What are my child's chances of getting into the IB program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

This feels like sour grapes. If you count the regional IB magnets, there are plenty of spaces for kids who are qualified and interested. Most kids accepted to RMIB are also accepted to their "regional" IB program, which means a ton of spots often open up in the regional program. Now, you may or may not think that choice is valid or worth the commute, but it is a bona fide magnet program offering four years of cohorted classes and a full IB diploma option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

This feels like sour grapes. If you count the regional IB magnets, there are plenty of spaces for kids who are qualified and interested. Most kids accepted to RMIB are also accepted to their "regional" IB program, which means a ton of spots often open up in the regional program. Now, you may or may not think that choice is valid or worth the commute, but it is a bona fide magnet program offering four years of cohorted classes and a full IB diploma option.

That's great as long as they offer equivalent access to every flavor of IB class that is available at RMIB to any student at the regional/local IB programs. Is that the case, no matter how few request that at a particular school in a given semester/year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

This feels like sour grapes. If you count the regional IB magnets, there are plenty of spaces for kids who are qualified and interested. Most kids accepted to RMIB are also accepted to their "regional" IB program, which means a ton of spots often open up in the regional program. Now, you may or may not think that choice is valid or worth the commute, but it is a bona fide magnet program offering four years of cohorted classes and a full IB diploma option.

That's great as long as they offer equivalent access to every flavor of IB class that is available at RMIB to any student at the regional/local IB programs. Is that the case, no matter how few request that at a particular school in a given semester/year?

They do not offer equivalent access to every class, period, at each of the high schools in MCPS. IB classes as well as non-IB classes. If that's a problem, then it's a general problem, not a specifically-IB problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

OP, the IB diploma is offered at all these schools: B-CC, Einstein, Kennedy, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Springbrook, Watkins Mill. Your child can attend any of these schools and can obtain the IB diploma.

You should work for MCPS communications. They will love you. Of course OP's kid can not just randomly attend any of these schools. MCPS loves to talk about their various programs and course offerings, but, if they are not at your in-bound school you are unlikely to be able to access the program.

No kidding. I was stating the high schools that have these programs IN CASE OP is inbound or in one of the schools that feed into a regional program. My point is RM is not the only way to get the diploma. In fact, there's a high likelihood that OP's daughter will get in through one of these means:

- Einstein: If you live in the DCC, you can choose Einstein as your HS to get into the IB program
- Kennedy: application only for students whose homeschool is one of the following: Churchill, Whitman, Walter Johnson, DCC- Blair, Einstein, Northwood, Kennedy, Wheaton, BCC
- BCC: open to all students
- Rockville: open to all students
- Seneca Valley: open to all students
- Springbrook: application only for students whose homeschool is one of the following: Magruder, Rockville, Sherwood, Northeast Consortium (NEC)- Blake, Paint Branch, Springbrook
- Watkins Mill: Clarksburg, Damascus, Gaithersburg, Northwest, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Watkins Mill, Wootton

Seneca Valley also has magnet (regional college and career) programs open by lottery to students zoned for Clarksburg, Damascus, Gaithersburg, Northwest, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Watkins Mill and Magruder, and if you're at SV for whatever reason, you can do IB DP.

Yes, many kids doing the lottery medical program at Seneca are also taking IB DP or IB CP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

This feels like sour grapes. If you count the regional IB magnets, there are plenty of spaces for kids who are qualified and interested. Most kids accepted to RMIB are also accepted to their "regional" IB program, which means a ton of spots often open up in the regional program. Now, you may or may not think that choice is valid or worth the commute, but it is a bona fide magnet program offering four years of cohorted classes and a full IB diploma option.

That's great as long as they offer equivalent access to every flavor of IB class that is available at RMIB to any student at the regional/local IB programs. Is that the case, no matter how few request that at a particular school in a given semester/year?

They do not offer equivalent access to every class, period, at each of the high schools in MCPS. IB classes as well as non-IB classes. If that's a problem, then it's a general problem, not a specifically-IB problem.

Agree. But it would also mean that the poster who qualified a past post as "sour grapes" (maybe better described as handwringing -- it appeared to be concern about relative randomness of magnet IB selection) was leaving out such a difference in courses available when indicating that all the IB schools offer the IB diploma.

Which would, then, be at least some basis for hand-wringing. Not too much, but enough not to dismiss it out of hand.

We can hope MCPS works toward providing adequate seats and equivalent access across the system. For all programs. They maybe doing so, but it's a work in progress, and folks shouldn't be looking to quash notice of disparities -- it should help MCPS identify problem areas for prioritization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

I keep hearing this but some kids get in to the same top programs. How do you explain that? Were they just “randomly” selected multiple times?

