DCI or Deal

[Anonymous]

Wow. Clearly you haven't done your homework! DCI offers so much tutoring! Kids can get support during brunch, lunch, and even after school. There is a special afterschool homework class designed to help kids with self-management and assistance with homework. The school publishes a schedule of each subject/teacher's support time. Hope Deal does as well by you!

[Anonymous]

I won't send my kid to any school that has 'brunch' on principle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Clearly you haven't done your homework! DCI offers so much tutoring! Kids can get support during brunch, lunch, and even after school. There is a special afterschool homework class designed to help kids with self-management and assistance with homework. The school publishes a schedule of each subject/teacher's support time. Hope Deal does as well by you!

Don't take it personally. DCI obviously works for you. They prefer Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Theory is not practice if the teaching to HL is not done.

In many high schools with IB that offer the diploma as an option, there are levels to the IB courses. Standard vs. HL. The difference is the HL is more challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theory is not practice if the teaching to HL is not done.

In many high schools with IB that offer the diploma as an option, there are levels to the IB courses. Standard vs. HL. The difference is the HL is more challenging.

DCI is also offering the IB career-related program which requires at least 2 IB diploma classes and other "career-related" classes. So there won't necessarily be the full tracking that some suggest. https://www.ibo.org/programmes/career-related-programme/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theory is not practice if the teaching to HL is not done.

In many high schools with IB that offer the diploma as an option, there are levels to the IB courses. Standard vs. HL. The difference is the HL is more challenging.

DCI is also offering the IB career-related program which requires at least 2 IB diploma classes and other "career-related" classes. So there won't necessarily be the full tracking that some suggest. https://www.ibo.org/programmes/career-related-programme/

They offer both. The IB diploma is for the advanced students. The IB career is basically the students who are unable to get the diploma who can take standard IB classes but don’t meet the requirements for the diploma.

https://dcinternationalschool.org/academic-program/international-baccalaureate/#1500566426164-81b7edeb-ccf9

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Theory is not practice if the teaching to HL is not done.

In many high schools with IB that offer the diploma as an option, there are levels to the IB courses. Standard vs. HL. The difference is the HL is more challenging.

DCI is also offering the IB career-related program which requires at least 2 IB diploma classes and other "career-related" classes. So there won't necessarily be the full tracking that some suggest. https://www.ibo.org/programmes/career-related-programme/

They offer both. The IB diploma is for the advanced students. The IB career is basically the students who are unable to get the diploma who can take standard IB classes but don’t meet the requirements for the diploma.

https://dcinternationalschool.org/academic-program/international-baccalaureate/#1500566426164-81b7edeb-ccf9

Not just for 'unable' but also for students that have no interest in attending college.

And the post you replied to said "also offering"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

I hope that the feeders, and in turn DCI, DON'T all become stuffed with 'strong' students searching for 'rigor.' Charters are supposed to serve ALL, especially those who don't have access to good neighborhood schools. Or is that just rhetoric they put in all their applications and annual reports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

I hope that the feeders, and in turn DCI, DON'T all become stuffed with 'strong' students searching for 'rigor.' Charters are supposed to serve ALL, especially those who don't have access to good neighborhood schools. Or is that just rhetoric they put in all their applications and annual reports?

That’s why there is the option of the IB career program.

Don’t worry. It will be a long time before DCI will get as white as Deal because DCI takes kids from all over the city. Deal predominantly takes all in-boundary kids who can afford to live in the rich side of town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

I hope that the feeders, and in turn DCI, DON'T all become stuffed with 'strong' students searching for 'rigor.' Charters are supposed to serve ALL, especially those who don't have access to good neighborhood schools. Or is that just rhetoric they put in all their applications and annual reports?

That’s why there is the option of the IB career program.

Don’t worry. It will be a long time before DCI will get as white as Deal because DCI takes kids from all over the city. Deal predominantly takes all in-boundary kids who can afford to live in the rich side of town.

Latin MS takes students from all over the city; it is 44% white (Deal is 47% white).

