IB Lottery - ‘23-‘24 school year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard whether there is a waitlist this year? Did they end up increasing the program size since the W-L addition is opening?

I apologize in advance, I have a few questions: When is the WL addition opening, how many total slots at W-L, and how many IB once open, compared to before (if you have the numbers)? Thanks!

Is there a lottery for the AP classes at W-L ? Saw the "AP-network" lottery for Wakefield (only 15 slots!?) and now totally confused - I thought anyone can take as many or few AP classes as they like at any of the 3 high schools, and only IB was a separate program?
Can anyone give me the low-down? TIA!

I can answer a few but not all of your questions.
The addition is open. It opened last year and they offered a larger amount of IB spots but I'm not sure how many. They also offered neighborhood spots to upcoming freshman who were in boundary for Wakefield. This was done due to Wakefield's overcrowding.
I'm not sure how many IB spots there are now or compared to past years, but I can tell you that only a small amount end up doing the full IB track. I think this year there were around 60 total.
There is not a lottery for AP classes at WL. The lottery at Wakefield was for AP Capstone, which is only offered at Wakefield. It is a separate program that has a small amount of slots for out of boundary students. It requires 6 AP classes, an AP Research class and AP Capstone.

HTH

Thank you! So this extremely small Wakefield program is only for WL and YT students? Is my understanding correct then, that while it's difficult to get into the IB track, if only ~60 end up doing the full track, eventually it's easier, however might be difficult to keep up with the requirements by then? Are spots "wasted" in the upper grades? If that's the case, maybe WL should allow more entry level slots to account for the natural attrition?

It's not "difficult" to get on the IB track. It's a lottery and last year they offered spots to everyone on the waitlist due to the annex opening up more seats at the school. If you are an IB transfer student, you have to stay on the IB diploma track or move back to your home school - at least that's the threat. Not sure if they would actually do it. They used to have a concept of "partial IB" which meant you had to take 3 IB classes junior and senior years to maintain your transfer, but I believe they got rid of that and now if you transfer you have to be a full IB student (i.e., 6 IB classes junior and senior year).

I disagree somewhat with the poster who says IB is a school within a school. Anyone at WL can take IB classes. You don't have to be on the IB diploma track. My kid wasn't full IB, but took a combination of IB and AP classes depending on the subject and teacher. Also, all kids whose home school is WL and who completed two years of foreign language in middle school are considered "pre-IB" so it's not very selective.

I know a few students who are out of boundary but still doing partial IB, so that option may still be allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard whether there is a waitlist this year? Did they end up increasing the program size since the W-L addition is opening?

I apologize in advance, I have a few questions: When is the WL addition opening, how many total slots at W-L, and how many IB once open, compared to before (if you have the numbers)? Thanks!

Is there a lottery for the AP classes at W-L ? Saw the "AP-network" lottery for Wakefield (only 15 slots!?) and now totally confused - I thought anyone can take as many or few AP classes as they like at any of the 3 high schools, and only IB was a separate program?
Can anyone give me the low-down? TIA!

I can answer a few but not all of your questions.
The addition is open. It opened last year and they offered a larger amount of IB spots but I'm not sure how many. They also offered neighborhood spots to upcoming freshman who were in boundary for Wakefield. This was done due to Wakefield's overcrowding.
I'm not sure how many IB spots there are now or compared to past years, but I can tell you that only a small amount end up doing the full IB track. I think this year there were around 60 total.
There is not a lottery for AP classes at WL. The lottery at Wakefield was for AP Capstone, which is only offered at Wakefield. It is a separate program that has a small amount of slots for out of boundary students. It requires 6 AP classes, an AP Research class and AP Capstone.

HTH

I heard that Yorktown is going to start offering the AP Capstone program at some point, but I don’t think lotterying in is an option. Maybe someone else knows more details.

[Anonymous]

You can still do partial in and not be sent back to home school. 3 classes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone heard whether there is a waitlist this year? Did they end up increasing the program size since the W-L addition is opening?

I apologize in advance, I have a few questions: When is the WL addition opening, how many total slots at W-L, and how many IB once open, compared to before (if you have the numbers)? Thanks!

Is there a lottery for the AP classes at W-L ? Saw the "AP-network" lottery for Wakefield (only 15 slots!?) and now totally confused - I thought anyone can take as many or few AP classes as they like at any of the 3 high schools, and only IB was a separate program?
Can anyone give me the low-down? TIA!

