DCI or J-R?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

It’s not difficult to get into any needed course at JR…what nonsense is this.

Yup. Categorically untrue.

I have two kids that have gone through the school- neither has had an issue getting into classes they have wanted (one graduated with 12 APs, the other is on track to graduate with 10-11)...having said that, popular classes can be very large so if that is an issue for you/your child, JR might not be a great fit.

You can’t get AP classes until basically junior year. Freshman and sophomore, it’s honors for all which is basically gen ed classes.

The schedule can be a mess and you are put in classes you did not sign up for and then it’s hell trying to change to the right classes.

The AP classes are huge, like 30-35 students.

Again, not true. Plenty of APs for sophomores to take. One of my kids took 2 in 10th grade, the other took 3. Yes, some AP classes are large (some are quite small). Yes, schedules can be a mess and it can take a week or two to straighten that out. If you can't deal with a little inconvenience, J-R is not right for you.

There are not plenty of AP’s as a sophomore. It’s not even a handful and nowhere near any selection and bogus courses

The schedule you want is not easy You don’t get responses in trying to rectify it and kids have to spend hours and days to get anything change. It’s really a sh*tshow.

The anecdotal of a few here is not the representative of the majority of kids especially 9th to 10th. It’s a well known fact among IB families the challenges most kids face every year.

I mean…my kid is a sophomore. Has multiple APs, as do many friends. It wasn’t hard—requested them and got them, no schedule changes needed. My other kid requested one AP as a sophomore and got it (would have requested more but didn’t realize it was an option). In six years, only one of them has had to deal with a schedule change, and it was not a big deal to get it addressed.

Yes, there are some horror stories, but my sense is that those are the exceptions that get a ton of attention. The rule is that most kids get most classes they want/need and can resolve schedule issues with some annoying but not particularly onerous steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know two kids who moved from DCI to JR mid-high school and they say JR is much easier for whatever that is worth. DCI is easier to play a school sport without being a top champion.

What made them move?

And easier to coursework or easier to deal with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been following the college admissions for years now at DCI, and they seem much less impressive than J-R.

If the IB track makes the DCI kids stand out more, why isn’t it translating to top-notch college admissions. How is the college counseling?

Because the kids are either not passing the IB test or the test happens so late after college acceptance that it’s meaningless, of the IB classes are dumbed down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

It’s not difficult to get into any needed course at JR…what nonsense is this.

Yup. Categorically untrue.

I have two kids that have gone through the school- neither has had an issue getting into classes they have wanted (one graduated with 12 APs, the other is on track to graduate with 10-11)...having said that, popular classes can be very large so if that is an issue for you/your child, JR might not be a great fit.

You can’t get AP classes until basically junior year. Freshman and sophomore, it’s honors for all which is basically gen ed classes.

The schedule can be a mess and you are put in classes you did not sign up for and then it’s hell trying to change to the right classes.

The AP classes are huge, like 30-35 students.

Again, not true. Plenty of APs for sophomores to take. One of my kids took 2 in 10th grade, the other took 3. Yes, some AP classes are large (some are quite small). Yes, schedules can be a mess and it can take a week or two to straighten that out. If you can't deal with a little inconvenience, J-R is not right for you.

There are not plenty of AP’s as a sophomore. It’s not even a handful and nowhere near any selection and bogus courses

The schedule you want is not easy You don’t get responses in trying to rectify it and kids have to spend hours and days to get anything change. It’s really a sh*tshow.

The anecdotal of a few here is not the representative of the majority of kids especially 9th to 10th. It’s a well known fact among IB families the challenges most kids face every year.

I mean…my kid is a sophomore. Has multiple APs, as do many friends. It wasn’t hard—requested them and got them, no schedule changes needed. My other kid requested one AP as a sophomore and got it (would have requested more but didn’t realize it was an option). In six years, only one of them has had to deal with a schedule change, and it was not a big deal to get it addressed.

Yes, there are some horror stories, but my sense is that those are the exceptions that get a ton of attention. The rule is that most kids get most classes they want/need and can resolve schedule issues with some annoying but not particularly onerous steps.

You are sugar coating. No APs in 9th grade and you are lucky if you can get into one AP class in sophomore year. The AP CS classes are now off limits unless you are in the IT academy. The quality of AP teachers varies widely as well. And every single year, my kids have had schedule issues that are very difficult to fix because the counseling office tries their best to avoid students for the first month of school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go with DCI hands down if your kid is considering the IB diploma track. Strong writing and critical thinking skills in a comprehensive program. In addition, a mini-thesis that will set him apart when applying to colleges.

