If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?

[Anonymous]

I get the impression that people in general prefer AP over IB -- if that is the case (for whatever reason), why does FCPS put the more-demanding, harder to achieve, but less desireable IB program in the schools that are already "less desirable" b/c of their demographics and performance?

Basically, why doesn't FCPS put AP in schools like Mt. Vernon, Lee, Edison, etc.? And why aren't the high achievers who want to stay at those schools demanding that AP classes be offered?

[Anonymous]

I think they thought IB would be more sought after than it has turned out to be and thought that it would attract kids to the lower-ranked schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they thought IB would be more sought after than it has turned out to be and thought that it would attract kids to the lower-ranked schools.

And now that they've invested all that money and training, those lower performing schools are now stuck with it.

[Anonymous]

Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.

Our AP option is a much lower performing school. My kids will be sticking with IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.

Our AP option is a much lower performing school. My kids will be sticking with IB.

That is very rarely the case in FCPS. Maybe if you are zoned for Marshall and Falls Church is your only AP option. Otherwise the AP schools are usually more sought after. Look at all the transfers out of Annandale, Lee and Mount Vernon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.

Our AP option is a much lower performing school. My kids will be sticking with IB.

That is very rarely the case in FCPS. Maybe if you are zoned for Marshall and Falls Church is your only AP option. Otherwise the AP schools are usually more sought after. Look at all the transfers out of Annandale, Lee and Mount Vernon.

You nailed it. We're zoned for Marshall and definitely don't want Falls Church. We're about a half mile closer to Falls Church than we are to McLean. We're fortunate that Marshall is a great school, but I wish we had a better AP option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are they stuck with it? It's costing the county millions to have schools that aren't desirable in terms of property taxes. It's also costing them millions to have the IB program which is more expensive than AP.

If you live in an IB school district, you can transfer to an AP school - and vice versa. It is nice to have options.

True, but most people want their kids to attend their local high school. I think there are too many IB schools. They need to start phasing some out for cost reasons alone.

[Anonymous]

I was always under the impression the lower-performing schools had IB instead of AP so that the higher-performing students would be separated from the rest of the student population ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was always under the impression the lower-performing schools had IB instead of AP so that the higher-performing students would be separated from the rest of the student population ...

I don't think that was the goal, but it is definitely the result. The IB program creates a school within a school.

[Anonymous]

Exactly PP. Honestly, for parents in these poor performing districts, this is really unfair and does nothing to fix the achievement gap. It's a side show.

[Anonymous]

Exactly PP. Honestly, for parents in these poor performing districts, this is really unfair and does nothing to fix the achievement gap. It's a side show.

[Anonymous]

I would say pare it down to one IB HS per region. 5 regions would mean 5 high schools

Region I: South Lakes
Region II: Annandale, Marshall or Stuart
Region III: Edison, Lee or Mount Vernon
Region IV: Robinson
Region V: does not have one currently: which should switch to IB: Chantilly, Westfield or Woodson (Fairfax not a contender because of Fairfax City)

Regions II and III are too heavily IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say pare it down to one IB HS per region. 5 regions would mean 5 high schools

Region I: South Lakes
Region II: Annandale, Marshall or Stuart
Region III: Edison, Lee or Mount Vernon
Region IV: Robinson
Region V: does not have one currently: which should switch to IB: Chantilly, Westfield or Woodson (Fairfax not a contender because of Fairfax City)

Regions II and III are too heavily IB.

None of those schools in Region V want IB. Chantilly and Westfield are in high-tech territory; those folks heavily prefer AP. In addition, Chantilly is largely Asian, and those communities also tend to prefer the structure of AP over IB, which requires a ton of essay writing. FCPS tried to introduce IB to Woodson years ago and the parents rebelled. I think that battle has been fought and lost.

I tend to agree four IB schools is enough - would keep it at South Lakes, Marshall, Lee and Robinson. Edison has an Academy, and Mount Vernon has some special programs associated with being the school for families on base at Ft. Belvoir. Limiting IB in that area to Lee might increase the number of pupil placements to that school.