Churchhill vs. RM IB program

[Anonymous]

IB is jumping through lots of hoops to please some random Europeans. Most people in this country recognize the absurdity, but if you make it a magnet program like at RM and restrict access, you get some supply-induced demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The point of the IB Diploma is to be well-rounded in 6 subjects, including math and science (which heavily relies on math). Yes, there are slightly less mathy and sciency paths to take (just as there are paths to emphasize math and science). The question is, does your daughter want to challenge herself in weaker areas (when surrounded by strong students in those areas), or will she be more comfortable picking and choosing for her strengths in her home school.

Also, RMIB is not just about the diploma - there are a ton of extra curricular activities that IB students are heavily involved in. If your daughter isn't interested in these, then why leave your home school, your current friends, and your neighborhood with easy access to your local high school's events? There is a lot to be said for the neighborhood school high school experience.

If you are thinking about RMIB just because someone said it's the best school - don't come. If you are thinking about RMIB because your daughter is passionate about all of the opportunities, to the point that she will work through challenges (tough classes, missing friends) - then do come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The point of the IB Diploma is to be well-rounded in 6 subjects, including math and science (which heavily relies on math). Yes, there are slightly less mathy and sciency paths to take (just as there are paths to emphasize math and science). The question is, does your daughter want to challenge herself in weaker areas (when surrounded by strong students in those areas), or will she be more comfortable picking and choosing for her strengths in her home school.

Also, RMIB is not just about the diploma - there are a ton of extra curricular activities that IB students are heavily involved in. If your daughter isn't interested in these, then why leave your home school, your current friends, and your neighborhood with easy access to your local high school's events? There is a lot to be said for the neighborhood school high school experience.

If you are thinking about RMIB just because someone said it's the best school - don't come. If you are thinking about RMIB because your daughter is passionate about all of the opportunities, to the point that she will work through challenges (tough classes, missing friends) - then do come.

In principle what you said is very true. However, we all know that kids sometimes need outside pressure (or, put it in another way, outside pressure can change how a kid performs). For the OP, I find "getting into a better college" is more important than "getting a great high school experience" (to her). So I suppose we should advise her mainly based on that aspect.

Again, if she will not be able to become the top few in Churchill, then the whole IB experience and IB diploma would likely be a plus for her for college applications. As for her "hate" for math, there is no easy way around it at either school. Yet the IB program, unlike those STEM magnet programs, do not force students to go very high in math so she will need to do math but not as "HARD" as those in Blair programs. Whether she will enjoy the IB program more, or the home school more, is an entirely different question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check the IB course list on RM's website, OP. I think you'll find that she doesn't have to take calc bc junior year. She can take calc ab.
If she got into Blair CAP or any of the other humanities programs, those might be the best fit for her.

Can't apply to CAP regardless from Churchhill cluster - only if at Eastern or a DCC MS.

[Anonymous]

But she might have applied to the humanities at Poolesville.

[Anonymous]

Humanities in Poolesville was open only to upper county. Churchill was not eligible. Did they change it?