CAP Versus Regional IB program?

[Anonymous]

The same standards applied to all applicants to all programs. If your child has the transcript, recommendations and scores to indicate they would be able to thrive in an IB program then they will have been offered a spot or placed on a waitlist. Period.

Please keep in mind that all of them... in the county and anywhere on the planet... have the same daunting work load and testing in their futures. The vigor is policed closely by the IBO. it is one of the few ways universities around the world can feel confident they are making apples to apples comparisons. They already know what the all of these students have gone through to get the IB diploma. At that point the IB test scores are great indicators. Much more so than the Cogat as the Cogat test takers have had unknowable and unquantifiable elementary and middle school experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The same standards applied to all applicants to all programs. If your child has the transcript, recommendations and scores to indicate they would be able to thrive in an IB program then they will have been offered a spot or placed on a waitlist. Period.

Please keep in mind that all of them... in the county and anywhere on the planet... have the same daunting work load and testing in their futures. The vigor is policed closely by the IBO. it is one of the few ways universities around the world can feel confident they are making apples to apples comparisons. They already know what the all of these students have gone through to get the IB diploma. At that point the IB test scores are great indicators. Much more so than the Cogat as the Cogat test takers have had unknowable and unquantifiable elementary and middle school experiences.

I was asking about the actual Cogat scores. My child did apply to another program so I know her scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is some discussion on other threads about how the IB programs ramp up in junior and senior years, whereas the CAP-specific courses wind down the last two years. Winding down sounds better in light of college applications, SAT prep and AP exams. Plus, more flexibility in the student’s schedule to get an internship or classes that interest them during the last two years. Some say IB makes for a more well-rounded student, but CAP kids will be taking AP physics freshman year. My future CAP kid plans to take four years of math and world language in high school. And likely four years of science. So you can round them out in CAP too. Hopefully they’ll have time to do some extracurriculars too.

Assuming that is AP Physics 1 which is algebra based?

[Anonymous]

If you really dig into IB (check out the IB official website, not the high school’s), it is unparalleled.
You start with the Middle Years Program and then in 11th grade, move into the Diploma Program. Highly rigorous, aiming to develop very well rounded kids who are critical thinkers and internationally minded. Look up the “Profile of the Learner” for IB.
It’s amazing. I really hope Blair eventually adds IB.

https://www.ibo.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is some discussion on other threads about how the IB programs ramp up in junior and senior years, whereas the CAP-specific courses wind down the last two years. Winding down sounds better in light of college applications, SAT prep and AP exams. Plus, more flexibility in the student’s schedule to get an internship or classes that interest them during the last two years. Some say IB makes for a more well-rounded student, but CAP kids will be taking AP physics freshman year. My future CAP kid plans to take four years of math and world language in high school. And likely four years of science. So you can round them out in CAP too. Hopefully they’ll have time to do some extracurriculars too.

Assuming that is AP Physics 1 which is algebra based?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same spot with my kid (accepted time CAP and the Kennedy regional IB) and we are doing CAP on the recommendation of some MCPS employees who know the system. The Kennedy program is new, meaning the teachers are still being trained on how to teach IB classes. I love IB but will choose CAP because it’s a known quantity and my kid can get good math/science at Blair to round her out. HTH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the same spot with my kid (accepted time CAP and the Kennedy regional IB) and we are doing CAP on the recommendation of some MCPS employees who know the system. The Kennedy program is new, meaning the teachers are still being trained on how to teach IB classes. I love IB but will choose CAP because it’s a known quantity and my kid can get good math/science at Blair to round her out. HTH

A day or two ago someone else on this thread wrote the Kennedy has been an IB school since 2011. It may not, however, have had the full four year program cohort like RMIB, Springbrook and BCC have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the same spot with my kid (accepted time CAP and the Kennedy regional IB) and we are doing CAP on the recommendation of some MCPS employees who know the system. The Kennedy program is new, meaning the teachers are still being trained on how to teach IB classes. I love IB but will choose CAP because it’s a known quantity and my kid can get good math/science at Blair to round her out. HTH

