Questions about Richard Montgomery IB program

[Anonymous]

I don't know about the IB program but my DD has taken weekend classes there not IB related. Beautiful school.

[Anonymous]

How well does the IB program serve students who are well-rounded but have a strong interest in science. Is the program strong in this area? We are zoned for Walter Johnson but our child is interested in the RM IB program. We are not sure whether she would be better off at RM. Any thoughts? She is an excellent student with a good work ethic so we do think she would do well in the IB program but wonder she should just go to WJ. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How well does the IB program serve students who are well-rounded but have a strong interest in science. Is the program strong in this area? We are zoned for Walter Johnson but our child is interested in the RM IB program. We are not sure whether she would be better off at RM. Any thoughts? She is an excellent student with a good work ethic so we do think she would do well in the IB program but wonder she should just go to WJ. Thanks.

I would never pull my kid into RM, IB or not and leave WJ. No way. The IB program might be rigorous but the student population overall is not impressive - hence why RM is the IB location (bump the scores up.)

[Anonymous]

In order to apply RMIB, is it true that the student needs to take min. of 2 year language during middle school? can anyone confirm it? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well does the IB program serve students who are well-rounded but have a strong interest in science. Is the program strong in this area? We are zoned for Walter Johnson but our child is interested in the RM IB program. We are not sure whether she would be better off at RM. Any thoughts? She is an excellent student with a good work ethic so we do think she would do well in the IB program but wonder she should just go to WJ. Thanks.

I would never pull my kid into RM, IB or not and leave WJ. No way. The IB program might be rigorous but the student population overall is not impressive - hence why RM is the IB location (bump the scores up.)

[Anonymous]

what do you mean by "the student population overall is not impressive"????
2 students I personally well know from RMIB: one has SAT 2360 graduated in 2011, another has SAT 2350 graduated in 2012.
It IS impressive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what do you mean by "the student population overall is not impressive"????
2 students I personally well know from RMIB: one has SAT 2360 graduated in 2011, another has SAT 2350 graduated in 2012.
It IS impressive

Not the IB students, the students from RM's feeder schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well does the IB program serve students who are well-rounded but have a strong interest in science. Is the program strong in this area? We are zoned for Walter Johnson but our child is interested in the RM IB program. We are not sure whether she would be better off at RM. Any thoughts? She is an excellent student with a good work ethic so we do think she would do well in the IB program but wonder she should just go to WJ. Thanks.

I would never pull my kid into RM, IB or not and leave WJ. No way. The IB program might be rigorous but the student population overall is not impressive - hence why RM is the IB location (bump the scores up.)

What do you mean the student population is not impressive? You mean not white and rich?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In order to apply RMIB, is it true that the student needs to take min. of 2 year language during middle school? can anyone confirm it? Thanks!

I think minimum just one year of foreign language in middle school and one year of HS math in middle school (Algebra 1).

[Anonymous]

Why not apply and then make your choice if your child is accepted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what do you mean by "the student population overall is not impressive"????
2 students I personally well know from RMIB: one has SAT 2360 graduated in 2011, another has SAT 2350 graduated in 2012.
It IS impressive

Not the IB students, the students from RM's feeder schools.

So what exactly is the fear? Do you think they will taint the high-achieving IB students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well does the IB program serve students who are well-rounded but have a strong interest in science. Is the program strong in this area? We are zoned for Walter Johnson but our child is interested in the RM IB program. We are not sure whether she would be better off at RM. Any thoughts? She is an excellent student with a good work ethic so we do think she would do well in the IB program but wonder she should just go to WJ. Thanks.

I would never pull my kid into RM, IB or not and leave WJ. No way. The IB program might be rigorous but the student population overall is not impressive - hence why RM is the IB location (bump the scores up.)

You could say the same about the middle school magnets, from which thousands of students have benefited over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well does the IB program serve students who are well-rounded but have a strong interest in science. Is the program strong in this area? We are zoned for Walter Johnson but our child is interested in the RM IB program. We are not sure whether she would be better off at RM. Any thoughts? She is an excellent student with a good work ethic so we do think she would do well in the IB program but wonder she should just go to WJ. Thanks.

I would never pull my kid into RM, IB or not and leave WJ. No way. The IB program might be rigorous but the student population overall is not impressive - hence why RM is the IB location (bump the scores up.)

You could say the same about the middle school magnets, from which thousands of students have benefited over the years.

It is a tradeoff - better academics for an often iffy social environment. The families who choose to send their kids to these schools obviously think it is worthwhile but I personally wish the magnet schools were a little more spread out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not apply and then make your choice if your child is accepted?

OP here: That is good advice but I thought I would take advantage of this thread to get some information about how the program compares to WJ so we can make a well-informed decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well does the IB program serve students who are well-rounded but have a strong interest in science. Is the program strong in this area? We are zoned for Walter Johnson but our child is interested in the RM IB program. We are not sure whether she would be better off at RM. Any thoughts? She is an excellent student with a good work ethic so we do think she would do well in the IB program but wonder she should just go to WJ. Thanks.

I would never pull my kid into RM, IB or not and leave WJ. No way. The IB program might be rigorous but the student population overall is not impressive - hence why RM is the IB location (bump the scores up.)

You could say the same about the middle school magnets, from which thousands of students have benefited over the years.

It is a tradeoff - better academics for an often iffy social environment. The families who choose to send their kids to these schools obviously think it is worthwhile but I personally wish the magnet schools were a little more spread out.

Nothing iffy at TPMS. My kids both did well there and loved it.

Sorry to disappoint you.