Tell me about full IB at BCC HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not known so much for getting a lot of kids thru the full program, but for offering a la carte classes that are taken alongside regular MCPS curriculum.

I disagree. It is known for being open to kids who want to mix and match, say IB English with AP Bio, but I think they have great support for kids doing full DP (a good IB coordinator) and the results show they have very high diploma percentages.

My kid went thru recently but to be honest I didn’t contact a single teacher in HS except to send them a thank you note for teaching/letters of recc.

and what is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not known so much for getting a lot of kids thru the full program, but for offering a la carte classes that are taken alongside regular MCPS curriculum.

I disagree. It is known for being open to kids who want to mix and match, say IB English with AP Bio, but I think they have great support for kids doing full DP (a good IB coordinator) and the results show they have very high diploma percentages.

My kid went thru recently but to be honest I didn’t contact a single teacher in HS except to send them a thank you note for teaching/letters of recc.

So essentially you're 100% in agreement or completely demented.

Yes definitely. When PP/you said it is not known for getting a lot of kids through the full program and I said they have very high diploma percentages I was either totally agreeing with you or else demented. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an incoming 9th grade freshman and I was amazed to learn that ALL the kids are in honors english and history. Doesn't that by definition make it non-honors? Apparently it has to do with the IB program. I don't understand it and don't think I will if I decided to think on it more.

Was you kid in an MCPS Middle School?

Every 6th grader at our (non-BCC, non-W) MS was placed in Advanced English. All of them thrown in together into one abysmal English class. It was just terrible.

I only say that to point out that it is how MCPS does things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the difference between IB and AP

In some cases there isn’t much if any difference. I think BCC codes upper level foreign language classes as both AP and IB. In other cases, in theory IB is more focused on depth and analysis and less focused on breadth and facts. The IB diploma program also has a heavier emphasis on writing and a class called “theory of knowledge”.

More straightforward (not easier) to get a 5 on AP than a 7 on an IB (often needed for college credit). AP test just requires good scores on a test. IB requires effort through the year and then a test. My high school offered both. I did most AP since I could check out of class mentally until a month before the test. Our kid will have to make their choice soon, curious what they'll pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you take IB and them the AP exams for college credit?

Yes, usually the school will note which AP exams the IB course will also prepare you for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not known so much for getting a lot of kids thru the full program, but for offering a la carte classes that are taken alongside regular MCPS curriculum.

I disagree. It is known for being open to kids who want to mix and match, say IB English with AP Bio, but I think they have great support for kids doing full DP (a good IB coordinator) and the results show they have very high diploma percentages.

My kid went thru recently but to be honest I didn’t contact a single teacher in HS except to send them a thank you note for teaching/letters of recc.

So essentially you're 100% in agreement or completely demented.

Yes definitely. When PP/you said it is not known for getting a lot of kids through the full program and I said they have very high diploma percentages I was either totally agreeing with you or else demented. 🙄

so what is the IB diploma rate there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not known so much for getting a lot of kids thru the full program, but for offering a la carte classes that are taken alongside regular MCPS curriculum.

I disagree. It is known for being open to kids who want to mix and match, say IB English with AP Bio, but I think they have great support for kids doing full DP (a good IB coordinator) and the results show they have very high diploma percentages.

My kid went thru recently but to be honest I didn’t contact a single teacher in HS except to send them a thank you note for teaching/letters of recc.

So essentially you're 100% in agreement or completely demented.

Yes definitely. When PP/you said it is not known for getting a lot of kids through the full program and I said they have very high diploma percentages I was either totally agreeing with you or else demented. 🙄

so what is the IB diploma rate there?

Not sure but it's exactly the same as any MCPS IB program in terms of what's provided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not known so much for getting a lot of kids thru the full program, but for offering a la carte classes that are taken alongside regular MCPS curriculum.

I disagree. It is known for being open to kids who want to mix and match, say IB English with AP Bio, but I think they have great support for kids doing full DP (a good IB coordinator) and the results show they have very high diploma percentages.

My kid went thru recently but to be honest I didn’t contact a single teacher in HS except to send them a thank you note for teaching/letters of recc.

So essentially you're 100% in agreement or completely demented.