Thanks - this is helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the same spot with my kid (accepted time CAP and the Kennedy regional IB) and we are doing CAP on the recommendation of some MCPS employees who know the system. The Kennedy program is new, meaning the teachers are still being trained on how to teach IB classes. I love IB but will choose CAP because it’s a known quantity and my kid can get good math/science at Blair to round her out. HTH

A day or two ago someone else on this thread wrote the Kennedy has been an IB school since 2011. It may not, however, have had the full four year program cohort like RMIB, Springbrook and BCC have?

Hmmm not sure about this. Maybe Kennedy’s IB has been like Einstein’s up to now, open to all students. What’s new now must be the creation of a highly able cohort, and maybe the teaching challenges that go along with that?

[Anonymous]

At the info night, it was explained that this is the last year for RMIB to be open to the entire county. As of next year, you will apply to JFK for IB as the regional, application based IB. You won’t be able to apply for RMIB outside of that region. It’s changing. This is the first year that JFK had a competitive IB program that is application based, and the district is planning on making it more and more competitive as RMIB no longer is an option for many as of 2020-2021. So the 2011 and onward IB that JFK had was something different. This is year one of the new plan and more competitive programming.

[Anonymous]

In other words, this is year one of a new, much more competitive
IB at JFK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the info night, it was explained that this is the last year for RMIB to be open to the entire county. As of next year, you will apply to JFK for IB as the regional, application based IB. You won’t be able to apply for RMIB outside of that region. It’s changing. This is the first year that JFK had a competitive IB program that is application based, and the district is planning on making it more and more competitive as RMIB no longer is an option for many as of 2020-2021. So the 2011 and onward IB that JFK had was something different. This is year one of the new plan and more competitive programming.

RMIB currently has no region since it is open to the whole county...so it would be for RM only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the info night, it was explained that this is the last year for RMIB to be open to the entire county. As of next year, you will apply to JFK for IB as the regional, application based IB. You won’t be able to apply for RMIB outside of that region. It’s changing. This is the first year that JFK had a competitive IB program that is application based, and the district is planning on making it more and more competitive as RMIB no longer is an option for many as of 2020-2021. So the 2011 and onward IB that JFK had was something different. This is year one of the new plan and more competitive programming.

RMIB currently has no region since it is open to the whole county...so it would be for RM only?

NP: I can't remember if I heard it at a board meeting last year or read it. RM will become a regional center. MCPS wasn't clear what the proposed boundaries/ feeder schools will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the info night, it was explained that this is the last year for RMIB to be open to the entire county. As of next year, you will apply to JFK for IB as the regional, application based IB. You won’t be able to apply for RMIB outside of that region. It’s changing. This is the first year that JFK had a competitive IB program that is application based, and the district is planning on making it more and more competitive as RMIB no longer is an option for many as of 2020-2021. So the 2011 and onward IB that JFK had was something different. This is year one of the new plan and more competitive programming.

RMIB currently has no region since it is open to the whole county...so it would be for RM only?

NP: I can't remember if I heard it at a board meeting last year or read it. RM will become a regional center. MCPS wasn't clear what the proposed boundaries/ feeder schools will be.

It would have to be regional, unless they plan on opening another IB regional north/west county. Springbrook and Kennedy are east county, and WM is further up north.

[Anonymous]

This seems like good IB news! I am in TP/SS and though the RM IB program has always seemed terrific the commute takes it off the table for my kids. It’ll take a little while for the cohort to really develop at Kennedy and the other regional centers, and the teachers may take time to form a tight knit group and really give the program a high caliber identity, but I’m optimistic and happy that the county is going in the direction of offering more great programs- IB, dual language etc. (Do not see myself in the “demoralized in MCPS” thread)