Yorktown vs WL — Ranking vs word on street

[Anonymous]

This link above says transfers have to take SIX IB courses minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea why the WL IB program waitlist has not moved since March?

Oh! There's a waitlist? So there ARE students wanting to get in that may not have access to "dabbling" in IB?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

I’ve had kids in the IB program at W-L from 2011-2022. Kids who are not zoned for W-L do not get kicked out of the IB program if they do the bear minimum IB. Perhaps when your kid applied you didn’t do your research. I’m not going to do it for you.

There are some naive parents who actually take the written policy at its word. Obviously WL parents aren't naive and know to push for whatever they want. Of course, they have no need to push because they have access to the most opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea why the WL IB program waitlist has not moved since March?

Oh! There's a waitlist? So there ARE students wanting to get in that may not have access to "dabbling" in IB?!

Virtually every year all kids who want to do IB get off the waitlist. It might not be until August but that’s typically what happens. But you already knew that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure why people get so excited about the IB program when you have HB. It’s like a little private school within APS.

HB doesn't have IB. They don't even have as many AP as WL.

+ 1. Go sit down, HB hater. We're talking about IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

I’ve had kids in the IB program at W-L from 2011-2022. Kids who are not zoned for W-L do not get kicked out of the IB program if they do the bear minimum IB. Perhaps when your kid applied you didn’t do your research. I’m not going to do it for you.

There are some naive parents who actually take the written policy at its word. Obviously WL parents aren't naive and know to push for whatever they want. Of course, they have no need to push because they have access to the most opportunities.

Yep we were not going to take the spot knowing that they would or could kick my kid out if full IB was too intense. WL parents don't have to worry about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

I’ve had kids in the IB program at W-L from 2011-2022. Kids who are not zoned for W-L do not get kicked out of the IB program if they do the bear minimum IB. Perhaps when your kid applied you didn’t do your research. I’m not going to do it for you.

I did my research. Research said full IB or leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

See Page 28
https://wl.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2017/12/Revised-IB-info-night-11.17.17-PDF.pdf

reading comp - it says 6 not 3

[Anonymous]

From the slide show presentation (which dates to 2017 so it may have been updated):

“All IB transfers are required to take AP Government in 10th grade. IB transfers must also take a minimum of three IB courses Junior year and three IB courses Senior year.”

In order to take an official IB diploma course: “Must meet minimum course prerequisites and receive teacher recommendation”

IB transfers can also “Mix IB and AP – WL offers 60+ advanced courses”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

See Page 28
https://wl.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2017/12/Revised-IB-info-night-11.17.17-PDF.pdf

reading comp - it says 6 not 3

3 classes PER YEAR, six total. Which is not difficult to achieve, especially since some IB classes are 2-year sequence. My WL kid took IB Biology HL-part one in junior year, part 2 in senior year. And, senior year is taking IB Environmental Science & Systems, which is a double-block class within a single year.

There was a brief time before the annex opened when they did say kids who weren't doing the full diploma program could be sent back to home school but I hadn't heard of that actually happening to anyone. Now, there is space to allow anyone who wants IB to transfer (if on waitlist, they'll be getting in over the summer). They'd had enough capacity that they were also allowing transfers from Wakefield for anyone who wanted them, to reduce crowding there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

I’ve had kids in the IB program at W-L from 2011-2022. Kids who are not zoned for W-L do not get kicked out of the IB program if they do the bear minimum IB. Perhaps when your kid applied you didn’t do your research. I’m not going to do it for you.

There are some naive parents who actually take the written policy at its word. Obviously WL parents aren't naive and know to push for whatever they want. Of course, they have no need to push because they have access to the most opportunities.

Yep we were not going to take the spot knowing that they would or could kick my kid out if full IB was too intense. WL parents don't have to worry about that.

Exactly! And that's why they don't think it's a problem or an issue...because it isn't one for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the slide show presentation (which dates to 2017 so it may have been updated):

“All IB transfers are required to take AP Government in 10th grade. IB transfers must also take a minimum of three IB courses Junior year and three IB courses Senior year.”

In order to take an official IB diploma course: “Must meet minimum course prerequisites and receive teacher recommendation”

IB transfers can also “Mix IB and AP – WL offers 60+ advanced courses”

This practically eliminates any transfers later in the program because kids are not taking AP Government in 10th grade at other schools. That's typically 12th grade. 11th grade offers AP US/VA History.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

See Page 28
https://wl.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2017/12/Revised-IB-info-night-11.17.17-PDF.pdf

reading comp - it says 6 not 3

3 classes PER YEAR, six total. Which is not difficult to achieve, especially since some IB classes are 2-year sequence. My WL kid took IB Biology HL-part one in junior year, part 2 in senior year. And, senior year is taking IB Environmental Science & Systems, which is a double-block class within a single year.

