Thomas Taylor and BCC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the new plan, Richard Montgomery IB will only be open to RM, Churchill, Wooton, and Rockville.

RMIB and Wootton STEM programs will undoubtedly attract the brightest second-generation immigrants who either inherit high working ethic from their first-generation immigrant parents or have helicopter parents to make sure they study hard. This region will shine and become the new jewry on the top of the crown. Of course it takes years for college admission office to acknowledge that, but in the long run I would see it brings overall benefit to that region. For students who are intimated by cutthroat environment, it's gonna become bad memories.

Churchill and Wooton already have incredible college acceptance rates. Now they’ll get exclusive access to the best IB program in the county, too.

How many students want IB? Very few actually graduate with an IB degree.

At the high-performance/current countywide RMIB? All of them. That's the one that families from the Churchill & Wootton pyramids would attend with the new regions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

Arts is not going away is it? The visual arts program at Einstein?

Performing arts go away to Northwood. Visual arts is up in the air but they are saying it won’t be a countywide magnet.

So is it Loiderman MS to Northwood HS if student wants to continue performing arts?

No, they're in different regions.

Where will Loiderman MS students attend for performing arts if Northwood is in another region?

They’ll have to compete for limited performing arts magnet spots. Maybe 30-50 per year? MCPS hasn’t settled on numbers. If they don’t get into Woodward, they’ll go to their home school. No other options.

But it might not matter. MCPS is planning to change middle school programs too. Probably Loiderman, Argyle and Parkland won’t stay the same as they are now. Why leave a middle school consortium in place after ending the two high school consortia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the new plan, Richard Montgomery IB will only be open to RM, Churchill, Wooton, and Rockville.

RMIB and Wootton STEM programs will undoubtedly attract the brightest second-generation immigrants who either inherit high working ethic from their first-generation immigrant parents or have helicopter parents to make sure they study hard. This region will shine and become the new jewry on the top of the crown. Of course it takes years for college admission office to acknowledge that, but in the long run I would see it brings overall benefit to that region. For students who are intimated by cutthroat environment, it's gonna become bad memories.

Churchill and Wooton already have incredible college acceptance rates. Now they’ll get exclusive access to the best IB program in the county, too.

How many students want IB? Very few actually graduate with an IB degree.

At the high-performance/current countywide RMIB? All of them. That's the one that families from the Churchill & Wootton pyramids would attend with the new regions.

+1 IBDP rate at RM is above 90%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

More kids choose Einstein than Kennedy in the DCC choice process. I don’t know if they choose it for Einstein’s IB or because of the music and theatre programs.

Kennedy has had a rough few years. Other than adding the IB magnet right before covid, MCPS hasn’t done much to improve the situation there. Kennedy will be in a region with Walter Johnson, Woodward and Wheaton, which probably won’t help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

How popular is the IB program at Einstein? MCPS has a finite amount of money. They should use it wisely, and that means not supporting unpopular programs.

A lot of students take IB classes as there aren't a lot of AP classes. Most do a mix. Very few graduate with an IB degree.

But if the school moved away from IB, those students would presumably move to AP. If few students even with the consortium model aren't getting the IB diploma, then it seems like that is a good reason not to offer the program at all. Mind you Einstein could decide to keep it--but it doesn't sound like it's a good idea to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

More kids choose Einstein than Kennedy in the DCC choice process. I don’t know if they choose it for Einstein’s IB or because of the music and theatre programs.

Kennedy has had a rough few years. Other than adding the IB magnet right before covid, MCPS hasn’t done much to improve the situation there. Kennedy will be in a region with Walter Johnson, Woodward and Wheaton, which probably won’t help.

But students who want to go to the IBDP at Kennedy would not go through the choice process. They would go through the application process. It does not seem that Einstein's IBDP is stronger than Kennedy's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

My kid got into Kennedy IB and chose Einstein because they offered both IB and strong arts. It feels very shady that now both of those are threatened by the proposed diminished enrollment at AEHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

More kids choose Einstein than Kennedy in the DCC choice process. I don’t know if they choose it for Einstein’s IB or because of the music and theatre programs.

Kennedy has had a rough few years. Other than adding the IB magnet right before covid, MCPS hasn’t done much to improve the situation there. Kennedy will be in a region with Walter Johnson, Woodward and Wheaton, which probably won’t help.

But students who want to go to the IBDP at Kennedy would not go through the choice process. They would go through the application process. It does not seem that Einstein's IBDP is stronger than Kennedy's.

MCPS reports AP/IB test data. You have to scroll all the way to the end for IB stats per school but more Einstein students take IB exams than Kennedy students.

Einstein and BCC have about the same number of IB courses each year, though more BCC students take the exams. Why not put county resources into Einstein? The BCC program will be self-sustaining so there will be two good IB programs in the region. But Einstein is losing students in the boundary study so their IB will shrink or end without MCPS support.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2024/240215_2023_AP_IB_Exam_Enrollment%20Part%20and%20Perform..pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

My kid got into Kennedy IB and chose Einstein because they offered both IB and strong arts. It feels very shady that now both of those are threatened by the proposed diminished enrollment at AEHS.

