Reply to why do people prefer AP schools to IB?

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Reply to "why do people prefer AP schools to IB?"

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[quote=Anonymous]If you look at both NMSFs and SATs, the scores for AP schools are better. Add to that the low number of students at most IB schools in FCPS receiving IB diplomas and the dual inferences that (1) higher SES families prefer AP and (2) IB isn't serving most of the student populations at BI schools very well seem quite reasonable.

You can hypothesize that higher SES families would be indifferent to AP vs. IB, if only IB were at more higher SES schools, but facts that tend to negate that hypothesis include: (1) when FCPS tried to install IB at a high SES school (Woodson), the parents worked to have that decision reversed; and (2) few parents at other high SES schools with AP want IB (i.e., they are not asking to swap AP with IB or pupil placing in large numbers), despite IB's alleged strengths and the ability of parents at those high SES schools to observe the impact of IB at other schools that have had IB for 15-20 years and are not that far away.

To be accurate, the NMSF and SAT performance should be calculated for the IB population and not for the whole school.  Otherwise, the comparison is clouded by the SES factor, which is likely to be overwhelming.

Your second assertion may also be problematic; IB may serve the IB students very well, but not the rest of the school population.  The same could be said for AP - i.e. it works for those who take AP and does little or nothing for those who don't.

I'm not familiar with the example of Woodson, but it certainly is a useful example that should be carefully considered before any changes to the curriculum are made.

Jeff Litz, the Principal at Marshall, reportedly told parents last night that approximately 100 students pupil placed from Madison (AP) to Marshall (IB) and approximately 100 students pupil placed from Marshall to Madison.  The comparison is probably somewhat unique in that both of these school districts are relatively high SES.  Madison has a strong sports culture/program and actively recruits strong athletes.  The IB program is very highly regarded in these districts as well and Marshall IB is very successful in graduation rates (~98%), international scoring and college placement.  This isn't a typical IB program.

There are good reasons to maintain IB in the system - but at how many schools etc are something that the Administration should review.  Every program should be subject to ongoing reviews of cost, efficiency and outcomes.[/quote]

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