RMIB after Eastern - how does the work load compare?

[Anonymous]

I just read some of the old threads about RMIB being terrible for some teens and am worried. If you had a child at Eastern how does the amount of work compare? What about homework? Is it double or more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read some of the old threads about RMIB being terrible for some teens and am worried. If you had a child at Eastern how does the amount of work compare? What about homework? Is it double or more?

+1. I am worried as well, especially with the heavy load in the 11th and 12th grade year when kids also have to deal with testing and college app. From reading their curriculum, the first two years sound pretty great but the later two seems limited to us, both in terms of the kids' ability to select electives and overall free time to be a high school student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read some of the old threads about RMIB being terrible for some teens and am worried. If you had a child at Eastern how does the amount of work compare? What about homework? Is it double or more?

+1. I am worried as well, especially with the heavy load in the 11th and 12th grade year when kids also have to deal with testing and college app. From reading their curriculum, the first two years sound pretty great but the later two seems limited to us, both in terms of the kids' ability to select electives and overall free time to be a high school student.

From what I know, the vast majority of RMIB students have extra curricular activities, at least 2, between school clubs, sports and other outside activities, they do a lot.

But not gonna lie, 11th grade goes up a notch in terms of workload. But, if they can manage it (not procastinating, ie, distracted by the phone, computer games, etc..), it can be managed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read some of the old threads about RMIB being terrible for some teens and am worried. If you had a child at Eastern how does the amount of work compare? What about homework? Is it double or more?

+1. I am worried as well, especially with the heavy load in the 11th and 12th grade year when kids also have to deal with testing and college app. From reading their curriculum, the first two years sound pretty great but the later two seems limited to us, both in terms of the kids' ability to select electives and overall free time to be a high school student.

From what I know, the vast majority of RMIB students have extra curricular activities, at least 2, between school clubs, sports and other outside activities, they do a lot.

But not gonna lie, 11th grade goes up a notch in terms of workload. But, if they can manage it (not procastinating, ie, distracted by the phone, computer games, etc..), it can be managed.

Unlike middle school, there are lots of ways for High School students to take a challenging course load in any MCPS school. There are a ton of APs available everywhere. There are very few students who need the extra-tough curriculum that is IB/SMACs. Don't fool yourself, the higher work load at RBIB starts Freshman year. Yes, lots of students have extracurriculars, but have to manage them more carefully because they have increased work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read some of the old threads about RMIB being terrible for some teens and am worried. If you had a child at Eastern how does the amount of work compare? What about homework? Is it double or more?

+1. I am worried as well, especially with the heavy load in the 11th and 12th grade year when kids also have to deal with testing and college app. From reading their curriculum, the first two years sound pretty great but the later two seems limited to us, both in terms of the kids' ability to select electives and overall free time to be a high school student.

From what I know, the vast majority of RMIB students have extra curricular activities, at least 2, between school clubs, sports and other outside activities, they do a lot.

But not gonna lie, 11th grade goes up a notch in terms of workload. But, if they can manage it (not procastinating, ie, distracted by the phone, computer games, etc..), it can be managed.

Is it possible to do a club like math team and a sport like track? I imagined since sports have practice everyday it would mean you have to quit the team during the season?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read some of the old threads about RMIB being terrible for some teens and am worried. If you had a child at Eastern how does the amount of work compare? What about homework? Is it double or more?

+1. I am worried as well, especially with the heavy load in the 11th and 12th grade year when kids also have to deal with testing and college app. From reading their curriculum, the first two years sound pretty great but the later two seems limited to us, both in terms of the kids' ability to select electives and overall free time to be a high school student.

From what I know, the vast majority of RMIB students have extra curricular activities, at least 2, between school clubs, sports and other outside activities, they do a lot.

But not gonna lie, 11th grade goes up a notch in terms of workload. But, if they can manage it (not procastinating, ie, distracted by the phone, computer games, etc..), it can be managed.

Is it possible to do a club like math team and a sport like track? I imagined since sports have practice everyday it would mean you have to quit the team during the season?

Most school clubs meet during lunch. DC has several friends in IB who do track AND other clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read some of the old threads about RMIB being terrible for some teens and am worried. If you had a child at Eastern how does the amount of work compare? What about homework? Is it double or more?

