]

yes

for IB, that is

Keep in mind that CAP, however, is only for students in those clusters; some magnets do not pull from the entire county the way RM's IB program does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.ibo.org/

diploma programme
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/

RM is the only test-in prograh in MCPS. Wherever you go - test in or not- the curriculum/standards are EXACTLY the same. So in open programs, kids who don't feel as though the program is for them will opt out themselves, as it's truly rigorous. In test-in programs, some will opt out, but most have been screened (for lack of a better term). So many high-fliers complete it.

The only test-in IB program, you mean. The Blair science magnet and CAP are also test-in. Other MoCo high schools like BCC have IB programs but you get in with, I believe, just a certain GPA and an expression of interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.ibo.org/

diploma programme
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/

RM is the only test-in prograh in MCPS. Wherever you go - test in or not- the curriculum/standards are EXACTLY the same. So in open programs, kids who don't feel as though the program is for them will opt out themselves, as it's truly rigorous. In test-in programs, some will opt out, but most have been screened (for lack of a better term). So many high-fliers complete it.

The only test-in IB program, you mean. The Blair science magnet and CAP are also test-in. Other MoCo high schools like BCC have IB programs but you get in with, I believe, just a certain GPA and an expression of interest.

And just to clarify, BCC's IB is only for kids who are zoned for BCC, it's not a magnet. I think kids at BCC can also do an IB certificate, which is a certain number of IB classes but not the full program. I know some kids there who take a mix of IB and AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Yes, true

Some kids like flexibility to take electives like newspaper. However, the IB program can close kids off to certain electives b/c they need these IB courses as completer courses.

And again, yes - BCC IB is only for those in the cluster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.ibo.org/

diploma programme
http://www.ibo.org/diploma/

RM is the only test-in prograh in MCPS. Wherever you go - test in or not- the curriculum/standards are EXACTLY the same. So in open programs, kids who don't feel as though the program is for them will opt out themselves, as it's truly rigorous. In test-in programs, some will opt out, but most have been screened (for lack of a better term). So many high-fliers complete it.

The only test-in IB program, you mean. The Blair science magnet and CAP are also test-in. Other MoCo high schools like BCC have IB programs but you get in with, I believe, just a certain GPA and an expression of interest.

And just to clarify, BCC's IB is only for kids who are zoned for BCC, it's not a magnet. I think kids at BCC can also do an IB certificate, which is a certain number of IB classes but not the full program. I know some kids there who take a mix of IB and AP classes.

[Anonymous]

2. How do students test in? What are the criteria? I could not find them listed anywhere.

OP here. Thanks for the info. I'm still wondering about admissions criteria. The most info I could find is at this link http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/curriculum/specialprograms/high/HSMagnetBrochureRichardMontgomery.pdf , which just says a little bit. It seems applying 8th graders must be enrolled in Algebra 1, enrolled in the first level of a language class, and have enrolled in at least 2 honors classes at some point. Beyond that, it just says the committee looks at standardized test scores (the NCLB scores?), teacher recs, GPA, and "evidence of motivation." Can someone in a BTDT position please help put some meat on those bones? Do kids generally need to be in the top 5% of their class? Or top 30%? Need a B average? Need to prove you watch Telemundo regularly to show motivation? It all sounds very subjective, and while I'm sure there's room for the committee to make subjective decisions, I'd imagine there also are obvious patterns to an admission profile. TIA.

[Anonymous]

My understanding from other parents whose kids have gone is that it's highly competitive so I would think the top 5% of class, 97th percentile and above on standardized tests, and an A average. It's hard to imagine a B average would be enough.

[Anonymous]

When my eldest was in 8th grade 2 years ago, we were told that they have about 900 applicants for the 100 or so spots. Very competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my eldest was in 8th grade 2 years ago, we were told that they have about 900 applicants for the 100 or so spots. Very competitive.

Yes, it is - in fact, it is more selective than the Blair Math/Science magnet program is.

Very tough to get in.

[Anonymous]

I take Ib my self. Last year in high school. I have enjoyed it! Well if you want the truth Ib is hard but if you actually like to study and learn its the right place for you to go. If your mom is making you go (like most kids) its really not a good place to go!