Being a city-wide charter is not guarantee of an integrated school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

I'd agree with you if needed "modifications" were being down the chain right now.

There are obvious problems with academic rigor in the feeders and the DCI middle school that aren't being addressed, reducing the likelihood that IBD students can score in the 30s even a decade from now. For example, we can't expect students coming up through one-way immersion programs like YuYing and one-way partial immersion at DCI to go on to ace HL IB Diploma language exams (which stress speaking languages) at least not without an abundance of full-fledged immersion experiences shoehorned in during summers. Neither can we expect in DCI middle school ELA, science and social studies classes where students working at a 3rd grade level are taught alongside those working at an 8th grade level to on to nail IBD English exams etc. Tweaking the HS experience will invariably be too little too late, other than in a small number of cases where parents supplement extensively for years.

Sure, the scores will go up over time, but not into the high 30s. Too bad, because they could quickly with the right inputs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

I'd agree with you if needed "modifications" were being down the chain right now.

There are obvious problems with academic rigor in the feeders and the DCI middle school that aren't being addressed, reducing the likelihood that IBD students can score in the 30s even a decade from now. For example, we can't expect students coming up through one-way immersion programs like YuYing and one-way partial immersion at DCI to go on to ace HL IB Diploma language exams (which stress speaking languages) at least not without an abundance of full-fledged immersion experiences shoehorned in during summers. Neither can we expect in DCI middle school ELA, science and social studies classes where students working at a 3rd grade level are taught alongside those working at an 8th grade level to on to nail IBD English exams etc. Tweaking the HS experience will invariably be too little too late, other than in a small number of cases where parents supplement extensively for years.

Sure, the scores will go up over time, but not into the high 30s. Too bad, because they could quickly with the right inputs.

High 30s aren't really needed in the U.S. though. College admission is determined by grades, courses taken and standardized test scores. IB exam scores don't even come out until long after students have admissions decisions.

I agree with your assessment, but also think most DCI parents don't share your view on the importance of the exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

I'd agree with you if needed "modifications" were being down the chain right now.

There are obvious problems with academic rigor in the feeders and the DCI middle school that aren't being addressed, reducing the likelihood that IBD students can score in the 30s even a decade from now. For example, we can't expect students coming up through one-way immersion programs like YuYing and one-way partial immersion at DCI to go on to ace HL IB Diploma language exams (which stress speaking languages) at least not without an abundance of full-fledged immersion experiences shoehorned in during summers. Neither can we expect in DCI middle school ELA, science and social studies classes where students working at a 3rd grade level are taught alongside those working at an 8th grade level to on to nail IBD English exams etc. Tweaking the HS experience will invariably be too little too late, other than in a small number of cases where parents supplement extensively for years.

Sure, the scores will go up over time, but not into the high 30s. Too bad, because they could quickly with the right inputs.

High 30s aren't really needed in the U.S. though. College admission is determined by grades, courses taken and standardized test scores. IB exam scores don't even come out until long after students have admissions decisions.

I agree with your assessment, but also think most DCI parents don't share your view on the importance of the exams.

Most DCI parents I've talked don't seem to know much at all about IBD exams. My experience teaching in a heavily American "Full International Baccalaurate" school abroad (don't earn the Diploma and don't graduate) for a number of years taught me that it's not that simple.

Where do I start? Strong IBD programs in the US and North American international schools abroad generally encourage IBD students to take up to four IBD exams in the June of junior year, long BEFORE students apply to college let alone have admissions decisions. Geneva IB has allowed up to four of the six IB subject exams to be taken during IBD Year I/junior year for a decade now. In weaker and new IBD programs, inexperienced admins tend not to know this.

Also, long running IBD programs in the US and abroad encourage students to "double up on AP and SAT II." This means taking the AP and SAT subject tests that correspond with the six IBD subject exams, to give the kid more standardized test scores to submit with college applications than they'd have otherwise. College counselors in established IBD programs know that the "Predicted IBD Exam Scores" teachers can submit with college applications do little to help applicants. You can't fudge pre IBD exam rigor - if kids on track to scores in the 20s, that will show in their various test scores. Grades matter a lot less in elite college admissions than you might think, in a day when most secondary schools dole out easy As.