+1. I am worried as well, especially with the heavy load in the 11th and 12th grade year when kids also have to deal with testing and college app. From reading their curriculum, the first two years sound pretty great but the later two seems limited to us, both in terms of the kids' ability to select electives and overall free time to be a high school student.

From what I know, the vast majority of RMIB students have extra curricular activities, at least 2, between school clubs, sports and other outside activities, they do a lot.

But not gonna lie, 11th grade goes up a notch in terms of workload. But, if they can manage it (not procastinating, ie, distracted by the phone, computer games, etc..), it can be managed.

Unlike middle school, there are lots of ways for High School students to take a challenging course load in any MCPS school. There are a ton of APs available everywhere. There are very few students who need the extra-tough curriculum that is IB/SMACs. Don't fool yourself, the higher work load at RBIB starts Freshman year. Yes, lots of students have extracurriculars, but have to manage them more carefully because they have increased work.

? My kid is a junior in RMIB, started in 9th grade. I'm not kidding myself. I speak from experience. LOL And actually, most of the IB students (if not all) take AP classes, too, like AP BC Calc and APUSH.

[Anonymous]

OP, I always advise parents/students to try it first. If you don't like it, drop out and go back to home school. You can always go back to the homeschool, but not the other way once you make that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I always advise parents/students to try it first. If you don't like it, drop out and go back to home school. You can always go back to the homeschool, but not the other way once you make that decision.

What are the negatives of dropping out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I always advise parents/students to try it first. If you don't like it, drop out and go back to home school. You can always go back to the homeschool, but not the other way once you make that decision.

What are the negatives of dropping out?

Are you just trying to be contrary? Presumably if you are choosing to go back to your home school, it’s not a negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I always advise parents/students to try it first. If you don't like it, drop out and go back to home school. You can always go back to the homeschool, but not the other way once you make that decision.

What are the negatives of dropping out?

Are you just trying to be contrary? Presumably if you are choosing to go back to your home school, it’s not a negative.

The classes in 9th grade have a direct equivalent in the other MCPS high schools. Easiest to transfer at the end of a quarter and finished grades will transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I always advise parents/students to try it first. If you don't like it, drop out and go back to home school. You can always go back to the homeschool, but not the other way once you make that decision.

What are the negatives of dropping out?

Are you just trying to be contrary? Presumably if you are choosing to go back to your home school, it’s not a negative.

The classes in 9th grade have a direct equivalent in the other MCPS high schools. Easiest to transfer at the end of a quarter and finished grades will transfer.

Isn't that also the case for 10th grade?

[Anonymous]

There's no comparison. I've had two kids go through EMS and handle it without breaking a sweat. One of them is a junior at RMIB and the workload is killer. It started ramping up in 9th, got pretty heavy in 10th, and this year has been pretty awful. Kids from her class have transferred out of RMIB -- especially those from further-away locations who had to get on magnet buses at 6 am. Our kid is lucky because we live fairly close to RM, so her bus is a normal time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's no comparison. I've had two kids go through EMS and handle it without breaking a sweat. One of them is a junior at RMIB and the workload is killer. It started ramping up in 9th, got pretty heavy in 10th, and this year has been pretty awful. Kids from her class have transferred out of RMIB -- especially those from further-away locations who had to get on magnet buses at 6 am. Our kid is lucky because we live fairly close to RM, so her bus is a normal time.

Without trying to make new parents nervous. This is a true assessment. My DS gave up his travel soccer team this year. Just impossible to find balance when workload is significant. Thrilled to see so may Juniors and Seniors from IB in Sound of Music last night. They need each other and they need these releases.

To be honest. 9th and 10th was very manageable. This year the workload is a lot. DS says emotionally kids are struggling (mine included). They see the seniors having the added layer of College admissions.

As a parent prepare to give space. Don’t talk about grades. These kids know how and where they’re struggling. They got into the program because they are intelligent. They don’t need us piling on. Just keep telling them you love them.

[Anonymous]

Is it worth it then PPs? Would you do it over again? What is your child getting from the program if it's so stressful? Do you think the learning is that much better or are you doing it for college?