I can answer a few but not all of your questions.
The addition is open. It opened last year and they offered a larger amount of IB spots but I'm not sure how many. They also offered neighborhood spots to upcoming freshman who were in boundary for Wakefield. This was done due to Wakefield's overcrowding.
I'm not sure how many IB spots there are now or compared to past years, but I can tell you that only a small amount end up doing the full IB track. I think this year there were around 60 total.
There is not a lottery for AP classes at WL. The lottery at Wakefield was for AP Capstone, which is only offered at Wakefield. It is a separate program that has a small amount of slots for out of boundary students. It requires 6 AP classes, an AP Research class and AP Capstone.

HTH

I heard that Yorktown is going to start offering the AP Capstone program at some point, but I don’t think lotterying in is an option. Maybe someone else knows more details.

YHS Capstone starts this upcoming school year.

[Anonymous]

We got a spot but are probably pulling our kid for private next year. I am over APS... So you are all 1 spot closer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's not "difficult" to get on the IB track. It's a lottery and last year they offered spots to everyone on the waitlist due to the annex opening up more seats at the school. If you are an IB transfer student, you have to stay on the IB diploma track or move back to your home school - at least that's the threat. Not sure if they would actually do it. They used to have a concept of "partial IB" which meant you had to take 3 IB classes junior and senior years to maintain your transfer, but I believe they got rid of that and now if you transfer you have to be a full IB student (i.e., 6 IB classes junior and senior year).

I disagree somewhat with the poster who says IB is a school within a school. Anyone at WL can take IB classes. You don't have to be on the IB diploma track. My kid wasn't full IB, but took a combination of IB and AP classes depending on the subject and teacher. Also, all kids whose home school is WL and who completed two years of foreign language in middle school are considered "pre-IB" so it's not very selective.

To be clear, it's not very selective if your kid already attends W-L and met the middle school criteria. For those at Yorktown or Wakefield it's a lottery, which by definition makes it selective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got a spot but are probably pulling our kid for private next year. I am over APS... So you are all 1 spot closer!

Are you at Hamm? Why are you leaving? We are starting Hamm next year but wondering if should go private before WL… it will be nearly 3000 students by the time we get there!

[Anonymous]

Parent of an IB transfer from Yorktown. Loves it at W-L. They seem to track the pre-IB students together (and they need to take AP Gov sophomore year). Very nice cohort of smart and interesting kids.

[Anonymous]

Thank you PP. We are a potential Yorktown transfer thinking about taking an IB lottery spot. Helpful info.

[Anonymous]

We have only moved up one spot on the Waitlist!!

[Anonymous]

We declined a spot last Week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got a spot but are probably pulling our kid for private next year. I am over APS... So you are all 1 spot closer!

Are you at Hamm? Why are you leaving? We are starting Hamm next year but wondering if should go private before WL… it will be nearly 3000 students by the time we get there!

NP here. I’d consider how the school’s program accommodates students at every level regardless of the school’s size. Currently WL meets most students needs quite well, and the brand new annex building has been thoughtfully integrated into the school’s operations. While large, the school is not and will not be overcrowded. Also, consider that staying with a community of friends from Dorothy Hamm and the neighborhood will make the school seem smaller. If it’s between W-L or an open spot at St. Albans, NCS, or Sidwell then I might consider private if it’s a good fit for your child. Basically, consider the culture of the school before giving up on W-L.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have only moved up one spot on the Waitlist!!

Anecdotal but we know two families still waiting to hear if their child got into TJ, and if so will end up pulling out of the IB even though they've initially accepted the spot. My point is that I'd still expect movement based on families who have until later this spring to make decisions on TJ or private schools.

[Anonymous]

For parents who’ve been through it, when does ib stuff start - do they take these classes 9th and 10th too or just 11th 12th. I see these kids with 4.3+ GPAs a and wonder how they get that done if classes don’t start till jr yesr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For parents who’ve been through it, when does ib stuff start - do they take these classes 9th and 10th too or just 11th 12th. I see these kids with 4.3+ GPAs a and wonder how they get that done if classes don’t start till jr yesr.

For IB Candidate students, AP Va and US Govt is taken in grade 10.