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

[Anonymous]

There are tons of kids that switch into South Lakes for IB. I think it's closed for transfers (at least it was last year).

[Anonymous]

I don't get the hate for IB or the love for AP. We have both at my kids' school, and they've taken several classes in both. (Neither of my kids has pursued the IB diploma.) They've loved their IB classes. AP classes have been good, too. What difference does it make really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the hate for IB or the love for AP. We have both at my kids' school, and they've taken several classes in both. (Neither of my kids has pursued the IB diploma.) They've loved their IB classes. AP classes have been good, too. What difference does it make really?

I don't think the emotions run quite that strong. But IB is more expensive and, at the high school level, really is supposed to be an integrated program that leads to the IB diploma. If kids aren't getting the diploma, and instead either avoid IB entirely or just take a few IB classes, it begs the question as to whether AP would be more cost-efficient. People in FCPS may feel more strongly about it because we're regularly hearing about budget constraints, yet we have eight IB high schools, some of which have very few students receiving IB diplomas.

There are some who dislike IB on ideological grounds, or strongly prefer the AP curriculum, but I think most criticisms relate to the economics.

[Anonymous]

There are some who dislike IB on ideological grounds, or strongly prefer the AP curriculum, but I think most criticisms relate to the economics.

Also, anecdotally, both my kids had roommates who graduated with IB diplomas. Both felt they would have been better served by AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There are some who dislike IB on ideological grounds, or strongly prefer the AP curriculum, but I think most criticisms relate to the economics.

Also, anecdotally, both my kids had roommates who graduated with IB diplomas. Both felt they would have been better served by AP.

19:32 here. Why did they think that? Other IB diploma grads say the writing requirements in IB prepared them well to do college-length papers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the hate for IB or the love for AP. We have both at my kids' school, and they've taken several classes in both. (Neither of my kids has pursued the IB diploma.) They've loved their IB classes. AP classes have been good, too. What difference does it make really?

I think if people had both in their base high school, it would be fine. In FCPS if your high school is IB you have to pupil place to a different school for AP. That mean separating from friends and providing your own transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.

You have to leave your friends and provide your own transportation. The school are not necessarily anywhere near your house. Not necessarily an option for kids in the lower performing IB schools who don't own cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly PP. Honestly, for parents in these poor performing districts, this is really unfair and does nothing to fix the achievement gap. It's a side show.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the hate for IB or the love for AP. We have both at my kids' school, and they've taken several classes in both. (Neither of my kids has pursued the IB diploma.) They've loved their IB classes. AP classes have been good, too. What difference does it make really?

I think if people had both in their base high school, it would be fine. In FCPS if your high school is IB you have to pupil place to a different school for AP. That mean separating from friends and providing your own transportation.

This is a big deal. We are considering buying a house we like very much, but the school is an IB school. We wouldn't want our child to establish friends in jr. high, then have to start all over at another HS just to get AP courses. I've also heard that the AP school can and will send you back to the IB/assigned school if you don't take an AP class at any point in your HS career. Wish all school offered some AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say pare it down to one IB HS per region. 5 regions would mean 5 high schools

Region I: South Lakes
Region II: Annandale, Marshall or Stuart
Region III: Edison, Lee or Mount Vernon
Region IV: Robinson
Region V: does not have one currently: which should switch to IB: Chantilly, Westfield or Woodson (Fairfax not a contender because of Fairfax City)

Regions II and III are too heavily IB.

None of those schools in Region V want IB. Chantilly and Westfield are in high-tech territory; those folks heavily prefer AP. In addition, Chantilly is largely Asian, and those communities also tend to prefer the structure of AP over IB, which requires a ton of essay writing. FCPS tried to introduce IB to Woodson years ago and the parents rebelled. I think that battle has been fought and lost.

I tend to agree four IB schools is enough - would keep it at South Lakes, Marshall, Lee and Robinson. Edison has an Academy, and Mount Vernon has some special programs associated with being the school for families on base at Ft. Belvoir. Limiting IB in that area to Lee might increase the number of pupil placements to that school.

So how do we get FCPS to get on board with this pairing down of the IB program. Seems like a good year to make the change. They could say they're using the savings on providing busing for high schools to start later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say pare it down to one IB HS per region. 5 regions would mean 5 high schools

Region I: South Lakes
Region II: Annandale, Marshall or Stuart
Region III: Edison, Lee or Mount Vernon
Region IV: Robinson
Region V: does not have one currently: which should switch to IB: Chantilly, Westfield or Woodson (Fairfax not a contender because of Fairfax City)

Regions II and III are too heavily IB.

None of those schools in Region V want IB. Chantilly and Westfield are in high-tech territory; those folks heavily prefer AP. In addition, Chantilly is largely Asian, and those communities also tend to prefer the structure of AP over IB, which requires a ton of essay writing. FCPS tried to introduce IB to Woodson years ago and the parents rebelled. I think that battle has been fought and lost.