[Anonymous]

the acceptance rate is something like 10%

[Anonymous]

Can students participate in a highschool sport and the IB? The time commitment seems prohibitive. The high school sports practice everyday during the season plus weekend games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can students participate in a highschool sport and the IB? The time commitment seems prohibitive. The high school sports practice everyday during the season plus weekend games.

Yes. Most of the kids in my child's RMIB peer group are also athletes. It takes exceptional time management, but these kids are squeezing schoolwork into bus rides, lunch hours, and other nooks and crannies.

[Anonymous]

Does RM have good clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does RM have good clubs?

Lots!
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/rm-extracurricular-activities/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

This feels like sour grapes. If you count the regional IB magnets, there are plenty of spaces for kids who are qualified and interested. Most kids accepted to RMIB are also accepted to their "regional" IB program, which means a ton of spots often open up in the regional program. Now, you may or may not think that choice is valid or worth the commute, but it is a bona fide magnet program offering four years of cohorted classes and a full IB diploma option.

There are no "regional" IB magnets, nor "spots" nor "acceptance" to them in MCPS. RMIB is a county-wide by application IB program. If you happen to live in the DCC and neither Einstein nor Kennedy is your homeschool, you can go through the "choice" process and try to opt into those programs, but it is not an "apply/accept" process like RMIB. (I suppose you can say the DCC IB programs are "magnets" in the sense of "magnets" for "pull" integration, which was the original intent of the DCC - to create a pull method of racial integration instead of push integration method like bussing." For those students whose homeschool offers an IB anywhere in the county, these are simply opt in programs in whole or part. There is no apply/accept and no limitation on the number of "spots" in these non-RMIB programs; no one should be worrying about "getting into" these (except maybe in the DCC).

Unfortunately, there are some kids who can't do IB at all if their homeschool doesn't offer it. For example, kids from Whitman or WJ who want to do IB, can't apply to or transfer to BCC for that. It's RMIB or nothing for them.

Also, the non-RMIB programs do not offer 4 years of cohorted IB classes. You opt-in in 11th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

I keep hearing this but some kids get in to the same top programs. How do you explain that? Were they just “randomly” selected multiple times?

Yes because they applied to multiple programs. And in the end they can only accept one, so that frees up space for the program will then invite students from the wait list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 8th grade. She wants to go to the IB program at RM. She enjoys english and history class but doesn't like math. She also really enjoys her foreign language and she skipped level 2 of the language. Her spring map r was a 262 and her fall was 253 (don't know what happened there). Her extracurriculars are okay (should have pushed her more lol). However, I have heard that this program is very stressful and has a lot of work. It is also very hard to get in. Do you think it is a good fit for her and what are her chances of gettting in? (I'm hoping for at least 70%).

The chances are slim. These decisions are random. Even if your child is a great fit, I wouldn't count on it.

Not random for HS criteria-based magnets: application/review/selection.

There have been modifications over the past few years to the application process that make the information available to reviewers more constrcted than before, in an attempt to limit bias. From that perspective, it may appear more random.

The litmus/lottery approach currently applies to elementary and middle school criteria-based programs (CES, Humanities, Math/Science/CS).

The criteria makes it random. 400 applicants appear comparable on paper so only way to distinguish is random.

This feels like sour grapes. If you count the regional IB magnets, there are plenty of spaces for kids who are qualified and interested. Most kids accepted to RMIB are also accepted to their "regional" IB program, which means a ton of spots often open up in the regional program. Now, you may or may not think that choice is valid or worth the commute, but it is a bona fide magnet program offering four years of cohorted classes and a full IB diploma option.

There are no "regional" IB magnets, nor "spots" nor "acceptance" to them in MCPS. RMIB is a county-wide by application IB program. If you happen to live in the DCC and neither Einstein nor Kennedy is your homeschool, you can go through the "choice" process and try to opt into those programs, but it is not an "apply/accept" process like RMIB. (I suppose you can say the DCC IB programs are "magnets" in the sense of "magnets" for "pull" integration, which was the original intent of the DCC - to create a pull method of racial integration instead of push integration method like bussing." For those students whose homeschool offers an IB anywhere in the county, these are simply opt in programs in whole or part. There is no apply/accept and no limitation on the number of "spots" in these non-RMIB programs; no one should be worrying about "getting into" these (except maybe in the DCC).

Unfortunately, there are some kids who can't do IB at all if their homeschool doesn't offer it. For example, kids from Whitman or WJ who want to do IB, can't apply to or transfer to BCC for that. It's RMIB or nothing for them.

Also, the non-RMIB programs do not offer 4 years of cohorted IB classes. You opt-in in 11th grade.

Yes, there are in fact three regional IB magnets, at Kennedy, Springbrook, and Watkins Mill. They have the same application process as RMIB.