RMIB vs Regional IB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

Why didn't MCPS do the same for STEM magnet? There's just as much interest in the STEM magnet. My DC is at RMIB but would've done STEM magnet if there was one closer to us.

When it happened, it honestly seemed like once they got knew this would work from the IB pilot they'd do exactly that, but then COVID happened. At this point with all the lotteries not sure there's much future in this now since the magnet was about its cohort which no longer exists.

The cohort still exists for criteria-based high school magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

Why didn't MCPS do the same for STEM magnet? There's just as much interest in the STEM magnet. My DC is at RMIB but would've done STEM magnet if there was one closer to us.

When it happened, it honestly seemed like once they got knew this would work from the IB pilot they'd do exactly that, but then COVID happened. At this point with all the lotteries not sure there's much future in this now since the magnet was about its cohort which no longer exists.

The cohort still exists for criteria-based high school magnets.

+1 a lot of misinformation on this board. Other than the decision not to administer cogat, which might be temporary, there have been no changes to the HS magnet selection process. Extra consideration is given to FARMS, but it’s still overwhelmingly
high 90s percentiles and straight A students being selected for the two criteria-based programs. The choice programs have always been lottery when applicants exceed seats, other than the visual arts magnet that requires portfolio review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

Kind of... Regional IB programs are somewhat criteria based in that certain coursework needs to be completed prior to entering high school. However, acceptance rate is much higher, if not close to 100%. I heard of one of the locations reaching out to encourage students to apply in order to keep the program running. Regional IBs aren’t comparable to RM’s IB program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

Kind of... Regional IB programs are somewhat criteria based in that certain coursework needs to be completed prior to entering high school. However, acceptance rate is much higher, if not close to 100%. I heard of one of the locations reaching out to encourage students to apply in order to keep the program running. Regional IBs aren’t comparable to RM’s IB program.

Of course not because they’ve only been regional for 3years, of which 1 year was the pandemic and school was virtual. Before that they were local school only programs offering just the diploma classes for 11/12th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

Kind of... Regional IB programs are somewhat criteria based in that certain coursework needs to be completed prior to entering high school. However, acceptance rate is much higher, if not close to 100%. I heard of one of the locations reaching out to encourage students to apply in order to keep the program running. Regional IBs aren’t comparable to RM’s IB program.

Of course not because they’ve only been regional for 3years, of which 1 year was the pandemic and school was virtual. Before that they were local school only programs offering just the diploma classes for 11/12th.

A) Once RMIB becomes a regional program the bragging rights go away.
B) Deal with it

[Anonymous]

Does anyone think that applying to a regional IB would negatively impact ability to get into RMIB? I realize this is an "unknowable" at this point but curios to see what folks did last year when faced with this decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone think that applying to a regional IB would negatively impact ability to get into RMIB? I realize this is an "unknowable" at this point but curios to see what folks did last year when faced with this decision.

This has never been the case in the past and I'd think it's not even something they are tracking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

So if they redo all the existing regional feeders...what will they be? RM will be strongest regional center.

Kind of... Regional IB programs are somewhat criteria based in that certain coursework needs to be completed prior to entering high school. However, acceptance rate is much higher, if not close to 100%. I heard of one of the locations reaching out to encourage students to apply in order to keep the program running. Regional IBs aren’t comparable to RM’s IB program.

Of course not because they’ve only been regional for 3years, of which 1 year was the pandemic and school was virtual. Before that they were local school only programs offering just the diploma classes for 11/12th.

A) Once RMIB becomes a regional program the bragging rights go away.
B) Deal with it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

Kind of... Regional IB programs are somewhat criteria based in that certain coursework needs to be completed prior to entering high school. However, acceptance rate is much higher, if not close to 100%. I heard of one of the locations reaching out to encourage students to apply in order to keep the program running. Regional IBs aren’t comparable to RM’s IB program.

Of course not because they’ve only been regional for 3years, of which 1 year was the pandemic and school was virtual. Before that they were local school only programs offering just the diploma classes for 11/12th.

Not even 3 years. The first regional IB students started 14 months ago, in Fall 2020.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

So if they redo all the existing regional feeders...what will they be? RM will be strongest regional center.

Kind of... Regional IB programs are somewhat criteria based in that certain coursework needs to be completed prior to entering high school. However, acceptance rate is much higher, if not close to 100%. I heard of one of the locations reaching out to encourage students to apply in order to keep the program running. Regional IBs aren’t comparable to RM’s IB program.

Of course not because they’ve only been regional for 3years, of which 1 year was the pandemic and school was virtual. Before that they were local school only programs offering just the diploma classes for 11/12th.

