Reply to IB Program- What is it? IB or AP?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Most IB programs in FCPS have no critical mass of IB diploma candidates. [b] The numbers are underwhelming, [/b]to put it mildly. [/quote]

Can you put up the numbers? What do you consider underwhelming? [/quote]

IB diploma rates like 3.1% at Mount Vernon, 4.6% at Annandale, 6.3% at Lee, 7.8% at Edison, and 8.0% at Stuart for the Class of 2013.  IB diploma candidates failing at rates like 30% at Edison, 40% at Mount Vernon and 46% at Stuart - same class.

That's particularly disappointing when you consider that each of those schools has a dedicated IB coordinator paid for by FCPS taxpayers.     [/quote]

I can't believe those numbers. Can you provide link? [/quote]

They were in a FCPS press release summarizing AP and IB results for the Class of 2013.   [/quote]

Maybe I am looking at the wrong data but this link says 76% got IB diploma. http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/apibtest.shtml

Avg worldwide success level is about 80% so FCPS number's pretty close to avg. What am I missing?

[/quote]

Thanks for the link.  So there are about twice as many AP schools as IB schools in FCPS, but about six times as many AP Scholars and AP Scholars with Distinction, and three times as many AP Scholars with Honor, as IB diploma graduates?  In addition, the College Board recognizes "National AP Scholars," which reflects higher levels of performance than required for other AP Scholars OR for an IB diploma.

Looking at this, I can see why people prefer AP.  [/quote]

People prefer IB because it's easier to look impressive.  It is a lot easier to become AP scholars and scholars with honors and distinctions than it is to get an IB diploma.  [/quote]

I'll assume you meant AP in your first sentence and not exploit your inability to edit.

Objectively, it's easier to become an AP Scholar or an AP Scholar with Honor than to get an IB diploma.  AP Scholars with Distinction probably are comparable to IB diploma recipients, but there are far more of them because there's a much larger pool of high-achieving kids at AP schools.  National AP Scholars have credentials that exceed those necessary for an IB diploma.  But, you are correct in the sense that people may prefer an AP program with multiple categories of recognition.  It's more "all or nothing" in IB, and usually it's nothing for IB students in FCPS.[/quote]

My DC was a National AP scholar recipient and an IB diploma recipient. I can tell you being a National AP Scholar was easier and, at least for us, far less meaningful. IB diploma represented everything DC had worked for - all those nights and weekends trying to better himself. AP stuff was just taking multiple tests and scoring reasonable well. [/quote]

:roll: [/quote]

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