FCPS High School prestige ranking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended two high school graduations this morning and yesterday morning. One school made a big deal of announcing which graduates were “honor graduates” or “IB diploma candidates” as the students went to accept their diplomas. The other simply announced each graduate by name and noted which students were NHS members or AP scholars in the graduation program.

The first school isn’t considered “prestigious” and the calling out of “honor graduates” and “IB diploma candidates” came across as tacky. The second school is known for its excellence and simply announcing each graduate by name came across as dignified. One doubts, however, that the administration of the first school realized it comes across as a wanna-be school.

As a seemingly over-invested parent, you should not require the explanation that, if AP Scholars receive mention, of course IBDP candidates will, too. What are you having a hard time understanding?

Sorry for the parents whose kids couldn’t handle ToK. Just own your path. You’ll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the IB people do try to push the "elite" IB program. We are not in an IB school district, but it appears to me that by the nature of it that the group is more segregated than those in an AP program.

In an AP school, some kids take a lot of AP classes, and some may take only one or two. And, of course, some may take none. Anyone fulfilling the requirements can be an "AP Scholar," but it is not a focus at all.

It’s like the people at low-prestige schools who make a big deal out of a kid occasionally getting into a top university. At a prestigious high school that happens regularly, so it doesn’t get called out.

IB schools in FCPS are not prestigious so they try to compensate by making a BFD out of their IB programs.

1) The IB diploma has the same requirement everywhere. It’s a difficult program and shows a boatload of motivation/hard work. Which is why the diploma numbers are not high. Good for those kids!
2) You can’t look at just where kids end up to gauge results. This is esp. true in an area with lots of “donut hole” families. $$ is going to impact the decision of where kids go to school. Lots of parents make over 200k/wont qualify for aid but can’t shell out full pay for top schools. It’s part of why top VA public colleges are so competitive.
3) I agree with a PP-aside from TJ—there is no “prestige” associated with FCPS schools. None. Prestige is for magnet schools and top privates. Your kid goes to a public school. There is some variety in quality. But no “prestige.” Get over it.

The IB diploma numbers are not high in FCPS high schools because the top schools don’t have and don’t want IB.

They are not high because few students manage to excel in IBDP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the IB people do try to push the "elite" IB program. We are not in an IB school district, but it appears to me that by the nature of it that the group is more segregated than those in an AP program.

In an AP school, some kids take a lot of AP classes, and some may take only one or two. And, of course, some may take none. Anyone fulfilling the requirements can be an "AP Scholar," but it is not a focus at all.

It’s like the people at low-prestige schools who make a big deal out of a kid occasionally getting into a top university. At a prestigious high school that happens regularly, so it doesn’t get called out.

IB schools in FCPS are not prestigious so they try to compensate by making a BFD out of their IB programs.

1) The IB diploma has the same requirement everywhere. It’s a difficult program and shows a boatload of motivation/hard work. Which is why the diploma numbers are not high. Good for those kids!
2) You can’t look at just where kids end up to gauge results. This is esp. true in an area with lots of “donut hole” families. $$ is going to impact the decision of where kids go to school. Lots of parents make over 200k/wont qualify for aid but can’t shell out full pay for top schools. It’s part of why top VA public colleges are so competitive.
3) I agree with a PP-aside from TJ—there is no “prestige” associated with FCPS schools. None. Prestige is for magnet schools and top privates. Your kid goes to a public school. There is some variety in quality. But no “prestige.” Get over it.

The IB diploma numbers are not high in FCPS high schools because the top schools don’t have and don’t want IB.

They are not high because few students manage to excel in IBDP.

That’s certainly the case at the IB schools in FCPS. If it were offered at the top schools, the numbers would be quite different, but families at those schools don’t want IB.

[Anonymous]

13 pages on a troll thread, impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the IB people do try to push the "elite" IB program. We are not in an IB school district, but it appears to me that by the nature of it that the group is more segregated than those in an AP program.

In an AP school, some kids take a lot of AP classes, and some may take only one or two. And, of course, some may take none. Anyone fulfilling the requirements can be an "AP Scholar," but it is not a focus at all.

