IB Program- What is it? IB or AP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Given the greater publicity about start times and AAP, I'm surprised the level of concern about IB was this great.

The noise on the anonymous message board is not a good indicator. Probably just a couple people with mega-chips on their shoulders.

Mega-chips on their shoulders???? Not sure how you reached that conclusion. I certainly don't have a chip on my shoulders. My kids are zoned for an IB school with a very high FARMS/ESOL rate. The vast majority of those kids would be better served by AP because they are much more unlikely to take IB because it's so writing intensive. Most of their parents can't provide transportation to the closest AP school, so pupil placing into AP is not a viable option so they do neither. I don't think that's okay, especially since only a small percent of the kids take IB at the school and 99% of the kids who take it are higher SES students happy to take IB to be segregated from the lower SES kids. My kids will be able to pick IB or AP because I can provide transportation. It's unfortunate that the school caters to the small minority at the expense of the majority, but FCPS won't change because their parents are the ones who get heard by FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe this stupid thread is still going... Don't you people have jobs?? Families??

Don't you?

[Anonymous]

I love IB. It's the best program ever!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Given the greater publicity about start times and AAP, I'm surprised the level of concern about IB was this great.

The noise on the anonymous message board is not a good indicator. Probably just a couple people with mega-chips on their shoulders.

Mega-chips on their shoulders???? Not sure how you reached that conclusion. I certainly don't have a chip on my shoulders. My kids are zoned for an IB school with a very high FARMS/ESOL rate. The vast majority of those kids would be better served by AP because they are much more unlikely to take IB because it's so writing intensive. Most of their parents can't provide transportation to the closest AP school, so pupil placing into AP is not a viable option so they do neither. I don't think that's okay, especially since only a small percent of the kids take IB at the school and 99% of the kids who take it are higher SES students happy to take IB to be segregated from the lower SES kids. My kids will be able to pick IB or AP because I can provide transportation. It's unfortunate that the school caters to the small minority at the expense of the majority, but FCPS won't change because their parents are the ones who get heard by FCPS.

You nailed it. What's in the best interests of most students or taxpayers isn't a priority for FCPS. It's not in FCPS's vocabulary to admit IB has been a flop at most schools where it's been introduced.

[Anonymous]

from FCPS website:

For members of the class of 2014 that pursued IB diplomas, 76 percent of them successfully completed the IB Diploma requirements and 388 students were awarded the IB diploma

Can someone explain this to me? Does this mean that 388 equals 76% of those pursuing the IB diploma or does it mean that 76% successfully completed the requirements but not all passed the tests? That only 388 scored high enough to get the diploma?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:from FCPS website:

For members of the class of 2014 that pursued IB diplomas, 76 percent of them successfully completed the IB Diploma requirements and 388 students were awarded the IB diploma

Can someone explain this to me? Does this mean that 388 equals 76% of those pursuing the IB diploma or does it mean that 76% successfully completed the requirements but not all passed the tests? That only 388 scored high enough to get the diploma?

There were apparently 510 or 511 IB Diploma candidates spread over the eight IB schools. 388 completed the requirements successfully. 122 or 123 did not. There is a scoring system to get an IB diploma. You can do worse in class but still get a diploma if you do better on the exams, or vice versa. It's complicated and you don't even find out until a couple of months after you've started college.

http://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/become-an-ib-school/dp-general-regulatioin-2014.pdf

[Anonymous]

http://www.ibmidatlantic.org/Robinson.html

Apparently 135 of the 510 or so candidates came from Robinson. Sure would be interesting to see all the stats.

[Anonymous]

Again, 76% is not bad. Worldwide passing rate is about 80%. So what it means is that FCPS IB programs are working fairly well - teachers are teaching the right materials, kids are (generally) keeping up with the rigor and content of the program. I think anti-IB people are being too harsh.

[Anonymous]

Again, 76% is not bad. Worldwide passing rate is about 80%. So what it means is that FCPS IB programs are working fairly well - teachers are teaching the right materials, kids are (generally) keeping up with the rigor and content of the program. I think anti-IB people are being too harsh

You really don't see the problem here? It is that the kids are not even pursuing the diploma. Say that out of Robinson's cohort of diploma pursuers that 100 get the diploma--that means that 288 over 7 schools are getting them. (I realize that the numbers probably fluctuate dramatically among the schools, but I don't have the data.) That's just a little over 30 per school. We are spending millions on this program for mediocre results. Fairfax should limit IB to two schools--if at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And a lot more people on that page supported not changing start times. It made no difference. Pages like that are just set up to let people feel like they are being heard.

You are probably correct about your last statement. However, you do understand that these questions are not mutually exclusive? There is no winner. Frankly, I'm for cutting lots of things: IB; start time change; FLES; AAP centers; most travel for Gatehouse; etc.etc.

Instead of cutting academic programs like IB and AAP centers, how about cutting back HS sports?
Oh, right, sports are God. But at least FCPS didn't listen to the whiny sports parents ("This will kill sports forever!") who tried to hijack the public meeting I attended about HS start times.....

[Anonymous]

On AAP threads in DCUM there are plenty of parents who come on to complain how AAP should be "open to every child" and hate that it's selective. Everyone should have the chance to be academically challenged, is the theme. Fair enough.

Yet IB is actually open to every student, and still parents complain, this time because not enough students (in their estimation) do it because it's hard.

[Anonymous]

The problem with IB is exactly what the posters have repeatedly mentioned, putting them in low performing schools where the population of students is not going to be inclined to pursue it is another example of wasting resources that could be better spent trying to improve graduation rates, etc. It would be cheaper and easier to put AP in those schools and redirect the IB resources to helping the 90 percent of the population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Again, 76% is not bad. Worldwide passing rate is about 80%. So what it means is that FCPS IB programs are working fairly well - teachers are teaching the right materials, kids are (generally) keeping up with the rigor and content of the program. I think anti-IB people are being too harsh

You really don't see the problem here? It is that the kids are not even pursuing the diploma. Say that out of Robinson's cohort of diploma pursuers that 100 get the diploma--that means that 288 over 7 schools are getting them. (I realize that the numbers probably fluctuate dramatically among the schools, but I don't have the data.) That's just a little over 30 per school. We are spending millions on this program for mediocre results. Fairfax should limit IB to two schools--if at all.

They should encourage more kids to sign up for the IB. Problem solved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Again, 76% is not bad. Worldwide passing rate is about 80%. So what it means is that FCPS IB programs are working fairly well - teachers are teaching the right materials, kids are (generally) keeping up with the rigor and content of the program. I think anti-IB people are being too harsh

You really don't see the problem here? It is that the kids are not even pursuing the diploma. Say that out of Robinson's cohort of diploma pursuers that 100 get the diploma--that means that 288 over 7 schools are getting them. (I realize that the numbers probably fluctuate dramatically among the schools, but I don't have the data.) That's just a little over 30 per school. We are spending millions on this program for mediocre results. Fairfax should limit IB to two schools--if at all.

They should encourage more kids to sign up for the IB. Problem solved!

@76% success rate, that's not a bad idea. It will certainly lower the cost/student rate.

[Anonymous]

@76% success rate, that's not a bad idea. It will certainly lower the cost/student rate.

And, please, what would be the success rate then? 65%? 55? 45?

The advantage of AP is that it doesn't cost overall anymore if more kids take the tests--just the costs of the exams. With IB, There are so many additional costs. After all these years, it is clear that the people have spoken. The program has limited attraction in our schools. Time to eliminate it--or limit it to those who really are committed.