School commutes: RMIB or CAP?

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that Blair CAP is a longer day with an extra school period, but I agree, a better fit because of distance and the time more available to do extracurriculars, hang out with friends, not spend 2 hours a day on the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that Blair CAP is a longer day with an extra school period, but I agree, a better fit because of distance and the time more available to do extracurriculars, hang out with friends, not spend 2 hours a day on the bus.

CAP is a longer day in 9th grade and maybe 10th, but you’re not required to take the 9th period after that.

[Anonymous]

No question - Blair for sure. CAP is a good program and it would be hard to be involved with the school / community when so far away from RMIB. The commute would be exhausting.

[Anonymous]

I just want to chime in and say that the CAP cohort is great! Lots of really nice and interesting kids.

[Anonymous]

Our RM kid gets on the last bus stop even though we live closer to a few others. The bus ride to RM is about 20 minutes. To our zoned school it’s about a 13 minute drive, so the difference is negligible.

[Anonymous]

My DC made friends with the kids on her bus so it’s a big hang out and time to do hw. An hour each way though is lengthy, even for an adult. And would impact ECs. Like a PP hinted at, if DC doesn’t have much else going on and needs an escape, then that would be a possibility.

[Anonymous]

OP again: Thank you for the new additions. You've all convinced me, although DH is still on the fence. I've really appreciated the extra commentary on CAP.

Now to work out CAP vs Einstein IB (DCC assignment), ha!

[Anonymous]

My teen takes the Blair bus to RMHS IB with a group of others in the 4 Corners area. All the kids have extracurricular sports, debate, theater, etc.

Is there a lot of bus time and parent driving around? Yes. Do these teens all love the program? Yes.

The IB classes are truly enriching, far and above other course offerings I have seen.

The program is also well run, the principal is great, kids get to eat lunch off campus which is a huge deal to them and their feelings of independence, and the school itself has about 1,000 fewer kids than Blair.

You may also consider that Blair's principal is retiring so you may not know who is replacing her.

Just giving you some things to consider!

So far, no regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: Thank you for the new additions. You've all convinced me, although DH is still on the fence. I've really appreciated the extra commentary on CAP.

Now to work out CAP vs Einstein IB (DCC assignment), ha!

My child was choosing between Einstein and CAP and the clincher for our family was that Einstein would not offer differentiated English or social studies until 11th grade. Previously, they offered a pre IB English and social studies option, but they were forced to drop that by the county. So, even kids who want to do the IB diploma at Einstein couldn't take any differentiated classes until junior year.

For a kid who is strong in the Humanities, another two years of English in a totally non-differentiated classroom felt like a punishment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My child was choosing between Einstein and CAP and the clincher for our family was that Einstein would not offer differentiated English or social studies until 11th grade. Previously, they offered a pre IB English and social studies option, but they were forced to drop that by the county. So, even kids who want to do the IB diploma at Einstein couldn't take any differentiated classes until junior year.

For a kid who is strong in the Humanities, another two years of English in a totally non-differentiated classroom felt like a punishment.

Thanks, PP. To clarify for other posters, Einstein does now offer APNSL (and APCompSci) to 9th graders and APUSH to 10th, which is what DC would take there. But English differentiation would happen in-class the way it does now in MS. (I think that's the case for all HS?) I believe Blair still doesn't allow APs in 9th, even in CAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My child was choosing between Einstein and CAP and the clincher for our family was that Einstein would not offer differentiated English or social studies until 11th grade. Previously, they offered a pre IB English and social studies option, but they were forced to drop that by the county. So, even kids who want to do the IB diploma at Einstein couldn't take any differentiated classes until junior year.

For a kid who is strong in the Humanities, another two years of English in a totally non-differentiated classroom felt like a punishment.

Thanks, PP. To clarify for other posters, Einstein does now offer APNSL (and APCompSci) to 9th graders and APUSH to 10th, which is what DC would take there. But English differentiation would happen in-class the way it does now in MS. (I think that's the case for all HS?) I believe Blair still doesn't allow APs in 9th, even in CAP.

Is that new? They did last year for History, but not if you are in the CAP program, and also for Physics. There are no English APs that we know of until 11th and 12th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My child was choosing between Einstein and CAP and the clincher for our family was that Einstein would not offer differentiated English or social studies until 11th grade. Previously, they offered a pre IB English and social studies option, but they were forced to drop that by the county. So, even kids who want to do the IB diploma at Einstein couldn't take any differentiated classes until junior year.

For a kid who is strong in the Humanities, another two years of English in a totally non-differentiated classroom felt like a punishment.

Thanks, PP. To clarify for other posters, Einstein does now offer APNSL (and APCompSci) to 9th graders and APUSH to 10th, which is what DC would take there. But English differentiation would happen in-class the way it does now in MS. (I think that's the case for all HS?) I believe Blair still doesn't allow APs in 9th, even in CAP.

Is that new? They did last year for History, but not if you are in the CAP program, and also for Physics. There are no English APs that we know of until 11th and 12th.

I think PP is misinformed. Blair allows Freshmen to take AP Physics (but counsels against it), and any child not in Humanities US History can choose to take APUSH.

As for English, I think the point was that only CAP, RMIB, and the regional IB programs are offering English in a differentiated format. Everyone else is getting "honors for all" the way they did in middle school, which is torture for kids who are ready to, and want to, really dig into literature and discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again: Thank you for the new additions. You've all convinced me, although DH is still on the fence. I've really appreciated the extra commentary on CAP.

Now to work out CAP vs Einstein IB (DCC assignment), ha!

My child was choosing between Einstein and CAP and the clincher for our family was that Einstein would not offer differentiated English or social studies until 11th grade. Previously, they offered a pre IB English and social studies option, but they were forced to drop that by the county. So, even kids who want to do the IB diploma at Einstein couldn't take any differentiated classes until junior year.

For a kid who is strong in the Humanities, another two years of English in a totally non-differentiated classroom felt like a punishment.

At Kennedy tht take AP English in 10th. They can't do that at Einstein?