If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?

[Anonymous]

There is a reason you need more IB coordinators than AP.

The IB coordinators do more than just manage tests etc. They mentor each individual kid through the program. At our school, they know all 180ish seniors by name. For two years they help and support them through the program. There is currently no equivalent in the AP program. Which is why you need fewer positions in AP.

BTW, they also teach at least one class.

[Anonymous]

The program isn't working very well despite all this extra counseling. There are very few graduates with the full diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The program isn't working very well despite all this extra counseling. There are very few graduates with the full diploma.

Some might argue that the number of full diploma graduates is indeed successful.

[Anonymous]

Not for being the only option at a high school. If it was that popular, more children would finish the program. If FCPS wants to run this as a special program in addition to AP for a select few, that's fine, but it's not worth the money to have this many high schools with the program, particularly in poor performing schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not for being the only option at a high school. If it was that popular, more children would finish the program. If FCPS wants to run this as a special program in addition to AP for a select few, that's fine, but it's not worth the money to have this many high schools with the program, particularly in poor performing schools.

But IB is not just the IB Diploma Program. IB also has a Career-related Certificate program. I have no idea how many students receive IBCCs but I am guessing it is a greater number than Diploma recipients.

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/ibprogram.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is about much more than cost. As a parent or student entering HS, the cost is not my concern. The value of the experience -- i.e. how much reward will I get for my effort, and the flexibility of the program (i.e. how much can I pick and choose the areas I'm interested in doing advanced work) -- those are the things that matter to parents and students.

As much as I would like to be open to IB, it seems large and cumbersome and not as flexible. Why would my child want to take a 2 yr. course rather than a one year course? Depth of experience? Nahhhh. That's not gonna do it. It's too long of a commitment. Who knows what will change in those two years. And then to have all of the exams at the end of senior year? Again, why would I choose that? The fact that AP is a la carte, makes it much more flexible, and to me, a much better choice for my children.

IB may be superior in developing in depth thinking and writing skills, but the flexibility and duration of AP programs are preferable for my kids.

It's really not that different. At an ap school, a student may take AP us history junior year and AP world history senior year...nearly identical to the two year IB history sequence. A student may take AP calculus and AP statistics, both covered in a 2 year IB math course. A student will likely take a third and fourth year of language...just like in IB. I could go on...and I could include community service requirements and such that occur in both AP and IB schools.
The main difference is that there is no prescribed requirements for AP that correspond with a full IB diploma, but otherwise, the structure ain't that different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is about much more than cost. As a parent or student entering HS, the cost is not my concern. The value of the experience -- i.e. how much reward will I get for my effort, and the flexibility of the program (i.e. how much can I pick and choose the areas I'm interested in doing advanced work) -- those are the things that matter to parents and students.

As much as I would like to be open to IB, it seems large and cumbersome and not as flexible. Why would my child want to take a 2 yr. course rather than a one year course? Depth of experience? Nahhhh. That's not gonna do it. It's too long of a commitment. Who knows what will change in those two years. And then to have all of the exams at the end of senior year? Again, why would I choose that? The fact that AP is a la carte, makes it much more flexible, and to me, a much better choice for my children.

IB may be superior in developing in depth thinking and writing skills, but the flexibility and duration of AP programs are preferable for my kids.

It's really not that different. At an ap school, a student may take AP us history junior year and AP world history senior year...nearly identical to the two year IB history sequence. A student may take AP calculus and AP statistics, both covered in a 2 year IB math course. A student will likely take a third and fourth year of language...just like in IB. I could go on...and I could include community service requirements and such that occur in both AP and IB schools.
The main difference is that there is no prescribed requirements for AP that correspond with a full IB diploma, but otherwise, the structure ain't that different.

Pp here...cracking up that autocorrect changed "isn't" to "ain't."
I had no idea that apple even considered that a word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a reason you need more IB coordinators than AP.

The IB coordinators do more than just manage tests etc. They mentor each individual kid through the program. At our school, they know all 180ish seniors by name. For two years they help and support them through the program. There is currently no equivalent in the AP program. Which is why you need fewer positions in AP.

BTW, they also teach at least one class.

You need IB coordinators because the IBO says you do. It's one of the costs of admission and then you have folks whose jobs are expressly tied to IB and can be counted on to promote it externally. The low volume of IB candidates at their schools, however, tells that they don't mentor many kids effectively.

Big waste of money.

[Anonymous]

I wonder whether many of the people upset about the increased cost of IB are merely complaining because they see it as money being spent at schools in the county that they already look down upon and would rather see the money spent on their child's better regarded school - after all, no increased amount of money is going to help those lesser regarded schools. Cue the deeply offended parent who swears they could care less about such things and only want to see money spent efficiently district wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder whether many of the people upset about the increased cost of IB are merely complaining because they see it as money being spent at schools in the county that they already look down upon and would rather see the money spent on their child's better regarded school - after all, no increased amount of money is going to help those lesser regarded schools. Cue the deeply offended parent who swears they could care less about such things and only want to see money spent efficiently district wide.

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder whether many of the people upset about the increased cost of IB are merely complaining because they see it as money being spent at schools in the county that they already look down upon and would rather see the money spent on their child's better regarded school - after all, no increased amount of money is going to help those lesser regarded schools. Cue the deeply offended parent who swears they could care less about such things and only want to see money spent efficiently district wide.

Bingo!

Great point -- hadn't thought of that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder whether many of the people upset about the increased cost of IB are merely complaining because they see it as money being spent at schools in the county that they already look down upon and would rather see the money spent on their child's better regarded school - after all, no increased amount of money is going to help those lesser regarded schools. Cue the deeply offended parent who swears they could care less about such things and only want to see money spent efficiently district wide.

Bingo!

Great point -- hadn't thought of that

There is one poster in particular who pops up on every IB thread and starts venting about how much IB costs the county and how she feels it isn't worth it. Sour grapes. She's bitter that other kids are benefitting from that funding and she wants the program eliminated.

[Anonymous]

We are zoned for Edison High, which is an IB school. My children are only in lower elementary school but I am looking forward to taking advantage of the IB classes. The total school test scores may not be well regarded but the top kids from the school graduating with the IB diplomas move on to excellent universities.

[Anonymous]

There is one poster in particular who pops up on every IB thread and starts venting about how much IB costs the county and how she feels it isn't worth it. Sour grapes. She's bitter that other kids are benefitting from that funding and she wants the program eliminated.

Not that poster. But, the IB program costs significantly more than the AP--and serves far fewer kids in FCPS. Coordinators alone cost close to 1M$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder whether many of the people upset about the increased cost of IB are merely complaining because they see it as money being spent at schools in the county that they already look down upon and would rather see the money spent on their child's better regarded school - after all, no increased amount of money is going to help those lesser regarded schools. Cue the deeply offended parent who swears they could care less about such things and only want to see money spent efficiently district wide.

Bingo!

Actually the opposite is true. How many children are attending AP schools instead of their local IB school because they're allowed to? It's causing the IB schools to decline. IB may cost more money, but until it's looked on more favorably, it's not helping the lower performing schools.