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Reply to "Washington Liberty IB Program - Was it Worth It?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]Is it true that your kid has to start a language in 7th grade to even be considered eligible for IB[/b] (i.e. they need to be in level 2 of a language in 8th grade)? Or is pre-IB optional and you can choose IB later in high school so it doesn't matter? That seems insane to weed out that early. I don't see my kid going down this path, just curious.[/quote]

Yes, that's in the listed requirements: https://wl.apsva.us/international-baccalaureate-program/application-information/

They also have to take ALL intensified classes in 9th and 10th grade + AP Government in 10th grade. So, even these "Pre-IB" years are a pretty hefty schedule.

fyi the AP Gov thing is because US Government is a state-required class but there isn't room for it in the IB 11th-12th schedule. I believe at the other HS's it's generally a seniors class.[/quote]

PP here, thanks. That's kind of nuts. [b]Definitely a very self-selecting pool of people if you need to know in 7th grade what path you're taking. [/b]And, yeah, I grew up in CA (years ago) and government and econ were senior year classes (semester each).[/quote]

IBD is hardly nuts. The program started in the 60s in international schools around the world. These days, there are more than 3,000 IBD World Schools internationally. 
School is hardly the only place teens can learn languages. Summer language immersion programs in this country and abroad can certainly help for families who can afford them and see their value, e.g. Concordia in MN.  We like IBD partly because AP language exams are often too easy for students from bilingual families/backgrounds, like ours.  Our kid easily scored a 5 on the AP exam in the language we speak, read and write at home in 9th grade.  By contrast, IBD Higher Level language exams are pitched a couple years past AP.  IBD studies embody the European approach to high school for the university bound, less emphasis on ECs than in this country, more emphasis on straightforward academics, particularly writing. Right, IB isn't for every high-performing American high school student.  [/quote]

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