Private to APS WL IB -- Will it be less grueling??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For sample, in freshman history he has to write a 5 paragraph essay in class for his mid term a topic of classical antiquity and Middle Ages — topic will be revealed in exam.

Is this the same type of tests that WL freshman history would have?

Some freshman at WL take AP world and yes they would need to do this on a test. At Yorktown they take AP world sophomore year and yes this was just a test they all took. Hour long in class essay on topic revealed in exam.

Right that type of essay fits a sophomore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no reason to think he’d be a fit for IB (even in 1.5 years from now) if he’s struggling at Gonzaga and based on your comments. Sounds like you need to think through the realistic options- a mix of honors and regular classes at Gonzaga or whatever is the step below IB at WL.

One thing I’ll say for Gonzaga is the global studies program has expanded and the study aboard options are great. My DS and his friends have been to Argentina, Italy and France. You host a student, too. It’s a cool program your DS might enjoy.

DP. That sounds amazing. APS has the sister city foreign exchange program with towns in Germany and France.

.

That program is for 5th graders, not high school students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is currently a sophomore at wl and I do not think freshman year was bad in term if workload. There is a wide variety for workload between teachers though, so it is possible that you will draw a short straw and end up with very rigorous teachers. There is one ap class that is encouraged if you are pre-ib, otherwise they encourage all intensified classes. Intensified classes do not have a gpa bump, only ap and ib classrs do. I think that by junior year if you do full ib it is very intense.
College options from Gonzaga vs wl are very different. Most of my daughter’s friends (pre-ib and very driven) are aiming for state schools. When I was in highschool (went to Gonzaga), most of my friends were aiming top 20 college if not Ivy League. Just different trajectories.

A lot has changed in college admissions since you were in high school. I'd bet that Gonzaga and IB students at WL are applying to the same colleges. I think the biggest difference is likely that Gonzaga students are more likely to be full pay than those from a public school.

Utter BS

Gonzaga is not a hard school either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is currently a sophomore at wl and I do not think freshman year was bad in term if workload. There is a wide variety for workload between teachers though, so it is possible that you will draw a short straw and end up with very rigorous teachers. There is one ap class that is encouraged if you are pre-ib, otherwise they encourage all intensified classes. Intensified classes do not have a gpa bump, only ap and ib classrs do. I think that by junior year if you do full ib it is very intense.
College options from Gonzaga vs wl are very different. Most of my daughter’s friends (pre-ib and very driven) are aiming for state schools. When I was in highschool (went to Gonzaga), most of my friends were aiming top 20 college if not Ivy League. Just different trajectories.

A lot has changed in college admissions since you were in high school. I'd bet that Gonzaga and IB students at WL are applying to the same colleges. I think the biggest difference is likely that Gonzaga students are more likely to be full pay than those from a public school.

Utter BS

Gonzaga is not a hard school either.

Well, despite the opinions of some of the Gonzaga alumni posters here, this year's W-L college admissions (link is via the college forum) are impressive as usual both for IB and non-IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is currently a sophomore at wl and I do not think freshman year was bad in term if workload. There is a wide variety for workload between teachers though, so it is possible that you will draw a short straw and end up with very rigorous teachers. There is one ap class that is encouraged if you are pre-ib, otherwise they encourage all intensified classes. Intensified classes do not have a gpa bump, only ap and ib classrs do. I think that by junior year if you do full ib it is very intense.
College options from Gonzaga vs wl are very different. Most of my daughter’s friends (pre-ib and very driven) are aiming for state schools. When I was in highschool (went to Gonzaga), most of my friends were aiming top 20 college if not Ivy League. Just different trajectories.

A lot has changed in college admissions since you were in high school. I'd bet that Gonzaga and IB students at WL are applying to the same colleges. I think the biggest difference is likely that Gonzaga students are more likely to be full pay than those from a public school.

Utter BS

Gonzaga is not a hard school either.

Well, despite the opinions of some of the Gonzaga alumni posters here, this year's W-L college admissions (link is via the college forum) are impressive as usual both for IB and non-IB.

URM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is currently a sophomore at wl and I do not think freshman year was bad in term if workload. There is a wide variety for workload between teachers though, so it is possible that you will draw a short straw and end up with very rigorous teachers. There is one ap class that is encouraged if you are pre-ib, otherwise they encourage all intensified classes. Intensified classes do not have a gpa bump, only ap and ib classrs do. I think that by junior year if you do full ib it is very intense.
College options from Gonzaga vs wl are very different. Most of my daughter’s friends (pre-ib and very driven) are aiming for state schools. When I was in highschool (went to Gonzaga), most of my friends were aiming top 20 college if not Ivy League. Just different trajectories.

A lot has changed in college admissions since you were in high school. I'd bet that Gonzaga and IB students at WL are applying to the same colleges. I think the biggest difference is likely that Gonzaga students are more likely to be full pay than those from a public school.

Utter BS

Gonzaga is not a hard school either.

Well, despite the opinions of some of the Gonzaga alumni posters here, this year's W-L college admissions (link is via the college forum) are impressive as usual both for IB and non-IB.

URM

The results posted so far don't have many URM at all. So that's not a factor in the W-L
admissions results.

[Anonymous]

How do you know they let him in IB?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DS is currently at Gonzaga, and its been a grueling and stressful start to high school. We have at least 2-3 quizzes a week and it seems like 2 tests a week. Then there is the essay on short stories or science reports. Its a lot of structure writing and testing nonstop, not to mention the math and science problem sets but those are pretty straightforward.

