AP vs IB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, I know AP is open to all. This is why, had IB been selective, would had looked into pupil placement and driven DC instead of DC walking to OHS. Now that I know IB isn't like IB in other states I don't think we will further consider IB.

It's still the exact same program that is offered in other states or schools where it is "selective." And it is "self-selective" in the sense that every kid who goes into the IB program has bought into the marketing that it's elite and advanced (i.e. they are the best students in the school whether some committee picked them or not).

I think your reasoning is kind of off, OP.

And also comparing IB & AP to what other states allow doesn't matter. There are other states that don't open AP to all students. Many states/school districts have rules for who can take AP or IB. You are in FCPS, you deal with FCPS rules. It's like when you leave for college and meet a kid who got straight As. At their school an A was 90 and up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, I know AP is open to all. This is why, had IB been selective, would had looked into pupil placement and driven DC instead of DC walking to OHS. Now that I know IB isn't like IB in other states I don't think we will further consider IB.

It's still the exact same program that is offered in other states or schools where it is "selective." And it is "self-selective" in the sense that every kid who goes into the IB program has bought into the marketing that it's elite and advanced (i.e. they are the best students in the school whether some committee picked them or not).

I think your reasoning is kind of off, OP.

Same with AP students. Is OP simply looking for a selective program, be it AP or IB? Because neither one is. They are open to all.

[Anonymous]

It seems the OP was looking to find out if IB was a distinctive enough program in FCPS to warrant placing her child out of one of the county's top high schools, which is also within walking distance of her house. She concluded that it isn't, so she won't. End of story.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that this thread started right after TJ results........some people really like selectivity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems the OP was looking to find out if IB was a distinctive enough program in FCPS to warrant placing her child out of one of the county's top high schools, which is also within walking distance of her house. She concluded that it isn't, so she won't. End of story.

IB is very "distinctive" if people bother to find out how it works. AP is great too. But yes, both are "self-selecting" in FCPS. Still, if the classes are rigorous, they will indeed "select out" students who cannot hack it.

Sadly, some parents want a program that's only by application, I guess so they can say their kid was so special he or she was picked to be among the elite. But the point of these kinds of programs -- and the point of allowing all kids to dare to try them rather than just limiting them to those who can withstand an application process -- should be to learn in a new and different way. But around here, parents tend to be more interested in programs they can point to and say, "My kid got in because he's already so special" rather than "My kid is taking on a challenge that's going to be tough but will equip him with skills he can use in college and beyond."

[Anonymous]

Wait...the only reason OP doesn't want IB is because it's open to everyone? Because her kid doesn't have to be selected to do it? I thought this sort of crap stopped with the 3rd grade AAP nonsense.

[Anonymous]

The issue is pretty obvious. If the program was amazing you would see all of the schools with tons of education oriented parents pushing for it because they would crap bricks if they felt their kids were missing out. So, yeah. I completely agree. It's sad that on top of all of the other crap the bottom performing schools deal with in Fairfax county, they have a second rate "honors" program like IB. And let's not forget the cost of these programs. It's terrible, a waste, and like I said, if it was so great, you would see Langley parents clamoring for it and you wouldn't have seen Woodson parents fighting against it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems the OP was looking to find out if IB was a distinctive enough program in FCPS to warrant placing her child out of one of the county's top high schools, which is also within walking distance of her house. She concluded that it isn't, so she won't. End of story.

IB is very "distinctive" if people bother to find out how it works. AP is great too. But yes, both are "self-selecting" in FCPS. Still, if the classes are rigorous, they will indeed "select out" students who cannot hack it.

Sadly, some parents want a program that's only by application, I guess so they can say their kid was so special he or she was picked to be among the elite. But the point of these kinds of programs -- and the point of allowing all kids to dare to try them rather than just limiting them to those who can withstand an application process -- should be to learn in a new and different way. But around here, parents tend to be more interested in programs they can point to and say, "My kid got in because he's already so special" rather than "My kid is taking on a challenge that's going to be tough but will equip him with skills he can use in college and beyond."

Some people would send their kids to TJ, but not pupil place out of an IB school to the nearest AP school. Others might send their kids to the IB magnet at Richard Montgomery in MoCo, but not pupil place out of an AP school to the nearest open-enrollment IB school in FCPS. People have their own reasons, and they aren't necessarily the one you offered. Sadly, any time a poster decides to take a pass on certain IB schools, other posters decide to hound them relentlessly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems the OP was looking to find out if IB was a distinctive enough program in FCPS to warrant placing her child out of one of the county's top high schools, which is also within walking distance of her house. She concluded that it isn't, so she won't. End of story.

