Parent Essay critical of DCI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The expectation at any new IB school is that the first few classes will have a pretty small group of students passing the IB exam.

In a way it doesn’t matter because the results come out after college acceptances. Once a class or two of kids go all the way through DCI will probably tweak its program as they will know what the students struggled with in the exam.

Your info on IB testing is seriously dated. For the last decade, IB students have been able to take up to 4 of their 6 subject exams in May of junior year, with the results available for college applications in the fall. It does matter if the college bound in IBD programs are on track to earn the full diploma or not. Moreover strong American IB students commonly double up on the AP exams that overlap with their IB subject exam to have more standardized test results to submit with college applications, This is standard practice in established IBD programs.

Unfortunately, DCI's admins don't seem to have a clue about any of this. The school has never even employed a college counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are CRAZY. Get a grip on reality for all those that expect DCI to be more rigorous, more challenging, yada, yada, yada and comparing it to whatever school.

The school is only 4, let me repeat, FOUR years old. They don’t even have a graduation class yet.

Not only is it a new middle school but ALSO a new high school. So building TWO schools basically.

It’s an IB program which is MUCH more difficult to implement than traditional program.

Lastly, its 1 opinion in a poorly written article from 1 parent - really great sample size of opinion to base judgment. I think some of you need to take statistics 101.

Why don’t all of you downers and criticizers get back to us in at least 4 more years or so.......It’s really unfair to expect and judge a school so soon.

What I will say about DCI is that for a new middle school, the cohort of peer group who are at grade level and above is really good. If it continues to go in an upward trend as it does with the students coming in and a decent IB curriculum, it has the potential to get even better. If you have a majority peer group functioning at or above grade level, there is higher probability that the rigor will also get better.

I have no doubt that DCI will only get better as it matures. However, what is the barrier to providing a more rigorous experience right now? Why can’t the teachers set high standards now? For example, why are students allowed screens in class when they have finished their assignments?

This article has been all over fb pages of my DCI friends; the author is not alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people are CRAZY. Get a grip on reality for all those that expect DCI to be more rigorous, more challenging, yada, yada, yada and comparing it to whatever school.

The school is only 4, let me repeat, FOUR years old. They don’t even have a graduation class yet.

Not only is it a new middle school but ALSO a new high school. So building TWO schools basically.

It’s an IB program which is MUCH more difficult to implement than traditional program.

Lastly, its 1 opinion in a poorly written article from 1 parent - really great sample size of opinion to base judgment. I think some of you need to take statistics 101.

Why don’t all of you downers and criticizers get back to us in at least 4 more years or so.......It’s really unfair to expect and judge a school so soon.

What I will say about DCI is that for a new middle school, the cohort of peer group who are at grade level and above is really good. If it continues to go in an upward trend as it does with the students coming in and a decent IB curriculum, it has the potential to get even better. If you have a majority peer group functioning at or above grade level, there is higher probability that the rigor will also get better.

+1. Our kid is starting K this year at a language immersion. In 6 years, I think DCI has much potential for growth. We really like the IB diploma also rather than AP classes. This is coming from someone who took a bunch of AP classes and got college credit.

DCI is prepping students AP exams now. I know some IB kids take the AP course too but that is being used as a carrot for rising juniors. Maybe more parents get AP or they figure why not since the city will pay for it? But it was a weird thing to hear an IB teacher tout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are CRAZY. Get a grip on reality for all those that expect DCI to be more rigorous, more challenging, yada, yada, yada and comparing it to whatever school.

The school is only 4, let me repeat, FOUR years old. They don’t even have a graduation class yet.

Not only is it a new middle school but ALSO a new high school. So building TWO schools basically.

It’s an IB program which is MUCH more difficult to implement than traditional program.

Lastly, its 1 opinion in a poorly written article from 1 parent - really great sample size of opinion to base judgment. I think some of you need to take statistics 101.

Why don’t all of you downers and criticizers get back to us in at least 4 more years or so.......It’s really unfair to expect and judge a school so soon.

What I will say about DCI is that for a new middle school, the cohort of peer group who are at grade level and above is really good. If it continues to go in an upward trend as it does with the students coming in and a decent IB curriculum, it has the potential to get even better. If you have a majority peer group functioning at or above grade level, there is higher probability that the rigor will also get better.

