AP vs. IB for science/math/technology kid?

[Anonymous]

I agree with the comments above.

[Anonymous]

Part of the policy debate relates to the business of the College Board and the AP exam monopoly...not necessarily the importance of rigorous classes offered in high school. The intersection of big money (pollution) and education. For many the costs for sitting and taking all these multiple exams makes millions for many at the College Board.

[Anonymous]

...a potential conflict of interest here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here - similar situation as the OP but my daughter is in 7th grade at Frost AAP. She is taking Algebra this year and loves science and technology. Our base high school is Annandale (IB) and most of her friends will be heading to Woodson (AP). Closest AP school to our house is Lake Braddock.

What options should we consider for high school?

Hope she gets into TJ, move to Woodson district, or make the best of Annandale. I would not pupil place into a school as huge as Lake Braddock if she doesn't already know plenty of kids there.

What would be the difference between pupil placing at Lake Braddock vs. opting for private? (Except for the tuition, of course.)

[Anonymous]

Bumping an older thread -- what are the options for STEM courses that are offered in the FCPS academies? Is it difficult to blend the academy courses with a rigorous AP courseload in high school? (I am guessing transportation to the academy courses might take too much time.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping an older thread -- what are the options for STEM courses that are offered in the FCPS academies? Is it difficult to blend the academy courses with a rigorous AP courseload in high school? (I am guessing transportation to the academy courses might take too much time.)

We are planning on skirting the issue. Ds wants to place to Marshall so that he can take IB and STEM academy courses without the need for transportation during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bumping an older thread -- what are the options for STEM courses that are offered in the FCPS academies? Is it difficult to blend the academy courses with a rigorous AP courseload in high school? (I am guessing transportation to the academy courses might take too much time.)

We are planning on skirting the issue. Ds wants to place to Marshall so that he can take IB and STEM academy courses without the need for transportation during the day.

Thanks, but we do not want IB and instead want AP.

[Anonymous]

We have a child taking several AP courses at his base school and one Academy course at another school, which is really all that works schedule-wise. The options were: (1) we arranged for transportation to the Academy school in the AM, with FCPS providing transportation back to the base school later in the morning, or (2) he took the class in the middle of the day, with FCPS providing transportation both ways and the kids eating lunch on the bus on the way back to the base school. He opted for the latter.

There are some fun electives at the Academies, but I wouldn't pupil place to an IB school like Marshall just for the Academy classes if you prefer the AP curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does a college admission officer know that a student has actually been awarded an IB diploma? I thought the IB diploma required at least 3 HL courses, and the HL courses are two year courses, taken over 11th and 12th grade? Isn't the IB diploma awarded after college admission decisions are made?

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/presentations/APandIBInfoNightPresentation.pdf

Schools know how to read a transcript. Not rocket science. Yes, I am sure that sometimes a student just refuses to take that last semester class and doesn't get the IB diploma, but the colleges see something fairly complete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a child taking several AP courses at his base school and one Academy course at another school, which is really all that works schedule-wise. The options were: (1) we arranged for transportation to the Academy school in the AM, with FCPS providing transportation back to the base school later in the morning, or (2) he took the class in the middle of the day, with FCPS providing transportation both ways and the kids eating lunch on the bus on the way back to the base school. He opted for the latter.

There are some fun electives at the Academies, but I wouldn't pupil place to an IB school like Marshall just for the Academy classes if you prefer the AP curriculum.

10:56 here - I hadn't thought about going to the academy school first. Thanks for posting that option, although it may make the school day start quite early. But it is an option to consider. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

bump

With the change in high school start times and the option to take a high school class online, will the opportunity to take academy courses be easier in terms of transportation? Do students still need to plan for two block schedule periods to take an academy course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:bump

With the change in high school start times and the option to take a high school class online, will the opportunity to take academy courses be easier in terms of transportation? Do students still need to plan for two block schedule periods to take an academy course?

Yes, because it still takes time to travel back to the school.

[Anonymous]

There are only two IB high schools in FCPS which perform well:

Marshall High School - 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043

Robinson Secondary School - 5035 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax, VA 22032

Every other IB high school is crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:bump

With the change in high school start times and the option to take a high school class online, will the opportunity to take academy courses be easier in terms of transportation? Do students still need to plan for two block schedule periods to take an academy course?

Yes, because it still takes time to travel back to the school.

Thanks. I am wondering if it is possible to reduce the transportation time by only shuttling back to the base school after the academy class is done, but I guess it won't help much as it is still travel time, even thought it is just one trip vs. round-trip.

So do students wo take academy courses plan to take a course online the same year, so they can still take 7 courses (5 core, one elective/academy course, 1 online course)?

[Anonymous]

FCAG is sponsoring a session to discuss the pros and cons of AP and IB at Kilmer MS on December 10th at 7:00-8:30 for those who are interested. Interestingly, they have invited a representative of an IB school (South Lakes) to the presentation, but no representative of a local AP school. I'm not sure what that means, other than it seems like IB schools seem to make more of an effort to interest parents in what they have to offer.