Is there any place for math/science kid (not TJ level) in IB HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - we're zoned for an IB HS. My 2nd grader really struggles with writing. I know. I know. It's 2nd grade she can improve, but I'm concerned. If a child is a mediocre writer, will they fall apart in IB? How strong a writer does one need to be to be in IB or does IB help train you to be a better writer?

This. It will take some time but kids will get better as they write more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - we're zoned for an IB HS. My 2nd grader really struggles with writing. I know. I know. It's 2nd grade she can improve, but I'm concerned. If a child is a mediocre writer, will they fall apart in IB? How strong a writer does one need to be to be in IB or does IB help train you to be a better writer?

This. It will take some time but kids will get better as they write more.

The attrition in the IB diploma programs is very high. You can get plenty of writing experience in AP schools without all the IB nonsense. FCPS saddled a bunch of schools with IB 10-20 years ago but finally stopped. All the newer and the highest performing schools are AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - we're zoned for an IB HS. My 2nd grader really struggles with writing. I know. I know. It's 2nd grade she can improve, but I'm concerned. If a child is a mediocre writer, will they fall apart in IB? How strong a writer does one need to be to be in IB or does IB help train you to be a better writer?

This. It will take some time but kids will get better as they write more.

The attrition in the IB diploma programs is very high. You can get plenty of writing experience in AP schools without all the IB nonsense. FCPS saddled a bunch of schools with IB 10-20 years ago but finally stopped. All the newer and the highest performing schools are AP.

Maybe it is to you but not for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - we're zoned for an IB HS. My 2nd grader really struggles with writing. I know. I know. It's 2nd grade she can improve, but I'm concerned. If a child is a mediocre writer, will they fall apart in IB? How strong a writer does one need to be to be in IB or does IB help train you to be a better writer?

This. It will take some time but kids will get better as they write more.

The attrition in the IB diploma programs is very high. You can get plenty of writing experience in AP schools without all the IB nonsense. FCPS saddled a bunch of schools with IB 10-20 years ago but finally stopped. All the newer and the highest performing schools are AP.

Maybe it is to you but not for others.

The low IB diploma rates speak for themselves. What a disservice this program is to most students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - we're zoned for an IB HS. My 2nd grader really struggles with writing. I know. I know. It's 2nd grade she can improve, but I'm concerned. If a child is a mediocre writer, will they fall apart in IB? How strong a writer does one need to be to be in IB or does IB help train you to be a better writer?

This. It will take some time but kids will get better as they write more.

The attrition in the IB diploma programs is very high. You can get plenty of writing experience in AP schools without all the IB nonsense. FCPS saddled a bunch of schools with IB 10-20 years ago but finally stopped. All the newer and the highest performing schools are AP.

Maybe it is to you but not for others.

The low IB diploma rates speak for themselves. What a disservice this program is to most students.

+1. My kids are stuck with IB at our base school. Most of the parents in our neighborhood prefer AP, but the lack of transportation and two working parents means AP transfers aren't really an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - we're zoned for an IB HS. My 2nd grader really struggles with writing. I know. I know. It's 2nd grade she can improve, but I'm concerned. If a child is a mediocre writer, will they fall apart in IB? How strong a writer does one need to be to be in IB or does IB help train you to be a better writer?

This. It will take some time but kids will get better as they write more.

The attrition in the IB diploma programs is very high. You can get plenty of writing experience in AP schools without all the IB nonsense. FCPS saddled a bunch of schools with IB 10-20 years ago but finally stopped. All the newer and the highest performing schools are AP.

Maybe it is to you but not for others.

The low IB diploma rates speak for themselves. What a disservice this program is to most students.

There are many IB students outside of IB Diploma programs.

Do all students taking AP classes take 9 AP classes in total?

[Anonymous]

I will never understand the IB bashing on this board. Every HS student has a choice. If you or your child prefer one, choose it. You don't have to put down one to use the other.

[Anonymous]

IB and AP are the same. The only difference is IB has a diploma or you can take classes Hodge podge just like AP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - we're zoned for an IB HS. My 2nd grader really struggles with writing. I know. I know. It's 2nd grade she can improve, but I'm concerned. If a child is a mediocre writer, will they fall apart in IB? How strong a writer does one need to be to be in IB or does IB help train you to be a better writer?

This. It will take some time but kids will get better as they write more.

The attrition in the IB diploma programs is very high. You can get plenty of writing experience in AP schools without all the IB nonsense. FCPS saddled a bunch of schools with IB 10-20 years ago but finally stopped. All the newer and the highest performing schools are AP.

Maybe it is to you but not for others.

The low IB diploma rates speak for themselves. What a disservice this program is to most students.

There are many IB students outside of IB Diploma programs.

Do all students taking AP classes take 9 AP classes in total?

They aren't considered IB students unless they are in the small minority getting IB diplomas.

AP is far more flexible and one advantage is that you don't get stigmatized for taking 7 vs. 9 vs. 11 AP courses the way you do for being a non-diploma student at an IB school.

When top schools like Woodson ask for IB, rather than successfully protest to have AP restored, you'll know IB is on par with AP. It's never happened in FCPS. FCPS just stuck IB in mostly poorer schools and then turned a blind eye as schools people looked for ways to avoid going to them.

[Anonymous]

Can't students who aren't pursuing the IB diploma take IB classes? And who is doing this stigmatizing that some people refer to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They aren't considered IB students unless they are in the small minority getting IB diplomas.

Incorrect.

The number of IB students are listed under School Profiles, just as the number of AP students are listed under School Profiles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't students who aren't pursuing the IB diploma take IB classes? And who is doing this stigmatizing that some people refer to?

Many, many kids do take IB a la carte. The top 10% of the class or so will go for the full diploma, which is prestigious. But nobody stigmatizes kids who only take some IB classes, anymore than kids are stigmatized for "only" taking 3-4 APs. And IB full diploma and IB a la carte are the same peer group sitting together in the same class. The only issue is that if you are not pursing the full IB diploma and it's available, your guidance counselor may not certify for colleges that you are taking the "most rigorous course load available.' -- IB parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't students who aren't pursuing the IB diploma take IB classes? And who is doing this stigmatizing that some people refer to?

Yes, all students can take IB classes, if they are or are not pursuing the IB diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will never understand the IB bashing on this board. Every HS student has a choice. If you or your child prefer one, choose it. You don't have to put down one to use the other.

It never fails. There's one or two anti-IB guys on FCPS forum who always show up to bash IB program. Along with one who claims to be a teacher. They have nothing to add other than repeating same non-sense over and over and over...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't students who aren't pursuing the IB diploma take IB classes? And who is doing this stigmatizing that some people refer to?

Many, many kids do take IB a la carte. The top 10% of the class or so will go for the full diploma, which is prestigious. But nobody stigmatizes kids who only take some IB classes, anymore than kids are stigmatized for "only" taking 3-4 APs. And IB full diploma and IB a la carte are the same peer group sitting together in the same class. The only issue is that if you are not pursing the full IB diploma and it's available, your guidance counselor may not certify for colleges that you are taking the "most rigorous course load available.' -- IB parent

In fact, you're considered second-class at an IB school by both school administrators and college admissions officers if you're not among the small minority pursuing the full IB diploma. It sucks, which is why most people try to avoid IB schools, but there will always be a small number of IB parents who sing its praises.