This is OP and this is correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems the OP was looking to find out if IB was a distinctive enough program in FCPS to warrant placing her child out of one of the county's top high schools, which is also within walking distance of her house. She concluded that it isn't, so she won't. End of story.

This is OP and this is correct.

OP- why does is matter if the IB program was selective or not?

[Anonymous]

OP again. PP, because OHS is a great HS; however, if IB were selective, it could have the option of presenting a better alternative for my DC who is an amazing writer. I didn't mean to offend anyone or any school. I was just asking about AP vs. IB for the reason above. We bought where we did, many years ago, based on schools. As our DC has grown and expressed interest in writing, we have begun looking into IB. A dear friend's daughter (from a southern state) completed the IB program in HS. In their county it was a super-selective process and very competitive - much like TJ for STEM. In fact, you could conclude that I was hoping IB was a TJ-like option for humanities. It doesn't seem to be the case in FCPS. Knowing that, I have decided that we will stay with OHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems the OP was looking to find out if IB was a distinctive enough program in FCPS to warrant placing her child out of one of the county's top high schools, which is also within walking distance of her house. She concluded that it isn't, so she won't. End of story.

IB is very "distinctive" if people bother to find out how it works. AP is great too. But yes, both are "self-selecting" in FCPS. Still, if the classes are rigorous, they will indeed "select out" students who cannot hack it.

Sadly, some parents want a program that's only by application, I guess so they can say their kid was so special he or she was picked to be among the elite. But the point of these kinds of programs -- and the point of allowing all kids to dare to try them rather than just limiting them to those who can withstand an application process -- should be to learn in a new and different way. But around here, parents tend to be more interested in programs they can point to and say, "My kid got in because he's already so special" rather than "My kid is taking on a challenge that's going to be tough but will equip him with skills he can use in college and beyond."

I think this poster nailed it. Seems OP isn't interested in the actual IB program, just the cache of being "selected" for it. IB is the same whether one is selected or selects it. Substantively THE SAME. "I pity the fool..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. PP, because OHS is a great HS; however, if IB were selective, it could have the option of presenting a better alternative for my DC who is an amazing writer. I didn't mean to offend anyone or any school. I was just asking about AP vs. IB for the reason above. We bought where we did, many years ago, based on schools. As our DC has grown and expressed interest in writing, we have begun looking into IB. A dear friend's daughter (from a southern state) completed the IB program in HS. In their county it was a super-selective process and very competitive - much like TJ for STEM. In fact, you could conclude that I was hoping IB was a TJ-like option for humanities. It doesn't seem to be the case in FCPS. Knowing that, I have decided that we will stay with OHS.

OP, you've made a reasonable decision. Oakton is a great school and has many opportunities for students to explore their creative side and pursue their interests in writing. And you really can't discount how convenient it will be to live near the school your child is attending.

Unfortunately, there are some posters here like 13:36 who are heavily invested in certain IB schools. If you decide to pass on IB, they will rake you over the coals, try and make you feel bad about your choice, and call you names. You've been very polite and forthcoming, but at some point you just have to, in the words of the immortal Taylor Swift, "shake it off" and walk away.

[Anonymous]

The issue is pretty obvious. If the program was amazing you would see all of the schools with tons of education oriented parents pushing for it because they would crap bricks if they felt their kids were missing out. So, yeah. I completely agree. It's sad that on top of all of the other crap the bottom performing schools deal with in Fairfax county, they have a second rate "honors" program like IB. And let's not forget the cost of these programs. It's terrible, a waste, and like I said, if it was so great, you would see Langley parents clamoring for it and you wouldn't have seen Woodson parents fighting against it.

x a million. It's more of a marketing program to sell poor performing schools to parents who might send their kids there if promised a "private school experience." Horrible, and a terrible waste of our tax dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The issue is pretty obvious. If the program was amazing you would see all of the schools with tons of education oriented parents pushing for it because they would crap bricks if they felt their kids were missing out. So, yeah. I completely agree. It's sad that on top of all of the other crap the bottom performing schools deal with in Fairfax county, they have a second rate "honors" program like IB. And let's not forget the cost of these programs. It's terrible, a waste, and like I said, if it was so great, you would see Langley parents clamoring for it and you wouldn't have seen Woodson parents fighting against it.

x a million. It's more of a marketing program to sell poor performing schools to parents who might send their kids there if promised a "private school experience." Horrible, and a terrible waste of our tax dollars.

No one is naive enough to think that an IB program at a poor performing school is like a private school experience. However, at a school like Marshall or Robinson, it is a high quality program with a strong cohort of students.