Fair or not no one holds their criticism. I recall the same derisive was when Latin’s HS is new, and also BASIS. All anyone comments on were the colleges acceptances and whether they are ‘good’ enough and include a couple Ivy’s. DCI isn’t going to get any slack.

If the reason the school improves is because the students who start at 6th are more advantaged...then it isn’t a great school. When DCI is questioned about what they are doing they say ‘we are offering IB for all, not IB for some.’

Serious question: of rising juniors and seniors how many are pursuing IB diploma vs IB career vs standard DC diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are CRAZY. Get a grip on reality for all those that expect DCI to be more rigorous, more challenging, yada, yada, yada and comparing it to whatever school.

The school is only 4, let me repeat, FOUR years old. They don’t even have a graduation class yet.

Not only is it a new middle school but ALSO a new high school. So building TWO schools basically.

It’s an IB program which is MUCH more difficult to implement than traditional program.

Lastly, its 1 opinion in a poorly written article from 1 parent - really great sample size of opinion to base judgment. I think some of you need to take statistics 101.

Why don’t all of you downers and criticizers get back to us in at least 4 more years or so.......It’s really unfair to expect and judge a school so soon.

What I will say about DCI is that for a new middle school, the cohort of peer group who are at grade level and above is really good. If it continues to go in an upward trend as it does with the students coming in and a decent IB curriculum, it has the potential to get even better. If you have a majority peer group functioning at or above grade level, there is higher probability that the rigor will also get better.

The school is definitely older than 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Its first senior class will graduate in 2020. They have been at DCI since 7th grade.

SY 19-20 is their 4th in the WR bldg.

So how many rising seniors took IB exams last year and how many each (referring to a PP who says students can take up to 4 HL in 11th)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its first senior class will graduate in 2020. They have been at DCI since 7th grade.

SY 19-20 is their 4th in the WR bldg.

So how many rising seniors took IB exams last year and how many each (referring to a PP who says students can take up to 4 HL in 11th)?

I am surprised to hear you can sit the exam a year early. Not counting the pp who mentioned that but I seriously wonder how you would be able to actually score well. IB classes build on material over two years. The culmination is the test that is taken over 6 weeks or so. Typically there are 2-3 tests in each subject with everyone around the world sitting for the tests around the same time. The tests are then sent to graders around the world to grade. How can one be tested on material in junior year that you have yet to learn in senior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The expectation at any new IB school is that the first few classes will have a pretty small group of students passing the IB exam.

In a way it doesn’t matter because the results come out after college acceptances. Once a class or two of kids go all the way through DCI will probably tweak its program as they will know what the students struggled with in the exam.

Your info on IB testing is seriously dated. For the last decade, IB students have been able to take up to 4 of their 6 subject exams in May of junior year, with the results available for college applications in the fall. It does matter if the college bound in IBD programs are on track to earn the full diploma or not. Moreover strong American IB students commonly double up on the AP exams that overlap with their IB subject exam to have more standardized test results to submit with college applications, This is standard practice in established IBD programs.

Unfortunately, DCI's admins don't seem to have a clue about any of this. The school has never even employed a college counselor.

It's amazing that there's so much misinformation on the board! The college counselor has been full-time since the oldest students started 10th grade. (https://dcinternationalschool.org/teacher/shannon-jeffries/) And for the previous poster, students can't take 4 out of 6 subject exams in May of their junior year -- that's nonsense. For those who want accurate information, dive in here: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/assessment-and-exams/understanding-ib-assessment/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The expectation at any new IB school is that the first few classes will have a pretty small group of students passing the IB exam.

In a way it doesn’t matter because the results come out after college acceptances. Once a class or two of kids go all the way through DCI will probably tweak its program as they will know what the students struggled with in the exam.

Your info on IB testing is seriously dated. For the last decade, IB students have been able to take up to 4 of their 6 subject exams in May of junior year, with the results available for college applications in the fall. It does matter if the college bound in IBD programs are on track to earn the full diploma or not. Moreover strong American IB students commonly double up on the AP exams that overlap with their IB subject exam to have more standardized test results to submit with college applications, This is standard practice in established IBD programs.

Unfortunately, DCI's admins don't seem to have a clue about any of this. The school has never even employed a college counselor.

