Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.

That's not what high school is about. You're supposed to be getting a general education in high school. Letting a teenager just focus on the subjects they like is the surefire way to never have them develop skills in areas where they are weak. We should want them to develop basic skills in those areas.

When they go to college, they get to pick a major. Not in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.

That's not what high school is about. You're supposed to be getting a general education in high school. Letting a teenager just focus on the subjects they like is the surefire way to never have them develop skills in areas where they are weak. We should want them to develop basic skills in those areas.

When they go to college, they get to pick a major. Not in high school.

In many countries, high school is like college and students are already on more specialized tracks.

My kids currently attend an IB school. They are taking all IB courses, but not getting the diploma. Why? Bc they are STEM focused and none of us saw the need to continue two more years of a foreign language when one can take other IB STEM courses. An AP a la carte school would serve them, and many other students, much better than IB. But we didn't transfer bc their friends were at the base school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

Can’t IB students take AP exams even if they didn’t take the AP class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

A lot of decent colleges no longer allow students to bypass certain classes bc of AP scores. I suppose you could get credit for the classes. If considering schools abroad, is AP or IB better? I know few people who are now considering given recent events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

Can’t IB students take AP exams even if they didn’t take the AP class?

There are specific test skills that are taught for the AP classes that an IB kid would have to study, on their own time. I seem to recall that AP English Lit requires students study some specific books in order to be able to answer essays about those books.

I understand that there are strengths to the IB program but they are not being utilized by FCPS. The IB program is geared towards earning the IB Diploma, which has benefits for kids wanting to study overseas. It is a specific program with a specific philosophy that involves taking a set number of SL and HL classes and then tests. A very small percentage of HS students in FCPS are embracing the IB program. The diploma numbers are low, even at the schools with the largest number of diploma candidates.

The IB program should be something students apply for, like they do in Arlington, Alexandria, and Loudon County. It should not be the only option for students at specific schools in FCPS. The number of students transferring from IB schools to AP schools is far higher than the number of students transferring from AP to IB schools, and those numbers are inflated by the Herndon kids transferring to SLHS because they don't want to be at Herndon HS.

The program is expensive and underutilized. And yes, I have a bias. My STEM focused kid should be able to attend a school that teaches Calculus as a class without having to take it online because the IB Math track doesn't have a calculus track. Never mind the stupidity of telling a kid that they can take Math HL but have to wait a year to take the exam because the exams have to be taken in 12th grade, and they are ahead of the schedule. Kids are essentially punished for being good at math and ahead.

IB is a failed experiment. It can be a great program for the right kid but there are not enough kids interested in the program to make it worth the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

A lot of decent colleges no longer allow students to bypass certain classes bc of AP scores. I suppose you could get credit for the classes. If considering schools abroad, is AP or IB better? I know few people who are now considering given recent events.

AP kids attend colleges in Europe without too many issues. IB kids have had their conditional acceptances revoked because they didn't score high enough on the IB exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

Can’t IB students take AP exams even if they didn’t take the AP class?

The overlap between AP and BC varies. Taking the exams for AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C and AP English after IB classes is ill advised even after HL classes. Foreign language is ok.

HL classes for college credit doesn’t work well if you’re limited to 3 during junior and senior years. Decent students easily take double that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

A lot of decent colleges no longer allow students to bypass certain classes bc of AP scores. I suppose you could get credit for the classes. If considering schools abroad, is AP or IB better? I know few people who are now considering given recent events.

The schools worth attending abroad accept both AP and IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No idea why these IB boosters keep saying those who strongly prefer AP must not be familiar with IB. A lot of us either have first-hand experience with IB or did our homework. IB is a niche program not tailored to the needs of American students.

And it’s obvious from the fact that the top schools in FCPS are AP and that FCPS ceased converting AP schools to IB over a decade ago that the IB implementation in FCPS has been a failure. It would be far more sensible to convert the IB schools back to AP.

It’s obvious also from IB classes getting less college credit compared to AP ones. IB SL classes are a joke, same as Theory of knowledge and CAS.

Why are SL classes a joke? Are they not in depth? What is your experience with them? Not arguing, trying to understand IB better.

IB SL classes generally don’t get any college credit. So if you’re set on taking an advanced class a la carte, it makes most sense to take the AP class instead.

Or take IB HL (higher level) classes. AP isn’t your only option for college credit.

There is also dual enrollment, which does the job more effectively than IB

FCPS should get rid of IB and put just AP and dual enrollment at every high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.

That's not what high school is about. You're supposed to be getting a general education in high school. Letting a teenager just focus on the subjects they like is the surefire way to never have them develop skills in areas where they are weak. We should want them to develop basic skills in those areas.

When they go to college, they get to pick a major. Not in high school.

Your comment captures well why IB sucks. Students and parents are in the best position to decide what their high school education is about, what skills to develop and how to address their weaknesses.