There was a brief time before the annex opened when they did say kids who weren't doing the full diploma program could be sent back to home school but I hadn't heard of that actually happening to anyone. Now, there is space to allow anyone who wants IB to transfer (if on waitlist, they'll be getting in over the summer). They'd had enough capacity that they were also allowing transfers from Wakefield for anyone who wanted them, to reduce crowding there.

You don't seem to understand why people reading the actual policy would actually believe the policy. Even if it doesn't happen often, the possibility is still there. I know it's hard; but try imagining it from a non-WL-zoned perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

See Page 28
https://wl.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2017/12/Revised-IB-info-night-11.17.17-PDF.pdf

reading comp - it says 6 not 3

Three classes per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Allowing students w/o the comforts of privilege access to IB and a core set of AP courses benefits both W-L and APS in its mission. Wakefield has a bespoke curriculum that helps in a similar fashion. Yorktown is different— it has an affluent in-bounds student body, and therefore doesn’t need any unique program.

I don't find that convincing at all. APS plays favorites, everyone knows it, and it means the top high school punches below its weight, the favored one ends up overcrowded, and the poorest one ends up ignored.

Please explain what you mean by “the top high school punches below its weight” and why you think Yorktown is the top high school. And yes, I’m serious.

Yes. I’d like their explanation too.

Somewhat facetiously, I wonder if the poster who is agitated about IB splurged on a 4.5 mil dollar house in the Yorktown district instead of a lowly 2.5 mill dollar house in a W-L zoned neighborhood. With the lower quality custom builds, it’s just unfathomable that W-L could have decent academic stats that come close to Yorktown’s.

But I do sense the poster is the one who often complains about how Yorktown should have much better academic scores and college stats and that W-L is to blame.

I'm assuming I'm the poster you're labeling as "anti-IB." So, to keep you from staying awake at night wondering: no, I have not spent $4.5m on a house in the YHS zone. I have not even spent $2.5m to be in the WL zone. I've been in Arlington long enough to have not had to spend that much on any house. Why do DCUM people think Yorktown and WL are the only high schools in Arlington, anyway? My kids could be at any school, including HBW or AT or WHS for all you know. I'm guessing, though, that if I say I am Wakefield, you'll have an "aha" reaction and determine that I'm just a bitter and resentful southie who couldn't afford a better school zone, and my criticism of IB at WL will suddenly all make sense to you? Because clearly nobody could have a genuine negative opinion about an APS policy and especially involving WL without resentment being the reason for the negative opinion?

Furthermore, I am not anti-IB. I am anti-non-IB-students having the ability to pick and choose to the extent they "need" and desire to take the IB courses they want when other non-IB students at both Yorktown and Wakefield do not have those extra opportunities MERELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. I don't think HBW or AT students have to have the same access because they have already chosen specific option programs and in so doing, you give up some things. Nevertheless, APS could run these classes like they do CTE classes and let non-full-IB students from any of the high schools take an IB class at WL. Or, they could actually develop a significant independent IB program filled with full-time IB students who actually earn IB diplomas and put it in any school they want. As it is, is the financial investment in the current IB program worth the # of diplomas it issues? As I've said, I don't really care WHERE they put it. I just think if they're going to spend the money and invest in it, it should be treated like other option programs such as HBW and AT and Spanish immersion. Nobody gets to "dabble" in those programs.

Additionally, I don't give a crap about YHS or WL's stats or whose are better or should be better. This thing between WL and YHS is just a stupid cherry on top of the disparaging and dismissive attitudes toward Wakefield and south Arlington in general that pervade all DCUM posts.

DP. I agree with all of this. And my kids don't go to YHS either.

I don't agree it should be a separate program only for full diploma student. That just feeds elitism and exclusion to have a school within a school. It's good to have kids be able to mix in certain IB classes that interest them even if they don't want to do the full diploma.

Sure but the point is that only kids in the WL zone can access this mixing in without the full IB diploma. That's the problematic part. Obviously this is a benefit, you said so yourself. So why is it fair that only WL zoned kids get this, and not kids at YHS or WHS?

But if your kid wants to take IB classes, they can try to lottery in. There might be a waitlist for freshman, but I think it's easier if you try as a sophomore. Can you try again as a Junior?
Its already been established you only need to take 3 IB classes to stay in the program.

Exactly they can TRY to lottery in. There is a waitlist for freshmen. And I didn't hear that you only need to take 3 IB classes, where does it say that? That was not the policy when my kid applied, if you didn't take full IB, you had to leave. If it changed can you please post?

I’ve had kids in the IB program at W-L from 2011-2022. Kids who are not zoned for W-L do not get kicked out of the IB program if they do the bear minimum IB. Perhaps when your kid applied you didn’t do your research. I’m not going to do it for you.

I did my research. Research said full IB or leave.

No, you didn’t do your research bc it really is not the big secret you’re trying to make it. How about talking to your neighbors? Talking to kids who transferred for IB? Talking to parents of kids who transferred? Talking to the IB coordinator at WL to see if kids actually have to return to their zoned HS if they decide not to try to earn the IB diploma? If you’d bothered to do any of that you would know what actually happens.