IB - Real world opinions/feedback

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

Wow, is that true? That’s quite a difference. Is it the teaching that’s deteriorated or the ability of the students?

I have a kid in the RMIB and didn’t realize the pass rate was so low!

Now gone principal never liked RMIB program when my kid was there. Everyone in the program knew that. He opened up the program to include less qualified kids and therefore drop in passing rate. It is not the same but 70+ is still not too bad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IB teacher here. I’ve taught IB in the county for almost a decade, and have mixed feelings about the program. For some, it is great. MCPS has watered down the curriculum and standards for years now, so taking IB classes is a great way for students to be exposed to real rigor and academic standards. That being said, due to the lowering of standards in grades 9-10, many students come in to the IB program junior year completely unprepared, and it can be highly stressful. It’s highly stressful for even those students who are prepared. My students joke about how late they go to bed, having mental breakdowns, and the hell of IB. It actually concerns me how they just see it as the norm. I have seen previous comments saying how the writing in IB is good preparation for college, and I agree. Especially if in the DP program, between all the IAs and the extended essay, your child will have a lot of opportunities to learn research and writing skills. They’ll also learn time management, and many students who reach out to me after they’ve graduated have said that college feels way more manageable after doing the IB program. (They’re comparing their experience to that of their peers who didn’t do IB). As with anything, it will depend on the school your child attends, the teachers they have, and their personality. For some, IB is the best thing that happened to them in HS and set them up for extreme success beyond. For others, it ends up not being a good choice, their mental health is affected, and they either push through to their own detriment, or drop out. You know your child best!

I’m curious whether the middle school Humanities magnet program does a good job of preparing kids for IB.

My freshman is breezing through pre-IB English because of the prep they had in the MS magnet, and really enjoying the critical theory aspect. But I’m not sure how well that will translate to the actual IB classes. I also don’t think they’ve done nearly as much writing this year as they did in MS, and I’m wondering whether that’s just this particular teacher, or if that’s usually more of a focus in 10th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IB teacher here. I’ve taught IB in the county for almost a decade, and have mixed feelings about the program. For some, it is great. MCPS has watered down the curriculum and standards for years now, so taking IB classes is a great way for students to be exposed to real rigor and academic standards. That being said, due to the lowering of standards in grades 9-10, many students come in to the IB program junior year completely unprepared, and it can be highly stressful. It’s highly stressful for even those students who are prepared. My students joke about how late they go to bed, having mental breakdowns, and the hell of IB. It actually concerns me how they just see it as the norm. I have seen previous comments saying how the writing in IB is good preparation for college, and I agree. Especially if in the DP program, between all the IAs and the extended essay, your child will have a lot of opportunities to learn research and writing skills. They’ll also learn time management, and many students who reach out to me after they’ve graduated have said that college feels way more manageable after doing the IB program. (They’re comparing their experience to that of their peers who didn’t do IB). As with anything, it will depend on the school your child attends, the teachers they have, and their personality. For some, IB is the best thing that happened to them in HS and set them up for extreme success beyond. For others, it ends up not being a good choice, their mental health is affected, and they either push through to their own detriment, or drop out. You know your child best!

This is spot on. 100% consistent with my kids' experience.

[Anonymous]

Another IB parent here.

We used to hound our kids every day to have them complete assignments, follow-up with teachers, be responsible. Now as IB students they are much, much, much more organized.

The cohort, the expectations, and the structure provided by IB has made a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

But you can also get the full IB diploma at BCC, Einstein, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Kennedy, Springbrook, and Watkins Mill.

But you are much less likely to.

I mean, sure. But that's comparing apples to oranges. Kids in a test-in magnet are more likley to complete the diploma than kids just taking a couple of classes for extra rigor. But the apples to apples comparison would be a kid whose home school was RMIB but was not part of the magnet (so joined in 11th). Is that kid more or less likley to complete the diploma than a kid from BCC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Can you elaborate? What is missing from RM’s IB program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

But you can also get the full IB diploma at BCC, Einstein, Rockville, Seneca Valley, Kennedy, Springbrook, and Watkins Mill.

Yes, a student can get an IB diploma but if the pass rate is low and their grades barely scrape by, they're screwed. Just like a C average student in a regular MCPS high school program.

I don't know about the other schools, but BCC has a good pass rate on the IB and I think about half of the kids who don't "pass" simply don't feel like taking IB exams senior year or filling out the CAS busywork. My kid scored very well on the IB exams but was considering not taking his last ones and there wasn't a lot I could say as to why he should.

So getting back to BCC, I think it's an advantage for kids at the school that they can choose to take a few IB classes even if they don't want to do full diploma but no one thinks that taking a few classes is the same as full diploma and criticizing the diploma program at BCC because some kids don't take it seems about par for DCUM discussion of MCPS.

If you are really talking about doing the full diploma then I think BCC has a good program and it will help develop writing skills and demonstrate rigor of classes.

[Anonymous]

BCC had a 95% pass rate in 2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per my RMIB kid, it's a ton of work, but not particularly hard. DC is thinking it may not be worth it for a lot of kids, and is telling their younger sibling to not do it.

I have a kid starting the RMIB next year. Why does your DC not recommend it for his/her younger sibling? We debated about it a ton, and are not sure how much it will be worth it.

