Reply to If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?

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Reply to "If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think the issue is about much more than cost.  As a parent or student entering HS, the cost is not my concern.  The value of the experience -- i.e. how much reward will I get for my effort, and the flexibility of the program (i.e. how much can I pick and choose the areas I'm interested in doing advanced work) -- those are the things that matter to parents and students.

As much as I would like to be open to IB, it seems large and cumbersome and not as flexible.  Why would my child want to take a 2 yr. course rather than a one year course?  Depth of experience?  Nahhhh.  That's not gonna do it.  It's too long of a commitment.  Who knows what will change in those two years.  And then to have all of the exams at the end of senior year?  Again, why would I choose that?  The fact that AP is a la carte, makes it much more flexible, and to me, a much better choice for my children.

IB may be superior in developing in depth thinking and writing skills, but the flexibility and duration of AP programs are preferable for my kids.

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It's really not that different. At an ap school, a student may take AP us history junior year and AP world history senior year...nearly identical to the two year IB history sequence. A student may take AP calculus and AP statistics, both covered in a 2 year IB math course. A student will likely take a third and fourth year of language...just like in IB. I could go on...and I could include community service requirements and such that occur in both AP and IB  schools. 
The main difference is that there is no prescribed requirements for AP that correspond with a full IB diploma, but otherwise, the structure ain't that different. [/quote]

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