South Lakes Experiences: IB program and/ or 2E kids

[Anonymous]

DS is a rising 8th grader In the AAP center at Carson. He is pretty well rounded academically, but stronger in English, music and history than math and science. He also has ADHD, which made the MS transition tough, but is now doing very well with a 504 plan and low dose medication. I done some reading about the IB program, and think it looks like a great fit for DS on paper. I want him to consider pupil placing into South Lakes IB (our base school is Chantilly). I would love to hear about any first hand experiences that people have had with this program-- positive or negative. I know Chantilly is generally considered a stronger school, but have also heard that South Lakes was rezoned and is on the rise. Is this true? I would also be interested to hear whether South Lakes does a good job working with 2e or ADHD kids. Anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a rising 8th grader In the AAP center at Carson. He is pretty well rounded academically, but stronger in English, music and history than math and science. He also has ADHD, which made the MS transition tough, but is now doing very well with a 504 plan and low dose medication. I done some reading about the IB program, and think it looks like a great fit for DS on paper. I want him to consider pupil placing into South Lakes IB (our base school is Chantilly). I would love to hear about any first hand experiences that people have had with this program-- positive or negative. I know Chantilly is generally considered a stronger school, but have also heard that South Lakes was rezoned and is on the rise. Is this true? I would also be interested to hear whether South Lakes does a good job working with 2e or ADHD kids. Anyone?

Not a South Lakes IB parent, but want to suggest that you arrange a meeting for you (maybe without your son at this point) with whoever's the South Lakes IB coordinator. IB schools have a person (sometimes more than one) who is officially the IB coordinator and who knows more about the program at that school than anyone else. That would give you a good overview and you can lay out your son's ADHD challenges and how the 504 has worked so far, etc. I would do this now, maybe in the day or two after schools dismiss but when staffers are still around.

Also, most IB schools do an IB presentation night in the fall and again in spring, so you do not have to wait for a spring freshman orientation night. Go to the fall IB presentation if SL has one and take your son there for sure so he can hear from the students themselves. Sometimes these IB-only presentation nights don't get a lot of publicity so check the school web site or call and ask about it, once school begins.

I know you also want parent input--contact the school's PTA and ask if it can give your e-mail to some parents. You might find that PTA officers you initially contact have kids in IB themselves and can answer questions. WE pupil placed our daughter for IB and the school's PTA was very helpful to us as parents seeking contacts.

Also, bear in mind -- I'm pretty sure that you can pupil place him for IB even if he does not commit to the full IB diploma program. He can just do a certain minimum number of IB courses without taking the diploma, if it turns out the diploma program is not for him. (But you can't pupil place unless he does commit to at least that minimum number of courses.) I can't recall this minute how many courses that minimum for placement is -- maybe three? -- but the IB coordinator can explain that to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a rising 8th grader In the AAP center at Carson. He is pretty well rounded academically, but stronger in English, music and history than math and science. He also has ADHD, which made the MS transition tough, but is now doing very well with a 504 plan and low dose medication. I done some reading about the IB program, and think it looks like a great fit for DS on paper. I want him to consider pupil placing into South Lakes IB (our base school is Chantilly). I would love to hear about any first hand experiences that people have had with this program-- positive or negative. I know Chantilly is generally considered a stronger school, but have also heard that South Lakes was rezoned and is on the rise. Is this true? I would also be interested to hear whether South Lakes does a good job working with 2e or ADHD kids. Anyone?

One more factor to consider: pupil-placed students cannot ride school buses, so transportation to and from school is entirely on your family.

[Anonymous]

OP here: great advice so far. And yes, I knew about the transportation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Also, bear in mind -- I'm pretty sure that you can pupil place him for IB even if he does not commit to the full IB diploma program. He can just do a certain minimum number of IB courses without taking the diploma, if it turns out the diploma program is not for him. (But you can't pupil place unless he does commit to at least that minimum number of courses.) I can't recall this minute how many courses that minimum for placement is -- maybe three? -- but the IB coordinator can explain that to you.

Four IB courses with at least three by the end of junior year.

Link to letter of understanding for high school curricular transfer requests:

http://www.fcps.edu/it/forms/se243.pdf