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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DCI has a stronger math track. If your kid is an elite math student, dci is a better fit. You can take AP pre-Calc as a freshman, AP calc as a sophomore, and then go into HL IB math as a junior and senior.

The language element of dci is head and shoulders better than walls.

If your kid is good at stem stuff and speaks a bunch of languages, DCI is a better choice. That said most people won’t fit into that bucket.

Also admissions at walls get weaker each year. I would rather my kid be around motivated kids in the IB track than kids who managed good grades at some mediocre dcps. I find the lack of standardized testing really worrisome for Wall’s future.

Either way you can’t go wrong. [/quote]

I do not think DCI has a stronger math track.  Kids at Walls can take AP precalc freshmen year as well.[/quote]

Here is the difference.

DCI does a great job of only letting kids in the higher and highest math track in who can handle it.  Objective standardized test scores cut off and grades besides teacher recommendations. Everyone else in the standard track.

Where walls it’s the opposite.  There is no objective data to take math courses just like there is no objective data for admissions.

[/quote]

Do you have kids at both schools?  Because the AP math scores at Walls are good.  I just am not sure how you are making the delineation that kids in those classes aren’t prepared.[/quote]

Also IB is far more rigorous than AP. [/quote]

You have experience with both curricula?  I do, as a high school humanities teacher, so I know that you're painting with too broad a brush with your pat assertion.

What is true is that IBD and AP emphasize different skills in learning and testing. Take IBD languages. The emphasis there is more on speaking and listening skills than for AP, IBD being a European curriculum from the get-go. But the grammar and vocabulary tested by AP tested tends to be tougher. Math teacher pals tell me that BC calc is tougher than Higher Level IBD calc and AP Physics (all four exams) are tougher than IBD SL physics and comparable to IBD HL physics. Now if a kid just takes a handful of AP exams, sure, that's not as difficult as passing six IBD exams, plus pulling together an Extended Essay and taking the TOK class. But what if a kid takes more than 6 or 7 AP exams and scores all 4s and 5s? Not as rigorous? Nonsense.[/quote]

Kids taking more than 6 or 7 AP exams and scoring 4 and 5 are a dime a dozen at competitive colleges.

Kid getting an IB exam and scoring high along with a mini-thesis will absolutely stand out and have a better chance.  Not a lot of these kids.  Plus the opportunities for colleges abroad are endless.  Not so for AP which is not recognized outside US.[/quote]

Couldn’t agree more. IB is an internationally recognized super rigorous program. AP is good but not remotely more rigorous or prestigious. Walls can be a good choice for sure, but the lack of an IB program is unfortunate.

Btw one thing I learned about DCI is that they have a career track and a diploma track. So not everyone sits for those rigorous exams. The advantage of Walls is that they can select their students, even if the standards seem low. [/quote]

The career track includes:

Computer Science 
Engineering 
Audio-Video Production  
Health Sciences

I would argue that all the different tracks at DCI is actually a positive.  It allows the school to serve all students while meeting the needs of all students.

IB diploma is difficult. The school recognizes this.  It is not for everyone and DCI doesn’t push everyone to go that route.  It is a track at the school for the highest performing kids.  If you are not in that top 20% or whatever, no problem.  They have other options for you.

The school also has some good support systems in for the lowest performers.  They actually put them in extra remedial tutoring classes instead of an elective.

Above is why I think the school does so well for a public school that takes all and their stats show it[/quote]

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