Your kid can take some HL exam junior year and get scores. Your kid can take a few AP exams too before applying to college. Yoir kid will stand out and have a much better shot at getting into good colleges if he does well in the diploma program. AP kids are a dime a dozen, not so IB.

JR is definitely way more chaotic, overcrowded, and bigger then DCI. Also it’s very difficult to get into many of the courses needed.

It’s not difficult to get into any needed course at JR…what nonsense is this.

Yup. Categorically untrue.

I have two kids that have gone through the school- neither has had an issue getting into classes they have wanted (one graduated with 12 APs, the other is on track to graduate with 10-11)...having said that, popular classes can be very large so if that is an issue for you/your child, JR might not be a great fit.

You can’t get AP classes until basically junior year. Freshman and sophomore, it’s honors for all which is basically gen ed classes.

The schedule can be a mess and you are put in classes you did not sign up for and then it’s hell trying to change to the right classes.

The AP classes are huge, like 30-35 students.

Again, not true. Plenty of APs for sophomores to take. One of my kids took 2 in 10th grade, the other took 3. Yes, some AP classes are large (some are quite small). Yes, schedules can be a mess and it can take a week or two to straighten that out. If you can't deal with a little inconvenience, J-R is not right for you.

There are not plenty of AP’s as a sophomore. It’s not even a handful and nowhere near any selection and bogus courses

The schedule you want is not easy You don’t get responses in trying to rectify it and kids have to spend hours and days to get anything change. It’s really a sh*tshow.

The anecdotal of a few here is not the representative of the majority of kids especially 9th to 10th. It’s a well known fact among IB families the challenges most kids face every year.

I mean…my kid is a sophomore. Has multiple APs, as do many friends. It wasn’t hard—requested them and got them, no schedule changes needed. My other kid requested one AP as a sophomore and got it (would have requested more but didn’t realize it was an option). In six years, only one of them has had to deal with a schedule change, and it was not a big deal to get it addressed.

Yes, there are some horror stories, but my sense is that those are the exceptions that get a ton of attention. The rule is that most kids get most classes they want/need and can resolve schedule issues with some annoying but not particularly onerous steps.

You are sugar coating. No APs in 9th grade and you are lucky if you can get into one AP class in sophomore year. The AP CS classes are now off limits unless you are in the IT academy. The quality of AP teachers varies widely as well. And every single year, my kids have had schedule issues that are very difficult to fix because the counseling office tries their best to avoid students for the first month of school

I’m not sugar-coating. I’m telling you what my kids’ experience has been and what I’ve heard from them about their friends’ experiences. I don’t know any kids who can’t get AP classes in 10th. I suspect that most kids who multiple APs in 10th are on the accelerated math track (meaning calc or pre-calc in 10th). But my kid who wasn’t on that track still had no problem getting a single AP class in 10th.

And both of my kids have found the quality of AP teaching to be mostly really good (with a couple of exceptions, and even then, not bad).

Sorry your kid has had such a difficult experience.

[Anonymous]

It’s AP for all at JR and the AP courses are dumb down and not comprehensive or that rigorous. The classes are very large which also negatively impacts the class.

About 50% of the kids taking the AP test basically fail it with getting a 1 or 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s AP for all at JR and the AP courses are dumb down and not comprehensive or that rigorous. The classes are very large which also negatively impacts the class.

About 50% of the kids taking the AP test basically fail it with getting a 1 or 2.

There is no AP for all at JR. The former principal tried to push this, but it was rejected by DCPS and never happened.

JR has a 63% AP pass rate which is 2nd highest after Walls (which is expected). That is above the 55% national average.

My kids also have not had any issues getting AP classes in 10th grade. Math and language AP track is straightforward, as well as non-core AP classes like Econ, Psych, Human Geography, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s AP for all at JR and the AP courses are dumb down and not comprehensive or that rigorous. The classes are very large which also negatively impacts the class.

About 50% of the kids taking the AP test basically fail it with getting a 1 or 2.

There is no AP for all at JR. The former principal tried to push this, but it was rejected by DCPS and never happened.

JR has a 63% AP pass rate which is 2nd highest after Walls (which is expected). That is above the 55% national average.