It’s like the people at low-prestige schools who make a big deal out of a kid occasionally getting into a top university. At a prestigious high school that happens regularly, so it doesn’t get called out.

IB schools in FCPS are not prestigious so they try to compensate by making a BFD out of their IB programs.

1) The IB diploma has the same requirement everywhere. It’s a difficult program and shows a boatload of motivation/hard work. Which is why the diploma numbers are not high. Good for those kids!
2) You can’t look at just where kids end up to gauge results. This is esp. true in an area with lots of “donut hole” families. $$ is going to impact the decision of where kids go to school. Lots of parents make over 200k/wont qualify for aid but can’t shell out full pay for top schools. It’s part of why top VA public colleges are so competitive.
3) I agree with a PP-aside from TJ—there is no “prestige” associated with FCPS schools. None. Prestige is for magnet schools and top privates. Your kid goes to a public school. There is some variety in quality. But no “prestige.” Get over it.

The IB diploma numbers are not high in FCPS high schools because the top schools don’t have and don’t want IB.

They are not high because few students manage to excel in IBDP.

That’s certainly the case at the IB schools in FCPS. If it were offered at the top schools, the numbers would be quite different, but families at those schools don’t want IB.

Most IB schools don’t want IB either, but that doesn’t make Robinson a *checks notes* “prestige-free, poverty school.” Most kids getting an IB diploma did more work than an AP scholar to achieve the title, and they’ll probably receive less college credit for it. They’re not announcing the title for prestige, its the one consolation for only offering IB at that high school and now having to justify the programs’ existence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the IB people do try to push the "elite" IB program. We are not in an IB school district, but it appears to me that by the nature of it that the group is more segregated than those in an AP program.

In an AP school, some kids take a lot of AP classes, and some may take only one or two. And, of course, some may take none. Anyone fulfilling the requirements can be an "AP Scholar," but it is not a focus at all.

It’s like the people at low-prestige schools who make a big deal out of a kid occasionally getting into a top university. At a prestigious high school that happens regularly, so it doesn’t get called out.

IB schools in FCPS are not prestigious so they try to compensate by making a BFD out of their IB programs.

1) The IB diploma has the same requirement everywhere. It’s a difficult program and shows a boatload of motivation/hard work. Which is why the diploma numbers are not high. Good for those kids!
2) You can’t look at just where kids end up to gauge results. This is esp. true in an area with lots of “donut hole” families. $$ is going to impact the decision of where kids go to school. Lots of parents make over 200k/wont qualify for aid but can’t shell out full pay for top schools. It’s part of why top VA public colleges are so competitive.
3) I agree with a PP-aside from TJ—there is no “prestige” associated with FCPS schools. None. Prestige is for magnet schools and top privates. Your kid goes to a public school. There is some variety in quality. But no “prestige.” Get over it.

The IB diploma numbers are not high in FCPS high schools because the top schools don’t have and don’t want IB.

They are not high because few students manage to excel in IBDP.

That’s certainly the case at the IB schools in FCPS. If it were offered at the top schools, the numbers would be quite different, but families at those schools don’t want IB.

Again, because few kids excel as full diploma candidates. A pretty good AP student won’t necessarily meet the rigor and requirements of IB. Parents know this.

[Anonymous]

I find the insecurity of AP parents amusing. Always trying to prove how AP is superior or at least on par with IB. It’s ok, IBDP is not for everyone, we know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the IB people do try to push the "elite" IB program. We are not in an IB school district, but it appears to me that by the nature of it that the group is more segregated than those in an AP program.

In an AP school, some kids take a lot of AP classes, and some may take only one or two. And, of course, some may take none. Anyone fulfilling the requirements can be an "AP Scholar," but it is not a focus at all.

It’s like the people at low-prestige schools who make a big deal out of a kid occasionally getting into a top university. At a prestigious high school that happens regularly, so it doesn’t get called out.

IB schools in FCPS are not prestigious so they try to compensate by making a BFD out of their IB programs.