For our kids it was worth it - after undergrad at umd, one got PhD in engineering from MIT and second one is in t-20 medical school. Yes it’s not easy but if your child is capable, I’d strongly recommend it

But you can easily get into UMD without IB. Tons of MCPS students go to UMD. So what was the point of all the work for IB? It didn't get her into MIT and med school. UMD did.

PP you were responding to. Education is like building a high rise building, you can't build upper floors without strong foundation/lower floors. Each segment of education (ES/MS/HS/College/beyond) is built based on the foundation your kids worked on at a lower level. Yes, my kids got into post college education "from" UMD, but they are the first to tell you that they wouldn't be there without strong lower education before college. For us, anyway, RM was a critical part of that building process. You can't compartmentalize education. They are like sausages with many connected links.

4 of my kids got into UMD and 1 went. None were in Magnet or IB. Bragging that IB got them into MIT and med school is incorrect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: BCC had a 95% pass rate in 2021

What the heck?

The inflation is insane in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

Wow, is that true? That’s quite a difference. Is it the teaching that’s deteriorated or the ability of the students?

I have a kid in the RMIB and didn’t realize the pass rate was so low!

They had to diversify just like TJ in Virginia. It was too asian which is ridiculous. The best should get in period.

[Anonymous]

My daughter had two friends go into RMIB freshman year.

One was just a well rounded easy going smart person. Like she always looked for things that interested them. Sports, books, logic puzzles, etc... Laid back parents - she was just an independent go getter who never took herself too seriously.

Other friend had very uptight parents that really stressed good grades. She was a very happy kid in ES and straight A's and things seem to come easy. She started to stress in middle school - typical for middle school. She seemed to only do what needed to be done for her. Was in 24/7 activities and was never available for sleepovers or events. She always wanted to get the best grades, the best at everything. A people pleaser.

Obviously you can tell who maintained the same characteristics and did well in the program, and who went into a huge anxiety/depression spiral and even needed medication. Who secretly asked for Adderall from friends with ADHD, to stay up late to study. Her friendships took a back seat and she even dropped all but one sport. She struggled but stayed in and did ok. But she was also WL to colleges she thought should could get into and ended up at UMD with all of her other non IB friends. She was very happy there. Away from the stress of the program and her family. She will be the first one to tell you it ruined her 4 years of high school.

Parents truly have to be honest with themselves whether a program like this will enrich your child or stress them out. It has NOTHING to do with abilities and how smart you are. It has to do if it is fascinates you, encourages you, and makes them excited to go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: BCC had a 95% pass rate in 2021

What the heck?

The inflation is insane in MCPS

Pass/not pass is not determined by MCPS. It's done by IB org outside of US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: BCC had a 95% pass rate in 2021

I don't believe that. Link please. It maybe something else BCC came up with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends where they do it. BCC - total waste of time, RMIB used to be prestigious but has gone down the tubes.

Lycee Rochambeau - probably your best bet

Oh, hey! More private school recruiting!

Well my own kids go to Whitman, that's just my opinion on the IB opportunities locally.

So you really have no basis for the statement.

Yes actually I do. I did the IB in England and know what is missing from the programs here that I mentioned and the one that I believe is good. I investigated them thoroughly for our kids only a couple of years ago.

Is my interview over now, sir?

Not the original interrogator, but I’m still not sure what you think the differences are? Aren’t all IB students following the same curriculum and passing the same exams based on the same criteria? If they pass the exams, wouldn’t that demonstrate they’d learned the material to the same high standards? I get that the instructors may vary, but if they’re prepared for the exams, what does it matter where or how they learned the material? I mean, that’s kind of the point of standardized exams.

Sure. Now compare the results and when I say results I mean for the kids who actually achieve an IB diploma, not those at BCC who took just one IB class mixed in with regular classes in their 11th grade.

Well, the result is you got an IB diploma. I mean, the test-in programs might have a higher pass rate vs. self-selected kids in a given schools, sure. But if you do the work and get a diploma, it means you met the same standards as students who got an IB diploma anywhere else in the world, right?

So a motivated kid at BCC or Einstein who gets an IB diploma earns the same diploma as the kids at whatever fancy private school you're talking about, or a school in England or Sweden or Italy. That's the entire point. Maybe the odds are stacked against them, and they have to work a little harder on their own to get there; but if they get the diploma, it means they met the International Baccalaureate standards. Period.

Perhaps I wasn't clear. The BCC option is to take an occasional IB class, without getting the full diploma. Also diplomas are graded. RMIB had a 92% pass rate then they changed administrators (about 5 yrs ago?) and it dropped to 72% or thereabouts.

There are many threads on this forum, if you care to search for them which are detailed and sometimes very heated, but very informative.

Wow, is that true? That’s quite a difference. Is it the teaching that’s deteriorated or the ability of the students?

I have a kid in the RMIB and didn’t realize the pass rate was so low!

They had to diversify just like TJ in Virginia. It was too asian which is ridiculous. The best should get in period.

This is again the worst of DCUM — people spreading false info they heard by gossip and then using it to justify casual racism.

RMIB’s pass rate for 2021 was 98%