RM IB is test in county wide program that is what makes it magnet.
By bringing high performing students together you can create
fast moving and interesting class room environment.
The neighborhood IB are mixed ability students who like to challenge themselves.

I think RMIB will become neighborhood only program like BCC or Rockville. It would help with overcrowding and they would not have to reconfigure the existing groups which just got started.

Here is some background on the formation of the regional IB programs in 2019:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BFNNSK5E7226/$file/Choice%20Update%20HS%20Programs%20190910.pdf

Note that it states: "Richard Montgomery High School will remain a countywide application program for the foreseeable future, as the Grades 9 and 10 programs are built at the three new regional programs."

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

Can someone explain the difference between RMIB and the regional IBs? Why is RMIB considered a magnet? At the information session last week, it seemed like both RMIB and regional IBs have very similar curriculum with differences limited to some course offerings.

I understand that RMIB is countywide but is the magnet designation because it is more rigorous than the regional programs or something else? I also have the sense that MCPS would prefer high performing kids to go to the regional IBs if they can and leave RM for those that dont have a regional IB near by. Interested to hear other folks experience getting into RMIB when a regional IB was close by.

The original plan was that RMIB would eventually just be another regional magnet, but no idea if that's changed since they introduced this stuff.

Anonymous wrote:The cynic in me says that MCPS would like to distribute RMIB-caliber students to the newer IB programs in an effort to boost numbers (test results, etc) in the new IB programs. Then they can say the newer IB programs are "working" (they're still in evaluation phase, I think), then convert RMIB to regional.

While the curriculum might be the same, I'd look at fidelity of implementation of said curriculum and training and experience of the teachers in the program.

There's not a fixed number of "RMIB-caliber" students who were applying to distribute to other schools. The regional programs were created for two reasons
1. There were many more IB caliber students applying than RM could accept.
2. There were many IB cliber students who didn't apply because RM was just too far away, but a regional IB school would be close enough to attend.

All of the programs are magnet programs - they attract students to the program from other schools. Part of what made RMIB strong was the cohorting of the 9th and 10th grade students together. The regional IB programs are now doing this with the accepted students both from other schools and the interested and qualified students from their home school. It will take a couple of years to see the improvements in the programs - this is only the 3rd year after the change, and the pandemic definitely threw a wrench into the works.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cynic in me says that MCPS would like to distribute RMIB-caliber students to the newer IB programs in an effort to boost numbers (test results, etc) in the new IB programs. Then they can say the newer IB programs are "working" (they're still in evaluation phase, I think), then convert RMIB to regional.

While the curriculum might be the same, I'd look at fidelity of implementation of said curriculum and training and experience of the teachers in the program.

+1 RMIB applicants last year were asked to consider submitting to Kennedy IB as well, I assume exactly for this reason.

makes sense though. RMIB is a success story as far as turning a "bad" school around.

I don't know that much about the areas surrounding the other regions but there are reasonably sized affluent areas around RM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cynic in me says that MCPS would like to distribute RMIB-caliber students to the newer IB programs in an effort to boost numbers (test results, etc) in the new IB programs. Then they can say the newer IB programs are "working" (they're still in evaluation phase, I think), then convert RMIB to regional.

While the curriculum might be the same, I'd look at fidelity of implementation of said curriculum and training and experience of the teachers in the program.

+1 RMIB applicants last year were asked to consider submitting to Kennedy IB as well, I assume exactly for this reason.

Agree with this.

Anonymous wrote:The cynic in me says that MCPS would like to distribute RMIB-caliber students to the newer IB programs in an effort to boost numbers (test results, etc) in the new IB programs. Then they can say the newer IB programs are "working" (they're still in evaluation phase, I think), then convert RMIB to regional.

While the curriculum might be the same, I'd look at fidelity of implementation of said curriculum and training and experience of the teachers in the program.

+1 RMIB applicants last year were asked to consider submitting to Kennedy IB as well, I assume exactly for this reason.

The cynic in me says that MCPS would like to distribute RMIB-caliber students to the newer IB programs in an effort to boost numbers (test results, etc) in the new IB programs. Then they can say the newer IB programs are "working" (they're still in evaluation phase, I think), then convert RMIB to regional.

While the curriculum might be the same, I'd look at fidelity of implementation of said curriculum and training and experience of the teachers in the program.

Anonymous wrote:Can you clarify what you mean by "down the tube"? Did the curriculum get watered down, did the teachers leave, student expectations change etc?

DP.. I think some folks are not happy that the previous IB coordinator left RM under not so great circumstances.

The diploma rate at RMIB is very high.

RM cluster students can join the IB magnet program in 11th grade. The diploma rate for this cohort is not as high, which is to be expected as they did not go through 9th/10th.

But overall, the diploma rate is very high, higher than global rate.

Can you clarify what you mean by "down the tube"? Did the curriculum get watered down, did the teachers leave, student expectations change etc?

OP the RMIB used to be very prestigious and successful, it has gone down the tubes a little in the past 5-6 years and it is looking like it will be opened up, as the pp mentioned - to regional.

At the same time there are other IB programs opening, one at Kennedy for example.

I believe RM will become a regional IB program as well.

Maybe as soon as last year's freshman clash graduates?

The difference is that RMIB is well-established and draws from the whole county, and the three regional IB programs are new (this is their 2nd year) and each draw from several HS clusters. But the regional programs are modeled after the RMIB program, and the schools hosting the regional programs have already been IB schools for several years, so they have experience with IB classes, exams, etc., but their programs had been available to those students who were in-bounds for the school (or assigned there for consortial or COSA reasons), so they weren't magnets.

Hi,

Can someone explain the difference between RMIB and the regional IBs? Why is RMIB considered a magnet? At the information session last week, it seemed like both RMIB and regional IBs have very similar curriculum with differences limited to some course offerings.

I understand that RMIB is countywide but is the magnet designation because it is more rigorous than the regional programs or something else? I also have the sense that MCPS would prefer high performing kids to go to the regional IBs if they can and leave RM for those that dont have a regional IB near by. Interested to hear other folks experience getting into RMIB when a regional IB was close by.