Tell me about full IB at BCC HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More info on the IB program at B-CC is here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18nWJAWRALDfnbgTNAwM_MdljYrFcCFejiDd2_na2qnk/edit#slide=id.g35f391192_00

The pass rate in 2022 was 88%
The pass rate in 2021 was 95% -- but that was a non-examination year

thanks, that's a good rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s the difference between IB and AP

In some cases there isn’t much if any difference. I think BCC codes upper level foreign language classes as both AP and IB. In other cases, in theory IB is more focused on depth and analysis and less focused on breadth and facts. The IB diploma program also has a heavier emphasis on writing and a class called “theory of knowledge”.

More straightforward (not easier) to get a 5 on AP than a 7 on an IB (often needed for college credit). AP test just requires good scores on a test. IB requires effort through the year and then a test. My high school offered both. I did most AP since I could check out of class mentally until a month before the test. Our kid will have to make their choice soon, curious what they'll pick.

They code the Spanish and French classes AP and IB but follow the AP language and lit curriculums because they’re more rigorous.

AP is also more rigorous in sciences.

My kids graduated BCC years ago and did mix and match and had excellent college results. Neither was interested in full IB although they had friends who did. There is nothing wrong with doing it either way although there are some kids who would be held back by doing IB because they are several years advanced in a subject and IB is rather strict on what classes you can take junior and senior year.

Very roughly I'd agree that AP is better for STEM kids while humanities kids benefit from the emphasis on writing and analysis in IB

[Anonymous]

Is it true that kids interested in science do better with APs than going the full IB route? I note that at B-CC, they offer a two-year IB physics class, and it seems like the AP class is only one year. It would seem that the IB class would be more rigorous given that you are together for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that kids interested in science do better with APs than going the full IB route? I note that at B-CC, they offer a two-year IB physics class, and it seems like the AP class is only one year. It would seem that the IB class would be more rigorous given that you are together for 2 years.

I don't know about BCC, but at RMIB they also have HL Math Analysis. DC is taking MVC and HL Math, and yes, HL physics which is 2 yrs.

Also, IB students can take AP classes. BC calc is an AP class, which DC took.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that kids interested in science do better with APs than going the full IB route? I note that at B-CC, they offer a two-year IB physics class, and it seems like the AP class is only one year. It would seem that the IB class would be more rigorous given that you are together for 2 years.

I don't know about BCC, but at RMIB they also have HL Math Analysis. DC is taking MVC and HL Math, and yes, HL physics which is 2 yrs.

Also, IB students can take AP classes. BC calc is an AP class, which DC took.

That is also true at B-CC - those who do honors precalc in 10th do AP Calc BC in 11th and HL Math in 12th. So it does seem like it can be rigorous in math and sciences -- though it also seems like it doesn't have to be for those who are more humanities-oriented. There are definitely lower-level math and science offerings in the B-CC IB program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an incoming 9th grade freshman and I was amazed to learn that ALL the kids are in honors english and history. Doesn't that by definition make it non-honors? Apparently it has to do with the IB program. I don't understand it and don't think I will if I decided to think on it more.

Was you kid in an MCPS Middle School?

Every 6th grader at our (non-BCC, non-W) MS was placed in Advanced English. All of them thrown in together into one abysmal English class. It was just terrible.

I only say that to point out that it is how MCPS does things.

Our MS Advanced English class rarely reads any books even. You'd think they could manage a trip to the public library. They read far less now than in 4th grade CES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an incoming 9th grade freshman and I was amazed to learn that ALL the kids are in honors english and history. Doesn't that by definition make it non-honors? Apparently it has to do with the IB program. I don't understand it and don't think I will if I decided to think on it more.

It is honors actually honors, but they slow down the pace for the kids who need it. Kudos to the teachers for having to work with such a wide range of kids.

I really think MCPS honors English is what used to be called college-prep when I was in high school. It is achievable for the overwhelming number of kids if they put enough time into it. I am sure it’s hard for the teachers to accommodate everyone, but it really is much better preparation than on-level English.

My dyslexic son took honors English in 11th feeling that AP would be too much. He said there were multiple kids in the class who left school early everyday to work. The college focused kids were in AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that kids interested in science do better with APs than going the full IB route? I note that at B-CC, they offer a two-year IB physics class, and it seems like the AP class is only one year. It would seem that the IB class would be more rigorous given that you are together for 2 years.

I don't know about BCC, but at RMIB they also have HL Math Analysis. DC is taking MVC and HL Math, and yes, HL physics which is 2 yrs.

Also, IB students can take AP classes. BC calc is an AP class, which DC took.

That is also true at B-CC - those who do honors precalc in 10th do AP Calc BC in 11th and HL Math in 12th. So it does seem like it can be rigorous in math and sciences -- though it also seems like it doesn't have to be for those who are more humanities-oriented. There are definitely lower-level math and science offerings in the B-CC IB program.

Actually at BCC the prerequisite for taking AP Physics is Honors Physics. So it requires two years. And it sounds like at BCC the AP route is more rigorous (or at least more mathematical). The second page of this document compares AP Physics with IB Physics at BCC: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/high-schools/a-j/bcchs/uploadedfiles/departments/ib/ap20physics20c20-20course20description1.pdf

This makes me think that those interested in sciences do better with AP, while those in humanities may prefer IB with its greater focus on writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not known so much for getting a lot of kids thru the full program, but for offering a la carte classes that are taken alongside regular MCPS curriculum.

BCC is specifically designed to be open IB - anyone who wants to take an IB class can. There are many smart kids at BCC. Some do full IB, some, like my DD, take a mixture of IB and AP classes. She ended up going to an Ivy, so not doing full IB doesn’t hurt students.

BCC’s goal is not “getting a lot of kids through the full program”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that kids interested in science do better with APs than going the full IB route? I note that at B-CC, they offer a two-year IB physics class, and it seems like the AP class is only one year. It would seem that the IB class would be more rigorous given that you are together for 2 years.

FWIW, I don’t know what IB Physics covers, but BCC does offer AP Physics C, which is Calculus based and covers two AP tests in one year - electromagnetism and mechanics. I think IB Physics Higher Level is only Algebra based.