I tend to agree four IB schools is enough - would keep it at South Lakes, Marshall, Lee and Robinson. Edison has an Academy, and Mount Vernon has some special programs associated with being the school for families on base at Ft. Belvoir. Limiting IB in that area to Lee might increase the number of pupil placements to that school.

So how do we get FCPS to get on board with this pairing down of the IB program. Seems like a good year to make the change. They could say they're using the savings on providing busing for high schools to start later.

It will be hard since they are continuing to go all in on IB by adding IB in elementary schools. I'm guessing IB won't get removed from the high schools if they are spending all that money on new IB elementary programmes. For that reason, Stuart, for example, is stuck with IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say pare it down to one IB HS per region. 5 regions would mean 5 high schools

Region I: South Lakes
Region II: Annandale, Marshall or Stuart
Region III: Edison, Lee or Mount Vernon
Region IV: Robinson
Region V: does not have one currently: which should switch to IB: Chantilly, Westfield or Woodson (Fairfax not a contender because of Fairfax City)

Regions II and III are too heavily IB.


None of those schools in Region V want IB. Chantilly and Westfield are in high-tech territory; those folks heavily prefer AP. In addition, Chantilly is largely Asian, and those communities also tend to prefer the structure of AP over IB, which requires a ton of essay writing. FCPS tried to introduce IB to Woodson years ago and the parents rebelled. I think that battle has been fought and lost.

I tend to agree four IB schools is enough - would keep it at South Lakes, Marshall, Lee and Robinson. Edison has an Academy, and Mount Vernon has some special programs associated with being the school for families on base at Ft. Belvoir. Limiting IB in that area to Lee might increase the number of pupil placements to that school.

So how do we get FCPS to get on board with this pairing down of the IB program. Seems like a good year to make the change. They could say they're using the savings on providing busing for high schools to start later.

It will be hard since they are continuing to go all in on IB by adding IB in elementary schools. I'm guessing IB won't get removed from the high schools if they are spending all that money on new IB elementary programmes. For that reason, Stuart, for example, is stuck with IB.

That's too bad. The PYP and MYP are a big joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.

Our AP option is a much lower performing school. My kids will be sticking with IB.

That is very rarely the case in FCPS. Maybe if you are zoned for Marshall and Falls Church is your only AP option. Otherwise the AP schools are usually more sought after. Look at all the transfers out of Annandale, Lee and Mount Vernon.

You nailed it. We're zoned for Marshall and definitely don't want Falls Church. We're about a half mile closer to Falls Church than we are to McLean. We're fortunate that Marshall is a great school, but I wish we had a better AP option.

The irony here is that Marshall became known as a much better school AFTER it introduced the IB program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say pare it down to one IB HS per region. 5 regions would mean 5 high schools

Region I: South Lakes
Region II: Annandale, Marshall or Stuart
Region III: Edison, Lee or Mount Vernon
Region IV: Robinson
Region V: does not have one currently: which should switch to IB: Chantilly, Westfield or Woodson (Fairfax not a contender because of Fairfax City)

Regions II and III are too heavily IB.

None of those schools in Region V want IB. Chantilly and Westfield are in high-tech territory; those folks heavily prefer AP. In addition, Chantilly is largely Asian, and those communities also tend to prefer the structure of AP over IB, which requires a ton of essay writing. FCPS tried to introduce IB to Woodson years ago and the parents rebelled. I think that battle has been fought and lost.

I tend to agree four IB schools is enough - would keep it at South Lakes, Marshall, Lee and Robinson. Edison has an Academy, and Mount Vernon has some special programs associated with being the school for families on base at Ft. Belvoir. Limiting IB in that area to Lee might increase the number of pupil placements to that school.

So how do we get FCPS to get on board with this pairing down of the IB program. Seems like a good year to make the change. They could say they're using the savings on providing busing for high schools to start later.

Speak up! Dr. Garza is starting her listening tours next week. I believe she'll be at Whitman MS on Tues, Oct 14 at 7pm.

[Anonymous]

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.


Our AP option is a much lower performing school. My kids will be sticking with IB.

That is very rarely the case in FCPS. Maybe if you are zoned for Marshall and Falls Church is your only AP option. Otherwise the AP schools are usually more sought after. Look at all the transfers out of Annandale, Lee and Mount Vernon.

You nailed it. We're zoned for Marshall and definitely don't want Falls Church. We're about a half mile closer to Falls Church than we are to McLean. We're fortunate that Marshall is a great school, but I wish we had a better AP option.

The irony here is that Marshall became known as a much better school AFTER it introduced the IB program.

Actually, it is your comment that is ironical. The reason Marshall is now known as being better is because of the scenario above: Falls Church HS is widely thought to be sub-par, and many people would rather send their kids somewhere else. When Marshall became IB, that gave families an option to avoid Falls Church HS: they could pupil-place at Marshall for IB instead. That has helped channel some of the better students away from Falls Church and toward Marshall. That's why Marshall's standing has improved, not because of the IB program.