Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.

I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.

What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?

We were at an IB school. Lots of hype for the "IB diploma programme" (fancy IBO spelling for global citizens) but small fraction of students getting the diploma. Non-diploma track students were treated as second class, including at graduation. And this was at one of the supposedly better IB programs in FCPS. Younger kids went to an AP school and had a much better experience. The tracking in FCPS is bad enough in ES and MS. IB results in a different type of tracking in HS as well.

Also, it's a matter of public record that it costs more per student and that some schools have but a handful of IB diploma graduates.

When was the last time FCPS made a HS w/AP convert to IB? Answer - over 20 years ago. They know it hasn't panned out as hoped, but they don't want to admit mistakes so they don't revisit their past bad decisions.

As I suspected -- you don't actually have personal experience of what IB classes are like -- just as an outsider looking in.
I think the reason there are not more IB schools is it goes to the OPs orignial thought -- schools aren't great. Teachers need special certs to teach IB and the curriculum is much harder.

That is just silly. IB costs more because it's outsourced curriculum with fees and higher exam grading costs. A really simple metric is transfer data. If it was so great there would be alot more movement from AP schools for the programme. AP Madison to IB Marshall 14. IB Marshall to AP Madison 42. AP Langley to IB Marshall <10 and to IB South Lakes <10. AP Lake Braddock to IB Robinson 19. IB Robinson to AP Lake Braddock 85. Numbers from the FCPS faciltiies transfer data 2024-25.

One site has significant transfers from AP to IB , Herndon to South Lakes at 164. Some of that could be attributed to Hughes AAP receiving 101 transfers for 2 grade levels. Total transfers 125=Herndon 118+ 7 from Carson/Stone/Franklin/Liberty.

IB Edison picks up lots of transfers even IB to IB but some could be due to Global Stem. FCPS program budget should have separete listings/details for IB and AP. And costs detailed...thing has more detail on Hunters Woods Magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.

I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.

What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?

We were at an IB school. Lots of hype for the "IB diploma programme" (fancy IBO spelling for global citizens) but small fraction of students getting the diploma. Non-diploma track students were treated as second class, including at graduation. And this was at one of the supposedly better IB programs in FCPS. Younger kids went to an AP school and had a much better experience. The tracking in FCPS is bad enough in ES and MS. IB results in a different type of tracking in HS as well.

Also, it's a matter of public record that it costs more per student and that some schools have but a handful of IB diploma graduates.

When was the last time FCPS made a HS w/AP convert to IB? Answer - over 20 years ago. They know it hasn't panned out as hoped, but they don't want to admit mistakes so they don't revisit their past bad decisions.

As I suspected -- you don't actually have personal experience of what IB classes are like -- just as an outsider looking in.
I think the reason there are not more IB schools is it goes to the OPs orignial thought -- schools aren't great. Teachers need special certs to teach IB and the curriculum is much harder.

I guess you missed the part where I noted "We were at an IB school."

And, no, the curriculum is not much harder. It is more structured, more time-consuming, and more pretentious.

YES - Totally missed the part where you said and my child/children earned an IB diploma." There are literally hundreds of kids who are/"were at an IB school" and still know little to nothing about the program.

The IB diploma rates at FCPS schools are quite low. Students still get exposed to the IB program and IB classes.

The fact that you think so many kids at FCPS schools "know little to nothing" about the program is an indictment of IB and how FCPS administers IB.

It's a waste, and it offers students very little they can't now get at AP schools at a lower cost to FCPS (and without the "IB diploma"/"everyone else" dynamic that IB creates).