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[quote=Anonymous]It may be helpful to consider that there is no equivalent "AP diploma" - students simply take AP courses and then test.  Many students at Marshall take IB courses and then test.  Far fewer do the significant extra work to qualify for the IB Diploma.  The students who commit to this are truly taking on an exceptional workload with no equivalent in the AP world.

Also note that Marshall introduced the IB program in 1997 as part of a drive to attract a higher socio-economic class to the school.  It was felt that a more diverse student body (and parental support) could help upgrade the school.  The Marshall community is significantly more diverse socially and economically than the Madison community - students represent 82 countries and speak more than 65 languages - 46% are minorities (18% Asian,17% Hispanic, 5% African American and 6% multi-racial).

The IB program is effectively a 'school within a school' and those students who participate have little to no interaction in class rooms with the other students.  Of course, in the athletics and other extra-curriculars there is more widespread participation.  The result is that analysis of 'averages' is highly misleading.  While hundreds of students take IB courses, very few commit to pursuing an IB Diploma.  Marshall has an exceptional success rate with those students who did commit in 2015 - approximately 93% succeeded.  As a percentage of the overall class, this select group is approximately 20%.  Marshall's success with students taking IB exams is supported by the fact that in 20 courses, Marshall's IB average test score was greater than the world average.

And a final thought, before you condemn the IB program, consider that this program is international and both trains and evaluates teachers and students against their peers from around the world.  An IB diploma from Marshall is directly equivalent to what is taught and tested in IB programs from France, Hong Kong, Bogota or Paris.  The teachers are both taught and are evaluated  on their grading each year - a sample of student work is assessed locally and then submitted to Geneva for independent evaluation with feedback to the teachers.  The objectives of the IB Program are exactly aligned with the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate - embodying the goal of teaching students the skills necessary to succeed in the modern world.  The AP program has no comprehensive evaluation and feedback, nor does it establish expectations for developing a broad skill set and capabilities that IB encompasses.

The IB program is certainly not for every student.  It is writing intensive and has a substantial work requirement in addition to the regular classes.  It requires 4 years of language with a minimum tested facility.  It requires a substantial research paper.  It requires a substantial service commitment.  And it requires an additional class in the Theory of Knowledge (Philosophy).  And it requires a high level of tested performance in a broad range of studies.  IB students are actively recruited by the best universities and are successful in being accepted.  I'll post again at the end of the month when the college acceptances are finalized.

I don't mean to diminish those students who undertake AP course work.  My intention is to facilitate understanding of the difference between taking courses (either IB or AP) and the commitment to achieving an IB Diploma.  I hope that helps...[/quote]

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