A) Once RMIB becomes a regional program the bragging rights go away.
B) Deal with it

So if they rezone the regional centers, what will they be? RM will be a much stronger school then the others. Will they move kids who start at one center to another?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone think that applying to a regional IB would negatively impact ability to get into RMIB? I realize this is an "unknowable" at this point but curios to see what folks did last year when faced with this decision.

I feel like there was a thread on this last year, maybe somebody else can find it. People have reported that they were asked to apply to the regional IB's if they only applied to RMIB. I think your concern is very valid, and I personally would not apply to a regional IB and RMIB if I didn't want my kid to go to the regional IB program.

What school cluster are you in? If you are in the DCC, I'd start a thread and ask if the Kennedy regional IB will pupil place students from the Kennedy general program, if they have space. If this is the case, you could always apply to RMIB and put Kennedy as your 1st choice in the lottery (Einstein 2nd if you would like an IB program no matter what). In the DCC there is always a way back to your homeschool if that is your ultimate choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

The regional IB is criteria based (just like RM- no test this year) regional program- they are all magnets - the regional programs pull from smaller regions, the RM countywide pulls from the entire county.

As a PP stated upthread, the regionals were created to
1) expand available b/c there were more qualified students than seats
2) shorten the bus ride and make it so students who didn't participate b/c of distance had the opportunity

The only reason RM remained "county wide" is parents who thought it was "more prestigious" wanted to be able to say their kids went to the "better" magnet.

Kind of... Regional IB programs are somewhat criteria based in that certain coursework needs to be completed prior to entering high school. However, acceptance rate is much higher, if not close to 100%. I heard of one of the locations reaching out to encourage students to apply in order to keep the program running. Regional IBs aren’t comparable to RM’s IB program.

Of course not because they’ve only been regional for 3years, of which 1 year was the pandemic and school was virtual. Before that they were local school only programs offering just the diploma classes for 11/12th.

A) Once RMIB becomes a regional program the bragging rights go away.
B) Deal with it

If MCPS wants these regional programs to be successful, they need to make RMIB a regional program asap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone think that applying to a regional IB would negatively impact ability to get into RMIB? I realize this is an "unknowable" at this point but curios to see what folks did last year when faced with this decision.

This has never been the case in the past and I'd think it's not even something they are tracking.

MCPS tracks everything. You are clueless. The regional IB programs have only been around 2 years, both of those years being part of the pandemic. There is not "past" to judge anything by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

Can someone explain the difference between RMIB and the regional IBs? Why is RMIB considered a magnet? At the information session last week, it seemed like both RMIB and regional IBs have very similar curriculum with differences limited to some course offerings.

I understand that RMIB is countywide but is the magnet designation because it is more rigorous than the regional programs or something else? I also have the sense that MCPS would prefer high performing kids to go to the regional IBs if they can and leave RM for those that dont have a regional IB near by. Interested to hear other folks experience getting into RMIB when a regional IB was close by.

RMIB is for the highly gifted. The coursework will be similar to regional IB but RMIB provides the highly gifted students (top 1%) with a peer group for learning. I would think that with this peer group that the material would end up being more rigorous, but it has to follow the IB curriculum. Plus, not all students have the option of a regional IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cynic in me says that MCPS would like to distribute RMIB-caliber students to the newer IB programs in an effort to boost numbers (test results, etc) in the new IB programs. Then they can say the newer IB programs are "working" (they're still in evaluation phase, I think), then convert RMIB to regional.

While the curriculum might be the same, I'd look at fidelity of implementation of said curriculum and training and experience of the teachers in the program.

There's not a fixed number of "RMIB-caliber" students who were applying to distribute to other schools. The regional programs were created for two reasons
1. There were many more IB caliber students applying than RM could accept.
2. There were many IB cliber students who didn't apply because RM was just too far away, but a regional IB school would be close enough to attend.

All of the programs are magnet programs - they attract students to the program from other schools. Part of what made RMIB strong was the cohorting of the 9th and 10th grade students together. The regional IB programs are now doing this with the accepted students both from other schools and the interested and qualified students from their home school. It will take a couple of years to see the improvements in the programs - this is only the 3rd year after the change, and the pandemic definitely threw a wrench into the works.

RMIB magnet is for highly gifted students. My child was accepted, and it seemed to require across the board 99th percentile scores. Students without scores like that can excel in IB, but the highly gifted have different academic needs than others, including those considered gifted. We have one highly gifted and one gifted, and there is a huge difference in their academic needs. I agree that a regional IB would be good in the area but not at the expense of meeting the needs of these "outlier" kids.