Yes definitely. When PP/you said it is not known for getting a lot of kids through the full program and I said they have very high diploma percentages I was either totally agreeing with you or else demented. 🙄

so what is the IB diploma rate there?

People have posted it before or I think it’s in the info/presentation posted on their website. I think it’s around 95% +/-? As I recall they have around 90-100 kids a year do full DP and around 6 or so don’t get the diploma (including a few that don’t want to sit for IB exams senior year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the difference between IB and AP

In some cases there isn’t much if any difference. I think BCC codes upper level foreign language classes as both AP and IB. In other cases, in theory IB is more focused on depth and analysis and less focused on breadth and facts. The IB diploma program also has a heavier emphasis on writing and a class called “theory of knowledge”.

More straightforward (not easier) to get a 5 on AP than a 7 on an IB (often needed for college credit). AP test just requires good scores on a test. IB requires effort through the year and then a test. My high school offered both. I did most AP since I could check out of class mentally until a month before the test. Our kid will have to make their choice soon, curious what they'll pick.

They code the Spanish and French classes AP and IB but follow the AP language and lit curriculums because they’re more rigorous.

AP is also more rigorous in sciences.

My kids graduated BCC years ago and did mix and match and had excellent college results. Neither was interested in full IB although they had friends who did. There is nothing wrong with doing it either way although there are some kids who would be held back by doing IB because they are several years advanced in a subject and IB is rather strict on what classes you can take junior and senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quality of the program, how are the IB teachers? I heard there was an exodus of teachers prior to this administration, not sure how things are now. Any Classes to avoid, recs on how to pick which HL/SL, weaknesses in program.. I hear some teachers are fab & others never respond to parents at.all.
Would love to hear from those who have recently BTDT..

Very challenging for kids in past years except for the 2019-202 school year -- those kids lucked out and got the diploma without the same rigor due to COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an incoming 9th grade freshman and I was amazed to learn that ALL the kids are in honors english and history. Doesn't that by definition make it non-honors? Apparently it has to do with the IB program. I don't understand it and don't think I will if I decided to think on it more.

It is honors actually honors, but they slow down the pace for the kids who need it. Kudos to the teachers for having to work with such a wide range of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an incoming 9th grade freshman and I was amazed to learn that ALL the kids are in honors english and history. Doesn't that by definition make it non-honors? Apparently it has to do with the IB program. I don't understand it and don't think I will if I decided to think on it more.

It is honors actually honors, but they slow down the pace for the kids who need it. Kudos to the teachers for having to work with such a wide range of kids.

I really think MCPS honors English is what used to be called college-prep when I was in high school. It is achievable for the overwhelming number of kids if they put enough time into it. I am sure it’s hard for the teachers to accommodate everyone, but it really is much better preparation than on-level English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not known so much for getting a lot of kids thru the full program, but for offering a la carte classes that are taken alongside regular MCPS curriculum.

I disagree. It is known for being open to kids who want to mix and match, say IB English with AP Bio, but I think they have great support for kids doing full DP (a good IB coordinator) and the results show they have very high diploma percentages.

My kid went thru recently but to be honest I didn’t contact a single teacher in HS except to send them a thank you note for teaching/letters of recc.

So essentially you're 100% in agreement or completely demented.

Yes definitely. When PP/you said it is not known for getting a lot of kids through the full program and I said they have very high diploma percentages I was either totally agreeing with you or else demented. 🙄

so what is the IB diploma rate there?

People have posted it before or I think it’s in the info/presentation posted on their website. I think it’s around 95% +/-? As I recall they have around 90-100 kids a year do full DP and around 6 or so don’t get the diploma (including a few that don’t want to sit for IB exams senior year).

are you sure you aren't posting RMIB numbers? I have never seen BCC IB numbers.

[Anonymous]

More info on the IB program at B-CC is here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18nWJAWRALDfnbgTNAwM_MdljYrFcCFejiDd2_na2qnk/edit#slide=id.g35f391192_00

The pass rate in 2022 was 88%
The pass rate in 2021 was 95% -- but that was a non-examination year

[Anonymous]

Also, here is the B-CC IB program website:

https://ib-bcc.com/