Northwood is getting a new building with great performing arts facilities so that makes sense. IB at BCC looks like a gift for BCC and Whitman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

Not to mention the giving Einstein and IB program is what convinced many parents to move into that neighborhood and buy houses. Einstein is a classic example of taking a not very good school, giving it a special program, which then draws families who are more interested in academic quality, which then improves academic quality for all. Einstein built onto the IB success by then creating the biomedical program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

Do you know anything about Kennedy? There are some great students and staff but it is one of the weakest schools in MCPS and a rougher school. Very few would choose it. I don’t know anyone who chooses Einstein for IB. It’s just an IB school. You choose it as its know for arts, and a less rough school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

Not to mention the giving Einstein and IB program is what convinced many parents to move into that neighborhood and buy houses. Einstein is a classic example of taking a not very good school, giving it a special program, which then draws families who are more interested in academic quality, which then improves academic quality for all. Einstein built onto the IB success by then creating the biomedical program.

Very few kids graduate with an IB degree. More want AP over IB but it’s not an option. People move to the area as it’s more affordable and Einstein is a good school. It’s also convenient to metro and the beltway depending on where you work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

More kids choose Einstein than Kennedy in the DCC choice process. I don’t know if they choose it for Einstein’s IB or because of the music and theatre programs.

Kennedy has had a rough few years. Other than adding the IB magnet right before covid, MCPS hasn’t done much to improve the situation there. Kennedy will be in a region with Walter Johnson, Woodward and Wheaton, which probably won’t help.

But students who want to go to the IBDP at Kennedy would not go through the choice process. They would go through the application process. It does not seem that Einstein's IBDP is stronger than Kennedy's.

MCPS reports AP/IB test data. You have to scroll all the way to the end for IB stats per school but more Einstein students take IB exams than Kennedy students.

Einstein and BCC have about the same number of IB courses each year, though more BCC students take the exams. Why not put county resources into Einstein? The BCC program will be self-sustaining so there will be two good IB programs in the region. But Einstein is losing students in the boundary study so their IB will shrink or end without MCPS support.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2024/240215_2023_AP_IB_Exam_Enrollment%20Part%20and%20Perform..pdf

Einstein is terribly underfunded. I think not all the kids want to test, the tests don’t transfer to all colleges but they are forced into IB classes as that is all that’s offered for some things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Taking IB + Arts away from Einstein is just ridiculous.

I don't know about arts, but Einstein can keep a local IB program if they want. But people here are often complaining that the IB program at Einstein means they can't take the higher-level AP classes they want, so it's not clear to me that that's the best option for Einstein.

Currently, Einstein is under the Kennedy regional umbrella for IB. That application program, though, doesn't draw nearly the way that B-CC's would, as B-CC's complementary advanced offerings are considered better, and it has considerably lower FARMS and EML rates than Kennedy.

This would tend to undermine Einstein's own local IB, reducing the population of advanced learners who, if they stayed, might help the school offer a broader array of IB classes, and at the higher level. It struggles to maintain that, as it is. Before the regional IB at Kennedy, Einstein was clearly the place to go within the DCC for that experience (it may still be, but to a lesser extent). It drew sizeable numbers of IB students from the 5-school catchment -- some who did not get in to county-wide RMIB and some who preferred the more local (and less cutthroat) setting. Changing demographics, overall, the slight shift toward Kennedy's regional program and a decision to stop offering advanced, IB-related courses in 9th & 10th (previously offering cohorting away from the base curriculum in some subjects) all have taken a toll. With the school-choice consortia disappearing, taking away a huge catchment of those who might have chosen Einstein for its IB (open to all, unlike the application programs), in addition to BCC's greater draw away from the remaining local population, it looks as though MCPS's likely recommendations from the Program Analysis would create an untenable situation, leaving Einstein with little chance of providing the IB experience sought within the catchment.

That's from the perspective of Einstein's community. From the perspective of the individual student, it's not as if B-CC's magnet program will be large enough to take all those applying from Einstein (and Northwood and Blair, the other two schools in the DCC heading into Region 1 that currently might access Einstein's IB through the choice process).

Do most people in the DCC prefer Einstein to Kennedy for IB? Kennedy takes nearly all students -- only the vastly unqualified are rejected. I would think people would prefer Kennedy because they offer pre-IB classes.

My kid got into Kennedy IB and chose Einstein because they offered both IB and strong arts. It feels very shady that now both of those are threatened by the proposed diminished enrollment at AEHS.

Northwood is getting a new building with great performing arts facilities so that makes sense. IB at BCC looks like a gift for BCC and Whitman.

Many of us would prefer good teachers over a shiny new building.