It's amazing that there's so much misinformation on the board! The college counselor has been full-time since the oldest students started 10th grade. (https://dcinternationalschool.org/teacher/shannon-jeffries/) And for the previous poster, students can't take 4 out of 6 subject exams in May of their junior year -- that's nonsense. For those who want accurate information, dive in here: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/assessment-and-exams/understanding-ib-assessment/

Thanks for setting the record straight. That didn't sound right to me either, although my experience with the IB diploma tests dates back to 1996.

[Anonymous]

It’s obvious people here don’t know much about IB diploma and it’s requirements at all. It is very difficult to get an IB diploma. I would say if your kid is at grade level and average student, it’s more likely going to be a no. Read up about the requirements rather than be ignorant.

If DCI actually can get 20% of the kids to get it, that’s great for a new school.

[Anonymous]

I have read up about it extensively. I think it’s a great diploma for top students.

My high school offered AP classes of which I took many, got college credit, and got a full 4 year academic scholarship for college.

I would take the IB diploma over just taking AP courses any day. It’s going to take time but if DCI can successfully implement a good IB curriculum from middle to high school, that is a major accomplishment to offer students in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have read up about it extensively. I think it’s a great diploma for top students.

My high school offered AP classes of which I took many, got college credit, and got a full 4 year academic scholarship for college.

I would take the IB diploma over just taking AP courses any day. It’s going to take time but if DCI can successfully implement a good IB curriculum from middle to high school, that is a major accomplishment to offer students in DC.

And for the rest of them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The expectation at any new IB school is that the first few classes will have a pretty small group of students passing the IB exam.

In a way it doesn’t matter because the results come out after college acceptances. Once a class or two of kids go all the way through DCI will probably tweak its program as they will know what the students struggled with in the exam.

Your info on IB testing is seriously dated. For the last decade, IB students have been able to take up to 4 of their 6 subject exams in May of junior year, with the results available for college applications in the fall. It does matter if the college bound in IBD programs are on track to earn the full diploma or not. Moreover strong American IB students commonly double up on the AP exams that overlap with their IB subject exam to have more standardized test results to submit with college applications, This is standard practice in established IBD programs.

Unfortunately, DCI's admins don't seem to have a clue about any of this. The school has never even employed a college counselor.

It's amazing that there's so much misinformation on the board! The college counselor has been full-time since the oldest students started 10th grade. (https://dcinternationalschool.org/teacher/shannon-jeffries/) And for the previous poster, students can't take 4 out of 6 subject exams in May of their junior year -- that's nonsense. For those who want accurate information, dive in here: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/assessment-and-exams/understanding-ib-assessment/

Thanks for setting the record straight. That didn't sound right to me either, although my experience with the IB diploma tests dates back to 1996.

The nonsense is from you, PP. High-powered IBD schools routinely allow student to take exams junior year all around the world and have for some time. My nephew, who's attends a top 10 liberal arts college, took several IBD subject exams junior from his test-in IBD school in FL. He took the remaining three exams in the spring of senior year. The school-within-a-school IBD program he attended has a pass rate of close to 90%. DCI admins just don't the tricks. Geneva IB doesn't get in the way of experience IBD coordinators who make these asks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have read up about it extensively. I think it’s a great diploma for top students.

My high school offered AP classes of which I took many, got college credit, and got a full 4 year academic scholarship for college.

I would take the IB diploma over just taking AP courses any day. It’s going to take time but if DCI can successfully implement a good IB curriculum from middle to high school, that is a major accomplishment to offer students in DC.

If you didn't earn the IB Diploma, or your children haven't, you don't know all that much. IBD is a GT program through and through.

Tough to implement in a school system without formal GT offerings and much academic tracking before HS unless parents supplement extensively and consistently through the years, particularly on the language immersion and writing fronts.

[Anonymous]

The DCI college counselor was a "counseling intern" for half a school year before DCI hired her.

She did work in admissions at UMD-College Park for 2 years.

One counselor for 150-200 juniors and seniors is a very large counselor/student ratio, particularly for a school that no admissions officers will have heard of before. Hopefully, at least 1 more is joining the staff this year.

For comparison, BASIS has 2 counselors for under 100 juniors and seniors. Latin has 2 for about 180.