My kids also have not had any issues getting AP classes in 10th grade. Math and language AP track is straightforward, as well as non-core AP classes like Econ, Psych, Human Geography, etc.

It is AP for all. There are absolutely no academic standards needed for kids to take AP courses. Anyone can take AP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s AP for all at JR and the AP courses are dumb down and not comprehensive or that rigorous. The classes are very large which also negatively impacts the class.

About 50% of the kids taking the AP test basically fail it with getting a 1 or 2.

There is no AP for all at JR. The former principal tried to push this, but it was rejected by DCPS and never happened.

JR has a 63% AP pass rate which is 2nd highest after Walls (which is expected). That is above the 55% national average.

My kids also have not had any issues getting AP classes in 10th grade. Math and language AP track is straightforward, as well as non-core AP classes like Econ, Psych, Human Geography, etc.

+1

AP classes are available to all students, but they are opt-in*. So the students who are in those classes want to be there.

*The one exception next year will be pre-calc, which will be offered only at the AP level; this makes sense, as pre-calc curriculum is a bit of a mish-mash, so I understand the argument for going with the AP version for structure/consistency. Will be curious to see if they revert to two levels in subsequent years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s AP for all at JR and the AP courses are dumb down and not comprehensive or that rigorous. The classes are very large which also negatively impacts the class.

About 50% of the kids taking the AP test basically fail it with getting a 1 or 2.

There is no AP for all at JR. The former principal tried to push this, but it was rejected by DCPS and never happened.

JR has a 63% AP pass rate which is 2nd highest after Walls (which is expected). That is above the 55% national average.

My kids also have not had any issues getting AP classes in 10th grade. Math and language AP track is straightforward, as well as non-core AP classes like Econ, Psych, Human Geography, etc.

It is AP for all. There are absolutely no academic standards needed for kids to take AP courses. Anyone can take AP

AP for all means all students take AP classes. That’s not true at JR. Making AP available to any student who wants to take them is a pretty common policy in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s AP for all at JR and the AP courses are dumb down and not comprehensive or that rigorous. The classes are very large which also negatively impacts the class.

About 50% of the kids taking the AP test basically fail it with getting a 1 or 2.

There is no AP for all at JR. The former principal tried to push this, but it was rejected by DCPS and never happened.

JR has a 63% AP pass rate which is 2nd highest after Walls (which is expected). That is above the 55% national average.

My kids also have not had any issues getting AP classes in 10th grade. Math and language AP track is straightforward, as well as non-core AP classes like Econ, Psych, Human Geography, etc.

It is AP for all. There are absolutely no academic standards needed for kids to take AP courses. Anyone can take AP

That's how 95%+ of all public schools work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s AP for all at JR and the AP courses are dumb down and not comprehensive or that rigorous. The classes are very large which also negatively impacts the class.

About 50% of the kids taking the AP test basically fail it with getting a 1 or 2.

There is no AP for all at JR. The former principal tried to push this, but it was rejected by DCPS and never happened.

JR has a 63% AP pass rate which is 2nd highest after Walls (which is expected). That is above the 55% national average.

My kids also have not had any issues getting AP classes in 10th grade. Math and language AP track is straightforward, as well as non-core AP classes like Econ, Psych, Human Geography, etc.

It is AP for all. There are absolutely no academic standards needed for kids to take AP courses. Anyone can take AP

That's how 95%+ of all public schools work.

It is a tough situation because some kids are not ready for AP classes but somehow end up in them. And it is frowned upon for the teacher to suggest that they move down a level

[Anonymous]

OP here: Part of the attraction of J-R over DCI is broader course options, a larger cohort of really engaged kids (but still a very diverse school) and a longer, stronger track record of great college admissions.

Seems like even with some bureaucratic headaches and big-school chaos that generally is true?

Curious to hear more from the person who knew people who attended both schools, and/or what DCI is like in the upper grades (11th and 12th)

Thanks for all of the responses to date.

[Anonymous]

If you already know that your son isn't enthusiastic about DCI, I might choose JR. The main reason that most choose DCI is because they don't currently have access to JR. That said, most kids in this years 8th grade had the opportunity to opt into schools that fed to JR, but parents didn't feel that it was a strong enough reason to leave elementary schools they were happy with.

[Anonymous]

In case this is helpful, these are the instagram accounts where seniors are posting their college decisions:

https://www.instagram.com/dcidecisions2024/

https://www.instagram.com/jacksonreed2024/