Banneker interviews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a matter of fact, IBD Higher Level classes--at least three of the two-year classes are required for a student to be on track to earn the Diploma--are pitched a year or two past AP.

I asked the question of a Banneker admin in my parent interview. I was told that few students per cohort are willing to pursue the Diploma because of "all of the extra work involved," like researching and writing the Extended Essay, doing the volunteer work (to meet the Community Action Service requirement) and taking the Theory of Knowledge Class. When I asked what the average points total had been for IBDs at Banneker in the last few years, I was told (by proud admin) in the high 20s. That's about a C- in IBD terms, maybe a D+. DCI is already posting better IBD results, in the low 30s. But then DCI has the advantage of far more advanced language instruction than Banneker.

This. Few kids at Banneker can handle IB and the few that can who pass don’t do very well. You need at least a 24 I think to pass IB and their scores last I heard was 26/27 which is very weak and not good.

DCI which offers IB for all and a relatively new program has already surpassed Banneker and Banneker IB program has been around for a long time.

[Anonymous]

We need a high school but might just stay at DCI if we get a Banneker spot. Problem is, my low key kid is fed up with rowdiness at DCI. The 10 min Banneker interview kid had last week seems unlikely to bear fruit anyway.

[Anonymous]

A big problem with IB Diploma at Banneker is that students can't pick IB subjects they like and excel at. DCI students get far more choice of subjects. It's going to be tough for Banneker students to score in the 30s, let alone the 40s, if they can't, for example, choose among sci classes (biology by default) or "Individuals and Societies" (social studies) classes, or among fine arts options. It's a lame way to run an IBD program. I say this as a parent who earned the Diploma once upon a time.

[Anonymous]

Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

As long as enough kids want to do it, why would they shut it down? The top IB kids have great college outcomes (and for middle class and poorer kids that often means a full ride, too). Plus many people believe the IB curriculum is inherently valuable. And if you don’t feel that way, just do the AP track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

As long as enough kids want to do it, why would they shut it down? The top IB kids have great college outcomes (and for middle class and poorer kids that often means a full ride, too). Plus many people believe the IB curriculum is inherently valuable. And if you don’t feel that way, just do the AP track.

But if it is only 20 kids per class doing IB, how many are the top kids? Maybe 5 or 6. So if you mean there are 5 or 6 kids each year who do very well on the IB track and have excellent college outcomes , that’s good but wouldn’t it make more sense to just make it an AP school and offer more AP classes so overall more kids benefit and have excellent college outcomes. In other words, is a tiny IB program the best way to allocate scarce resources in a public school system? Perhaps the answer is yes but it is a question worth asking and knowing DCPS, it is unlikely they reflect on optimization

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

As long as enough kids want to do it, why would they shut it down? The top IB kids have great college outcomes (and for middle class and poorer kids that often means a full ride, too). Plus many people believe the IB curriculum is inherently valuable. And if you don’t feel that way, just do the AP track.

Um, because IBD is a very expensive program. Do it right or don't bother with the window dressing. The enrollment and exam fees to Geneva alone run public schools tens of thousands of dollars a year. Why not funnel the money into a more robust AP program, with more than one AP science, BC Calc, more than two languages taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

As long as enough kids want to do it, why would they shut it down? The top IB kids have great college outcomes (and for middle class and poorer kids that often means a full ride, too). Plus many people believe the IB curriculum is inherently valuable. And if you don’t feel that way, just do the AP track.

But if it is only 20 kids per class doing IB, how many are the top kids? Maybe 5 or 6. So if you mean there are 5 or 6 kids each year who do very well on the IB track and have excellent college outcomes , that’s good but wouldn’t it make more sense to just make it an AP school and offer more AP classes so overall more kids benefit and have excellent college outcomes. In other words, is a tiny IB program the best way to allocate scarce resources in a public school system? Perhaps the answer is yes but it is a question worth asking and knowing DCPS, it is unlikely they reflect on optimization

THIS. Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

As long as enough kids want to do it, why would they shut it down? The top IB kids have great college outcomes (and for middle class and poorer kids that often means a full ride, too). Plus many people believe the IB curriculum is inherently valuable. And if you don’t feel that way, just do the AP track.

But if it is only 20 kids per class doing IB, how many are the top kids? Maybe 5 or 6. So if you mean there are 5 or 6 kids each year who do very well on the IB track and have excellent college outcomes , that’s good but wouldn’t it make more sense to just make it an AP school and offer more AP classes so overall more kids benefit and have excellent college outcomes. In other words, is a tiny IB program the best way to allocate scarce resources in a public school system? Perhaps the answer is yes but it is a question worth asking and knowing DCPS, it is unlikely they reflect on optimization

+1. AP offerings are lacking. IB offerings are lacking. Just focus on AP and offer more classes for the majority. Only 40% of AP offerings is pretty low and the AP STEM offerings subpar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

As long as enough kids want to do it, why would they shut it down? The top IB kids have great college outcomes (and for middle class and poorer kids that often means a full ride, too). Plus many people believe the IB curriculum is inherently valuable. And if you don’t feel that way, just do the AP track.

Um, because IBD is a very expensive program. Do it right or don't bother with the window dressing. The enrollment and exam fees to Geneva alone run public schools tens of thousands of dollars a year. Why not funnel the money into a more robust AP program, with more than one AP science, BC Calc, more than two languages taught.

Teacher training costs for IBD aren't cheap either. I taught at an IBD school abroad a decade back where IB-specific staff training easily ran the school hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to understand why Banneker bothers with IB Diploma. Sheesh.

As long as enough kids want to do it, why would they shut it down? The top IB kids have great college outcomes (and for middle class and poorer kids that often means a full ride, too). Plus many people believe the IB curriculum is inherently valuable. And if you don’t feel that way, just do the AP track.

But if it is only 20 kids per class doing IB, how many are the top kids? Maybe 5 or 6. So if you mean there are 5 or 6 kids each year who do very well on the IB track and have excellent college outcomes , that’s good but wouldn’t it make more sense to just make it an AP school and offer more AP classes so overall more kids benefit and have excellent college outcomes. In other words, is a tiny IB program the best way to allocate scarce resources in a public school system? Perhaps the answer is yes but it is a question worth asking and knowing DCPS, it is unlikely they reflect on optimization

+1. AP offerings are lacking. IB offerings are lacking. Just focus on AP and offer more classes for the majority. Only 40% of AP offerings is pretty low and the AP STEM offerings subpar.

Subpar is putting it mildly. They don't even teach the mother romance language, Latin. We asked if they did at the parent interview. Ridiculous. Only in DCPS would there be high demand for a selective urban magnet program running on AP fumes like Banneker. Affirmative action is over at the college level. Time for Banneker to get with the times with a younger head.

[Anonymous]

Small point, but they do, in fact, teach Latin at Banneker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small point, but they do, in fact, teach Latin at Banneker.

This thread suddenly turned into misinformation zone. Don't rely on it for real information about Banneker, folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Small point, but they do, in fact, teach Latin at Banneker.

This thread suddenly turned into misinformation zone. Don't rely on it for real information about Banneker, folks.

Also, I’m fairly certain they teach AP physics and chemistry, at least on a rotating basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Small point, but they do, in fact, teach Latin at Banneker.

This thread suddenly turned into misinformation zone. Don't rely on it for real information about Banneker, folks.

Also, I’m fairly certain they teach AP physics and chemistry, at least on a rotating basis.

It would be helpful if someone could confirm this.