1) The IB diploma has the same requirement everywhere. It’s a difficult program and shows a boatload of motivation/hard work. Which is why the diploma numbers are not high. Good for those kids!
2) You can’t look at just where kids end up to gauge results. This is esp. true in an area with lots of “donut hole” families. $$ is going to impact the decision of where kids go to school. Lots of parents make over 200k/wont qualify for aid but can’t shell out full pay for top schools. It’s part of why top VA public colleges are so competitive.
3) I agree with a PP-aside from TJ—there is no “prestige” associated with FCPS schools. None. Prestige is for magnet schools and top privates. Your kid goes to a public school. There is some variety in quality. But no “prestige.” Get over it.

The IB diploma numbers are not high in FCPS high schools because the top schools don’t have and don’t want IB.

They are not high because few students manage to excel in IBDP.

That’s certainly the case at the IB schools in FCPS. If it were offered at the top schools, the numbers would be quite different, but families at those schools don’t want IB.

Again, because few kids excel as full diploma candidates. A pretty good AP student won’t necessarily meet the rigor and requirements of IB. Parents know this.

What a joke. The "top" IB schools would be mid AP schools at best. IB is a niche program to try and make poverty schools look better, yet failing woefully at that goal in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the insecurity of AP parents amusing. Always trying to prove how AP is superior or at least on par with IB. It’s ok, IBDP is not for everyone, we know.

It's not something that requires much to prove.

The IB schools make a big point of emphasizing their IB diploma candidates at graduations because they have a captive audience and it's the only time anyone will pay the slightest attention to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the IB people do try to push the "elite" IB program. We are not in an IB school district, but it appears to me that by the nature of it that the group is more segregated than those in an AP program.

In an AP school, some kids take a lot of AP classes, and some may take only one or two. And, of course, some may take none. Anyone fulfilling the requirements can be an "AP Scholar," but it is not a focus at all.

It’s like the people at low-prestige schools who make a big deal out of a kid occasionally getting into a top university. At a prestigious high school that happens regularly, so it doesn’t get called out.

IB schools in FCPS are not prestigious so they try to compensate by making a BFD out of their IB programs.

1) The IB diploma has the same requirement everywhere. It’s a difficult program and shows a boatload of motivation/hard work. Which is why the diploma numbers are not high. Good for those kids!
2) You can’t look at just where kids end up to gauge results. This is esp. true in an area with lots of “donut hole” families. $$ is going to impact the decision of where kids go to school. Lots of parents make over 200k/wont qualify for aid but can’t shell out full pay for top schools. It’s part of why top VA public colleges are so competitive.
3) I agree with a PP-aside from TJ—there is no “prestige” associated with FCPS schools. None. Prestige is for magnet schools and top privates. Your kid goes to a public school. There is some variety in quality. But no “prestige.” Get over it.

The IB diploma numbers are not high in FCPS high schools because the top schools don’t have and don’t want IB.

They are not high because few students manage to excel in IBDP.

That’s certainly the case at the IB schools in FCPS. If it were offered at the top schools, the numbers would be quite different, but families at those schools don’t want IB.

Again, because few kids excel as full diploma candidates. A pretty good AP student won’t necessarily meet the rigor and requirements of IB. Parents know this.

What a joke. The "top" IB schools would be mid AP schools at best. IB is a niche program to try and make poverty schools look better, yet failing woefully at that goal in FCPS.

Doesn’t change the fact that IB rigor for those who actually handle it is unsurpassed at a hs level. Where it’s pursued isn’t relevant, and it’s tiresome to continue to point out the self-evident. What’s so bothersome to you about IB? Be happy with AP and carry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the IB people do try to push the "elite" IB program. We are not in an IB school district, but it appears to me that by the nature of it that the group is more segregated than those in an AP program.

In an AP school, some kids take a lot of AP classes, and some may take only one or two. And, of course, some may take none. Anyone fulfilling the requirements can be an "AP Scholar," but it is not a focus at all.

It’s like the people at low-prestige schools who make a big deal out of a kid occasionally getting into a top university. At a prestigious high school that happens regularly, so it doesn’t get called out.

IB schools in FCPS are not prestigious so they try to compensate by making a BFD out of their IB programs.

