IS DCI dropping IB
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Anonymous
+1. Kids in the IB program off course have to take certain IB courses. But it does not mean they can’t take AP courses also esp in 9th and 10th grade. Lots of kids don’t want to do IB. It’s no joke with all the course requirements, the writing, and the mini-thesis. So they take AP courses but can take IB courses too if they want. I don’t get what PP above is fixated on. The high performing kids who want to do IB can go that route. The kids who don’t want to do IB diploma at DCI doesn’t have to take a set curriculum of courses and can take what classes they want as long as they meet DCI high school requirements. |
Anonymous
To add, these kids can still get the IB certificate who don’t want to do the IB diploma. It doesn’t matter if they want to take AP courses, IB courses, or combo of both. As long as they fulfill the general high school graduation requirements. |
Anonymous
First of all, relax. Second dci has a track for career students. It means they take regular high school classes and 2 “career track” classes. It’s a great way to ensure kids get a good education while some are tracked into the diploma program and others can do career. It solves the problem of ensuring high achievers are appropriately challenged (based on things like test scores and school performance, not like walls or Banneker which don’t even use the CAPE) while allowing all students to attend DCI. There are more nuances to the. IB career track and Google is your friend. |
Anonymous
| Im the PP- you also don’t seem to understand that IB courses are only junior or senior year courses for the most part. In other words if it can easily take AP as a freshman or sophomore if you’re a high achiever. If you choose the career track you don’t have to worry about taking IB exams your senior year so you can take AP ones at that time. |
Anonymous
What curriculum purchases? Staffing changes? Where do you find this information? |
Anonymous
This would be my main concern about adding new classes and curriculum. Consistent leadership and long term educators dedicated to the model and students would be my top priority. The churn in staff make it hard for kids that do best with mentors etc. |
Anonymous
| The DCI guidance counselors don't have previous IB experience either. But the bigger problem is that lack of middle school challenge at DCI holds the brightest kids back. There isn't nearly enough academic tracking in core subjects and not enough of a push academically, at least not by 8th grade. And I'm not impressed by how DCI does nothing to channel students into summer immersion study. Still, their college acceptances aren't pretty good anyway. |
Anonymous
Aren't current high school requirements grounded in IB for all tho? As a parent, I wouldn't be excited about more change and experiments until there was stronger footing/school identity...mostly for staff buy in and retention reasons. |
Anonymous
Eh. In the last year with data (2024-25), 87 DCI students out of the 200+ class participated in the full DP out of which 35 got a score > 24 (which is the bare minimum needed to get the diploma). IB for all may just be marketing. |
Anonymous
| Where did you find these stats? I've looked different places for stats like these and haven't found them. |
Anonymous
I would be totally fine with this criticism if it was fact based but it really isn’t. First take college acceptances - this year alone we have multiple acceptances for ivies such as Dartmouth, U Penn, Yale, Stanford right off the top of my head. No MIT and no Harvard as far as I know. Lots of of U Pitt honors. It’s not even Ivy day yet so there could be more. DCI definitely does not hold bright kids back. There is significant tracking up and down the spectrum. I have one child that needs specific help. They’re in some support classes. For my kids that are more academic, they have lots of accelerated classes particularly in math and science. I think a weak point is the lack of stronger courses in English but they are now offering ap English which would have been great for my eldest bit she’s now in IB diploma program. I honestly don’t know what you mean about dci channeling kid into summer study. My kids who are eligible all studied abroad with dci for a few weeks. Then there is a partnership with dci to study abroad for longer. You can inquire directly but I understand it’s the only school in Dc to encourage study abroad. I’m one of those people who really thinks that we should always push the school for more tracking more opportunities. I definitely think there is more room to grow. But I also think DCI is the best school for my kids. The middle school was a great fit especially since they do a great job of tracking kids who excel in math. I believe dci is the only school to allow kids to take algebra 2 in 8th grade (Integrated Math). There were a ton of clubs both in middle school and high school for kids who are super brainy (Mathletes, chess, robotics, debate) and clubs for those who wanted to have fun (cooking baking e sports D&D). My zoned dcps did not offer this at all. What was the real draw for us was the language, especially the chance to take multiple courses in the language (like social studies I&S) and electives like art and music. One of my kids did get in to SWW, but I ultimately advised her against it because I felt that the hardest courses offered at SWW were offered to freshmen and sophomores and she had the chance to take some really interesting stuff as a junior senior in the full diploma program. She decided to stay at dci for the study abroad more than anything else, although now she definitely is grateful she has the course offerings available at dci. One of my kids will be on the career track and loving not having to take the rigorous courses that our oldest had to take. I’m genuinely happy that there is a place for the academic superstars where they can shine and a place for kids who aren’t, without the behavioral issues that plague a lot of high schoolers that cause academic kids to leave. I always always think there is a lot of room for improvement at any school, but honestly for what my kids are looking for (stellar academics, study abroad opportunities, language, tracking for students to make them thrive, clubs, and sports) we have been and continue to be happy at dci. |
Anonymous
There’s someone on this board who either poses as, or is, an unethical IB insider disclosing data they are not allowed to disclose. |
Anonymous
I think there is someone on this board completely making $h!t up. |
Anonymous
I'm an unethical insider making up stuff...or this is all in the annual report on DCI's webpage! 
Click on SY2024-25 Annual Report https://dcinternationalschool.org/organizational-transparency/ |
Anonymous
No you were making garbage up about purchases and lack of experience which is wholesale made up. You need mental help. |