Marshall HS 9th Grade Open House

[Anonymous]

Has anyone gone today? What were your impressions? What were your kids' thoughts?

My DS left with "I don't want to go here"

[Anonymous]

Why did your DS think that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone gone today? What were your impressions? What were your kids' thoughts?

My DS left with "I don't want to go here"

I hope you responded as a strong parent with “oh don’t worry, everyone feels like this before high school. It’s going to be fine!”

Marshall is a good school with something for everyone. They’ll be just fine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did your DS think that?

In his words, "all these teachers cared about were IB classes. That's all they wanted to talk about'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did your DS think that?

In his words, "all these teachers cared about were IB classes. That's all they wanted to talk about'

This is the time of year (through May 1) to look into pupil placements if you don’t think he’s going to be interested in IB. Are most of his friends going to Marshall or Madison?

[Anonymous]

I too didn’t like the so called presentations. If a student is not planning on IB, the bar is set pretty low. I also stopped by their special education team and I’m sad. They don’t know how to work with 2E students. Getting an IEP student to community college is their crowning achievement.

[Anonymous]

All of these presentations should've been online. Save people time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of these presentations should've been online. Save people time.

They have some presentations online, though it’s not as comprehensive as at some other schools with respect to the courses 9th graders take.

https://marshallhs.fcps.edu/node/7630

[Anonymous]

We're not at that stage yet (doing MS orientation), but I'm already curious about the IB options. From what I understand, there are one of three options:

1. Full IB diploma
2. General diploma with elective IB classes (similar to AP)
3. General diploma (no IB classes)

Is this correct? If so, I already know that #3 isn't for us, so I'd be more curious to learn about the distinctions between 1 and 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're not at that stage yet (doing MS orientation), but I'm already curious about the IB options. From what I understand, there are one of three options:

1. Full IB diploma
2. General diploma with elective IB classes (similar to AP)
3. General diploma (no IB classes)

Is this correct? If so, I already know that #3 isn't for us, so I'd be more curious to learn about the distinctions between 1 and 2.

Your language is slightly off. FCPS offers a Standard diploma, an Advanced Studies diploma, and an Applied Studies diploma: https://www.fcps.edu/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/first-time-ninth-2018-19

An IB diploma isn't offered by FCPS but by the IBO through the IB program offered at Marshall and some schools. The full IB diploma is comparable to taking multiple AP courses in different subject areas at schools that offer AP rather than IB.

[Anonymous]

Was there any discussion at the open house about the Marshall Academy offerings and what course options may be available within the Academy for students interested in STEM? Just curious since there's not a lot of information on the website. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was there any discussion at the open house about the Marshall Academy offerings and what course options may be available within the Academy for students interested in STEM? Just curious since there's not a lot of information on the website. Thanks.

Marshall Academy has its own web page: https://marshallacademy.fcps.edu/

We didn't see anything that really appealed to us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was there any discussion at the open house about the Marshall Academy offerings and what course options may be available within the Academy for students interested in STEM? Just curious since there's not a lot of information on the website. Thanks.

No discussion whatsoever. Some videos posted on the website. My DS is interested in STEM and Cyber, so he was disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too didn’t like the so called presentations. If a student is not planning on IB, the bar is set pretty low. I also stopped by their special education team and I’m sad. They don’t know how to work with 2E students. Getting an IEP student to community college is their crowning achievement.

2E is not new, teachers know how to assist those students. Plenty of 2E kids go onto 4-year colleges. I suspect they said one thing and it gave you a bad impression for the whole entire department.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I too didn’t like the so called presentations. If a student is not planning on IB, the bar is set pretty low. I also stopped by their special education team and I’m sad. They don’t know how to work with 2E students. Getting an IEP student to community college is their crowning achievement.

2E is not new, teachers know how to assist those students. Plenty of 2E kids go onto 4-year colleges. I suspect they said one thing and it gave you a bad impression for the whole entire department.

Well, that was said in front of my 2E child and he is disappointed. These are teens, their self-esteems suck and to say "oh, you can go to CC" can be demoralizing to some of them. My DS walked away with "is that what they think ALL I can do?"