1) The IB diploma has the same requirement everywhere. It’s a difficult program and shows a boatload of motivation/hard work. Which is why the diploma numbers are not high. Good for those kids!
2) You can’t look at just where kids end up to gauge results. This is esp. true in an area with lots of “donut hole” families. $$ is going to impact the decision of where kids go to school. Lots of parents make over 200k/wont qualify for aid but can’t shell out full pay for top schools. It’s part of why top VA public colleges are so competitive.
3) I agree with a PP-aside from TJ—there is no “prestige” associated with FCPS schools. None. Prestige is for magnet schools and top privates. Your kid goes to a public school. There is some variety in quality. But no “prestige.” Get over it.

The IB diploma numbers are not high in FCPS high schools because the top schools don’t have and don’t want IB.

They are not high because few students manage to excel in IBDP.

That’s certainly the case at the IB schools in FCPS. If it were offered at the top schools, the numbers would be quite different, but families at those schools don’t want IB.

Again, because few kids excel as full diploma candidates. A pretty good AP student won’t necessarily meet the rigor and requirements of IB. Parents know this.

What a joke. The "top" IB schools would be mid AP schools at best. IB is a niche program to try and make poverty schools look better, yet failing woefully at that goal in FCPS.

Doesn’t change the fact that IB rigor for those who actually handle it is unsurpassed at a hs level. Where it’s pursued isn’t relevant, and it’s tiresome to continue to point out the self-evident. What’s so bothersome to you about IB? Be happy with AP and carry on.

No one believes this. It’s why FCPS hasn’t expanded IB and just lets it fester at lower-performing schools. Sounds like the consolation prize is getting a special call-out a graduation ceremony, but that only underscores how low performing most of the kids are.

[Anonymous]

Two things can be true.
IB can be a good program.
IB is not the right program for FCPS.

FCPS is ridiculous to go through a boundary study while they keep IB as the program in some schools.

Compare the value. IB loses here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attended two high school graduations this morning and yesterday morning. One school made a big deal of announcing which graduates were “honor graduates” or “IB diploma candidates” as the students went to accept their diplomas. The other simply announced each graduate by name and noted which students were NHS members or AP scholars in the graduation program.

The first school isn’t considered “prestigious” and the calling out of “honor graduates” and “IB diploma candidates” came across as tacky. The second school is known for its excellence and simply announcing each graduate by name came across as dignified. One doubts, however, that the administration of the first school realized it comes across as a wanna-be school.

As a seemingly over-invested parent, you should not require the explanation that, if AP Scholars receive mention, of course IBDP candidates will, too. What are you having a hard time understanding?

Sorry for the parents whose kids couldn’t handle ToK. Just own your path. You’ll be fine.

Just put it in the graduation program like the top AP schools do and have all the honors graduates stand up together at one point in the ceremony. It’s so cringe when the IB schools fawn over the IB diploma candidates as they’re walking across the stage to get their diplomas. Does the IBO require them to do this?

It’s the marker of a low-prestige school to play up one small group of kids like this at a graduation. Top AP schools have kids that blow away the IB kids academically but they don’t regurgitate all their achievements when they are walking across the stage to pick up their diplomas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true.
IB can be a good program.
IB is not the right program for FCPS.

FCPS is ridiculous to go through a boundary study while they keep IB as the program in some schools.

Compare the value. IB loses here.

I do see some value to this take. But PPs continue to conflate value of IB with the performance of the schools where it’s been placed. Zero correlation.

If your average American suburban parent is more comfortable with AP, ok, no issues. But to sayFCPS should just do away with IB shows defensiveness toward other students’ elite hs record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two things can be true.
IB can be a good program.
IB is not the right program for FCPS.

FCPS is ridiculous to go through a boundary study while they keep IB as the program in some schools.

Compare the value. IB loses here.

I do see some value to this take. But PPs continue to conflate value of IB with the performance of the schools where it’s been placed. Zero correlation.

If your average American suburban parent is more comfortable with AP, ok, no issues. But to sayFCPS should just do away with IB shows defensiveness toward other students’ elite hs record.

The thread is about which high schools is FCPS are prestigious - associated with excellence in their academics and extra-curricular programs.

One hallmark of a prestigious school is a pervasive culture of achievement. IB schools in FCPS don’t have that culture. To the contrary, they tend to single out a small number of kids as deserving special attention, which underscores their top achievers are exceptions to the general mediocrity of those schools.