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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The DCI guidance counselors don't have previous IB experience either. But the bigger problem is that lack of middle school challenge at DCI holds the brightest kids back. There isn't nearly enough academic tracking in core subjects and not enough of a push academically, at least not by 8th grade. And I'm not impressed by how DCI does nothing to channel students into summer immersion study. Still, their college acceptances aren't pretty good anyway. [/quote]

I would be totally fine with this criticism if it was fact based but it really isn’t. First take college acceptances - this year alone we have multiple acceptances for ivies such as Dartmouth, U Penn, Yale, Stanford right off the top of my head. No MIT and no Harvard as far as I know. Lots of of U Pitt honors. It’s not even Ivy day yet so there could be more.

DCI definitely does not hold bright kids back. There is significant tracking up and down the spectrum. I have one child that needs specific help. They’re in some support classes. For my kids that are more academic, they have lots of accelerated classes particularly in math and science. I think a weak point is the lack of stronger courses in English but they are now offering ap English which would have been great for my eldest bit she’s now in IB diploma program.

I honestly don’t know what you mean about dci channeling kid into summer study. My kids who are eligible all studied abroad with dci for a few weeks. Then there is a partnership with dci to study abroad for longer. You can inquire directly but I understand it’s the only school in Dc to encourage study abroad.

I’m one of those people who really thinks that we should always push the school for more tracking more opportunities. I definitely think there is more room to grow. But I also think DCI is the best school for my kids.  The middle school was a great fit especially since they do a great job of tracking kids who excel in math. I believe dci is the only school to allow kids to take algebra 2 in 8th grade (Integrated Math).  There were a ton of clubs both in middle school and high school for kids who are super brainy (Mathletes, chess, robotics, debate) and clubs for those who wanted to have fun (cooking baking e sports D&D). My zoned dcps did not offer this at all. What was the real draw for us was the language, especially the chance to take multiple courses in the language (like social studies I&S) and electives like art and music.

One of my kids did get in to SWW, but I ultimately advised her against it because I felt that the hardest courses offered at SWW were offered to freshmen and sophomores and she had the chance to take some really interesting stuff as a junior senior in the full diploma program. She decided to stay at dci for the study abroad more than anything else, although now she definitely is grateful she has the course offerings available at dci. One of my kids will be on the career track and loving not having to take the rigorous courses that our oldest had to take.  I’m genuinely happy that there is a place for the academic superstars where they can shine and a place for kids who aren’t, without the behavioral issues that plague a lot of high schoolers that cause academic kids to leave.

I always always think there is a lot of room for improvement at any school, but honestly for what my kids are looking for  (stellar academics, study abroad opportunities, language, tracking for students to make them thrive, clubs, and sports) we have been and continue to be happy at dci. [/quote]

OK, if it's all so great, why only 3 dozen DCI seniors a year earning IB Diploma, with most scoring in the 20s? Come on, there are a bunch of public IB World Schools in the DMV, mostly school-within-a-school programs in big high schools, where IBD points averages are well into the 30s and 100+ students earn the Diploma annually.

My nephews attended DCI before the family moved to Arlington for W-L IBD. The boys talk about how much harder they're pushed in Arlington for pre-IB and IB everything: math, English, Individuals and Societies (social studies), language, science.

I'm not buying that DCI academics are stellar. [/quote]

DP.  First of all I think there is only 200 kids so 15% kids going for IB is good number.  Bigger school of course will have more absolute kids.

2nd of all, I don’t know where you are getting that info but there have already been early decisions to Stanford (2), Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia so no those kids are not getting 20’s
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