Foreign language skills matter less these days with instant translation of everything and English being the lingua Franca of the world.

Humanities, or information collecting subjects matter less, see the abysmal enrollment in English and History majors that have been declining for decades.

A program like IB where you pick one of each in the last two years of high school in math, science, English, social sciences, foreign language and arts is only balanced on paper. It’s a poor choice for most students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.

That's not what high school is about. You're supposed to be getting a general education in high school. Letting a teenager just focus on the subjects they like is the surefire way to never have them develop skills in areas where they are weak. We should want them to develop basic skills in those areas.

When they go to college, they get to pick a major. Not in high school.

Your comment captures well why IB sucks. Students and parents are in the best position to decide what their high school education is about, what skills to develop and how to address their weaknesses.

Foreign language skills matter less these days with instant translation of everything and English being the lingua Franca of the world.

Humanities, or information collecting subjects matter less, see the abysmal enrollment in English and History majors that have been declining for decades.

A program like IB where you pick one of each in the last two years of high school in math, science, English, social sciences, foreign language and arts is only balanced on paper. It’s a poor choice for most students.

+1. Drop FL, art, ToK, CAS, and take real classes that are a solid foundation for general education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.

That's not what high school is about. You're supposed to be getting a general education in high school. Letting a teenager just focus on the subjects they like is the surefire way to never have them develop skills in areas where they are weak. We should want them to develop basic skills in those areas.

When they go to college, they get to pick a major. Not in high school.

Your comment captures well why IB sucks. Students and parents are in the best position to decide what their high school education is about, what skills to develop and how to address their weaknesses.

Foreign language skills matter less these days with instant translation of everything and English being the lingua Franca of the world.

Humanities, or information collecting subjects matter less, see the abysmal enrollment in English and History majors that have been declining for decades.

A program like IB where you pick one of each in the last two years of high school in math, science, English, social sciences, foreign language and arts is only balanced on paper. It’s a poor choice for most students.

DP. We are in agreement about one thing: students and parents are in the best position to make these decisions.

And guess what? Some parents don’t agree with you. My daughter had a very successful experience in IB, and we’d do it again. She’s a thoughtful human, a strong writer, and she walked into college with a heap of credit.

I’m convinced there are only 2-3 regular posters on this thread who are vehemently anti-IB and they won’t stand down until every other parent relents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.

That's not what high school is about. You're supposed to be getting a general education in high school. Letting a teenager just focus on the subjects they like is the surefire way to never have them develop skills in areas where they are weak. We should want them to develop basic skills in those areas.

When they go to college, they get to pick a major. Not in high school.

Your comment captures well why IB sucks. Students and parents are in the best position to decide what their high school education is about, what skills to develop and how to address their weaknesses.

Foreign language skills matter less these days with instant translation of everything and English being the lingua Franca of the world.

Humanities, or information collecting subjects matter less, see the abysmal enrollment in English and History majors that have been declining for decades.

A program like IB where you pick one of each in the last two years of high school in math, science, English, social sciences, foreign language and arts is only balanced on paper. It’s a poor choice for most students.

IB vs AP aside, I think the focus on STEM at the expense of humanities in the US is troubling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.

That's not what high school is about. You're supposed to be getting a general education in high school. Letting a teenager just focus on the subjects they like is the surefire way to never have them develop skills in areas where they are weak. We should want them to develop basic skills in those areas.

When they go to college, they get to pick a major. Not in high school.

Your comment captures well why IB sucks. Students and parents are in the best position to decide what their high school education is about, what skills to develop and how to address their weaknesses.

Foreign language skills matter less these days with instant translation of everything and English being the lingua Franca of the world.

Humanities, or information collecting subjects matter less, see the abysmal enrollment in English and History majors that have been declining for decades.

A program like IB where you pick one of each in the last two years of high school in math, science, English, social sciences, foreign language and arts is only balanced on paper. It’s a poor choice for most students.

DP. We are in agreement about one thing: students and parents are in the best position to make these decisions.

And guess what? Some parents don’t agree with you. My daughter had a very successful experience in IB, and we’d do it again. She’s a thoughtful human, a strong writer, and she walked into college with a heap of credit.

I’m convinced there are only 2-3 regular posters on this thread who are vehemently anti-IB and they won’t stand down until every other parent relents.

I'm convinced there are 2-3 regular IB boosters who alternate between saying there are 2-3 vehemently anti-IB posters and only those who don't know IB find it an inferior program.

This issue is only getting major attention now because FCPS is conducting a county-wide boundary review, the under-enrolled schools tend to be IB schools, and FCPS has provided no assurance that it won't rezone kids into IB schools even if they prefer AP.

So you are getting a lot of families who don't want to get tossed into IB schools making their voices heard now, so the School Board (which otherwise tends to function as an echo chamber) gets an advance peak at the opposition it could be facing later.