Finally, it's become common for IBD students to submit their Extended Essay, normally completed in the fall of senior year. with college applications. The quality of an EE can't be easily fudged either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also not "practice" when kids come through the DCI MYP with weak or mediocre language and ELA skills. In that case, a bright and hard-working Diploma candidate is likely to scrape by with a pass points total in the mid to high 20s. Not sure where that gets them in terms of college admissions and prep. Right now, the writing is on the wall for few DCI kids, if any, to score in the 30s for at least a few years, maybe five.

The DCI admins and parents I talk to about IB Diploma don't seem to have their heads around how tough it is to score high on IBD examinations (graded in Geneva), particularly language tests at the HL.

What I see is that too many of the strongest DCI feeder students are peeling off for Wash Latin, BASIS, privates, the burbs after 4th of 5th grades in search of more MS rigor for DCI's future pass points totals to impress.

I don’t expect the kids to score in the 30’s at a new program that is not even 5 years old. We will see how the graduating class does. Give it another few years as they modify and adjust what they need to and I bet the scores will go up.

You will see more and more strong feeder kids go the DCI route as each year goes by, without a doubt, as families don’t want to move to the burbs or go private. There’s only a finite amount of seats at Latin and low chance of getting in there. Basis isn’t for everyone and some don’t even consider it.

I'd agree with you if needed "modifications" were being down the chain right now.

There are obvious problems with academic rigor in the feeders and the DCI middle school that aren't being addressed, reducing the likelihood that IBD students can score in the 30s even a decade from now. For example, we can't expect students coming up through one-way immersion programs like YuYing and one-way partial immersion at DCI to go on to ace HL IB Diploma language exams (which stress speaking languages) at least not without an abundance of full-fledged immersion experiences shoehorned in during summers. Neither can we expect in DCI middle school ELA, science and social studies classes where students working at a 3rd grade level are taught alongside those working at an 8th grade level to on to nail IBD English exams etc. Tweaking the HS experience will invariably be too little too late, other than in a small number of cases where parents supplement extensively for years.

Sure, the scores will go up over time, but not into the high 30s. Too bad, because they could quickly with the right inputs.

High 30s aren't really needed in the U.S. though. College admission is determined by grades, courses taken and standardized test scores. IB exam scores don't even come out until long after students have admissions decisions.

I agree with your assessment, but also think most DCI parents don't share your view on the importance of the exams.

Most DCI parents I've talked don't seem to know much at all about IBD exams. My experience teaching in a heavily American "Full International Baccalaurate" school abroad (don't earn the Diploma and don't graduate) for a number of years taught me that it's not that simple.

Where do I start? Strong IBD programs in the US and North American international schools abroad generally encourage IBD students to take up to four IBD exams in the June of junior year, long BEFORE students apply to college let alone have admissions decisions. Geneva IB has allowed up to four of the six IB subject exams to be taken during IBD Year I/junior year for a decade now. In weaker and new IBD programs, inexperienced admins tend not to know this.

Also, long running IBD programs in the US and abroad encourage students to "double up on AP and SAT II." This means taking the AP and SAT subject tests that correspond with the six IBD subject exams, to give the kid more standardized test scores to submit with college applications than they'd have otherwise. College counselors in established IBD programs know that the "Predicted IBD Exam Scores" teachers can submit with college applications do little to help applicants. You can't fudge pre IBD exam rigor - if kids on track to scores in the 20s, that will show in their various test scores. Grades matter a lot less in elite college admissions than you might think, in a day when most secondary schools dole out easy As.

Finally, it's become common for IBD students to submit their Extended Essay, normally completed in the fall of senior year. with college applications. The quality of an EE can't be easily fudged either.

Deal is the same, it doesn't do IB properly either.