He is struggling with the writing, feeling like they aren't even teaching him how to do these structured analysis, quotes, and references, all sorts of grammar rules to follow.

We are hoping it would be a bit more support and slower ramp up at WL -- we may transfer in the Spring. Can anyone speak about the current assignment load for the Honors and AP classes that freshman take? How often are quizzes and tests? How many writing assignments have they had so far? How stressful are mid-terms for the end of this semester?

We expect by the time IB classes, the reading and writing effort will exceed even the load we have now, but we hope that there will be maturity and a more gradual ramp up in skills to ready for that point. But anyone who can speak to the IB experience, that would be welcome as well.

Just a reality check. My child is a sophomore at Yorktown (so not WL) and has quizzes in 2 classes every day they meet, many weeks has 2 tests in a week, and has regular writing assignments in both AP classes that require a lot of structure, references, etc. It is a constant stream of testing and assignments. He is taking 2 APs and all intensified. Last year it was a bit less intense but he did do a good amount of writing and I helped him with the writing and he worked with the teachers on drafts to improve.

I guess my point is this is all going to be happening anywhere you go if the kid is in the highest rigor classes. Maybe you need to really supplement at home and support and push through? I think moving mid year will create a whole set of other issues for your kid.

That’s sophomore year — I’m looking at Freshman year, and how it ramps up. He wants to switch in January because this pace is not sustainable. Can anyone speak to tests, quizzes, essays for Freshman?

OP - you posted “we” a lot. I think you are too involved in this. The pace and rigor at Gonzaga is typical of any local private but this should be bt your son and the school, not “we”. My high schoolers are at a different private, and every year they see kids switch from public and flip out that they’re no longer getting straight As. Most of the public kids are also behind in writing. The difference at private is the teachers expect you to meet with them. If your son isn’t regularly meeting with teachers to see how to improve his working, he needs to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is currently a sophomore at wl and I do not think freshman year was bad in term if workload. There is a wide variety for workload between teachers though, so it is possible that you will draw a short straw and end up with very rigorous teachers. There is one ap class that is encouraged if you are pre-ib, otherwise they encourage all intensified classes. Intensified classes do not have a gpa bump, only ap and ib classrs do. I think that by junior year if you do full ib it is very intense.
College options from Gonzaga vs wl are very different. Most of my daughter’s friends (pre-ib and very driven) are aiming for state schools. When I was in highschool (went to Gonzaga), most of my friends were aiming top 20 college if not Ivy League. Just different trajectories.

A lot has changed in college admissions since you were in high school. I'd bet that Gonzaga and IB students at WL are applying to the same colleges. I think the biggest difference is likely that Gonzaga students are more likely to be full pay than those from a public school.

Utter BS

Gonzaga is not a hard school either.

Well, despite the opinions of some of the Gonzaga alumni posters here, this year's W-L college admissions (link is via the college forum) are impressive as usual both for IB and non-IB.

URM

The results posted so far don't have many URM at all. So that's not a factor in the W-L
admissions results.

Correction to the above: of the roughly 40 results publicly posted, there are zero underrepresented minorities. People need to stop making assumptions and writing here like those are the facts.

Obviously the OP really wants out of Gonzaga. There are levels of intensity with different levels of required work at W-L, and it appears that's what OP really wants. Before making any hasty decisions, I'd inquire with the IB and AP coordinators at W-L.

[Anonymous]

I don't think W-L is going to give your son the support he needs. Look into privates with built in support for ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think W-L is going to give your son the support he needs. Look into privates with built in support for ADHD.

Transferring into a new private during sophomore year is a tall order, I think OP should hire their own support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no reason to think he’d be a fit for IB (even in 1.5 years from now) if he’s struggling at Gonzaga and based on your comments. Sounds like you need to think through the realistic options- a mix of honors and regular classes at Gonzaga or whatever is the step below IB at WL.

One thing I’ll say for Gonzaga is the global studies program has expanded and the study aboard options are great. My DS and his friends have been to Argentina, Italy and France. You host a student, too. It’s a cool program your DS might enjoy.

DP. That sounds amazing. APS has the sister city foreign exchange program with towns in Germany and France.

.

That program is for 5th graders, not high school students.

There's a high school version too.

[Anonymous]

I have a sophomore and a senior at WL. My sophomore took AP Wprld last year. It’s a really hard class. That, paired with Intensified English were a huge learning curve for him. All of the intensified classes dive deeper and require more quizzes and writing. He did fine once he learned how to study.

Before switching schools I would invest in some tutoring. Kids need to learn how to manage the work load, it is not intuitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no reason to think he’d be a fit for IB (even in 1.5 years from now) if he’s struggling at Gonzaga and based on your comments. Sounds like you need to think through the realistic options- a mix of honors and regular classes at Gonzaga or whatever is the step below IB at WL.

One thing I’ll say for Gonzaga is the global studies program has expanded and the study aboard options are great. My DS and his friends have been to Argentina, Italy and France. You host a student, too. It’s a cool program your DS might enjoy.

DP. That sounds amazing. APS has the sister city foreign exchange program with towns in Germany and France.

.

That program is for 5th graders, not high school students.

There's a high school version too.

Yes. The Reims and Aachen sister city foreign exchange programs have a high school component with APS.

[Anonymous]

Look at the college acceptances from W-L. They are impressive. It's not a low key academic environment.