Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:20     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If they want to leave IB at the current IB schools and the parents are ok with that, fine. Just don’t ask any of the rest of us to get redistricted into your schools to improve your scores or increase your enrollments. We don’t want IB and we won’t send our kids to these schools.


The parents at IB schools ar enot asked how they feel about the program, I think most of us would say we would prefer AP, I am guessing it would be at least 70% of the people who responded would say to tank IB. But the school board doesn't ask us. There is a reason why kids principal place out of IB schools, they prefer AP.

IB has some good points to it but it is not a good fit for a lot of students. We are not a European country were kids are tracked into schools based on college preparedness or votech positions. We don't have every student preparing to sit their exams as seniors. The math curriculum is in no way shape or form of interest to my kid who loves math. He owuld have to take Calculus online if he wants to take calculus, which is ridiculous. I have no objection to the reading a research elements of the program, but the math track is, in my opinion, problematic. I don't like the limited number of exams that the students can take. I don't like that my friends whose kids took IB exams have had to submit course syllabi and other supporting material to get credit at their colleges. And I don't think it prepares kids any better for college then an AP program. Lots of kids attend college out of AP schools and I don't think they struggle all that much. Both programs are rigourous even if it is in a different way.



Agree. IB really works best for European kids taking a gap year. You don’t even find out if you’ve received an IB diploma until after you’ve graduated and by then most American students have gone through the admissions process and already have plans.

Even so, at some schools it’s clear who is on the IB diploma track, and who isn’t, so if you’re an above-average kid who for whatever reason doesn’t want to do the full IB program you are better off at an AP school where you won’t be stigmatized for not being on the IB diploma track.

Really, we should only have one IB school in FCPS, reserved for kids who commit to doing the full program. Put it at Lewis and make it a lottery if there are more than 450 interested kids per year.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 13:06     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:If they want to leave IB at the current IB schools and the parents are ok with that, fine. Just don’t ask any of the rest of us to get redistricted into your schools to improve your scores or increase your enrollments. We don’t want IB and we won’t send our kids to these schools.


The parents at IB schools ar enot asked how they feel about the program, I think most of us would say we would prefer AP, I am guessing it would be at least 70% of the people who responded would say to tank IB. But the school board doesn't ask us. There is a reason why kids principal place out of IB schools, they prefer AP.

IB has some good points to it but it is not a good fit for a lot of students. We are not a European country were kids are tracked into schools based on college preparedness or votech positions. We don't have every student preparing to sit their exams as seniors. The math curriculum is in no way shape or form of interest to my kid who loves math. He owuld have to take Calculus online if he wants to take calculus, which is ridiculous. I have no objection to the reading a research elements of the program, but the math track is, in my opinion, problematic. I don't like the limited number of exams that the students can take. I don't like that my friends whose kids took IB exams have had to submit course syllabi and other supporting material to get credit at their colleges. And I don't think it prepares kids any better for college then an AP program. Lots of kids attend college out of AP schools and I don't think they struggle all that much. Both programs are rigourous even if it is in a different way.

Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 12:59     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:I really feel like everyone who hates IB here has no experience of it. DC is a science focused learner and has loved the IB program. My child was writing averse, but IB has taught them how to think critically and write at a much higher and deeper level. It’s an excellent program. I have three friends who are deans at various colleges and many friends who are professors and all have said that they prefer IB students over AP. They say IB students are better prepared for college, write and think critically, and are generally more successful at their universities.

I don’t understand the IB hate. AP is riddled with flaws too. From being too prescriptive and not allowing any Socratic discourse, teachers teaching exclusively to the test and not utilizing any extensions, the breath of the material tested so wide that students are taught to memorize instead of critically think, and perhaps the most important, universities aren’t offering college credit for successful completion of these classes anymore. Not to mention the ridiculousness of the College Board money grab by making HSs offer HS level classes as AP (AP Pre-calculus, AP Computer Science Fundamentals, among others.).


Well, we moved to get away from an IB high school after seeing how prescriptive and divisive it was, so the premise of your post is false. AP is more flexible and you don’t have to put up with all the marketing crap about how IB is a “school within a school,” teaches kids “how to think,” and creates “global citizens.”

It’s been said before, but it’s still true: if IB were the superior option you’d see the parents at the top schools in FCPS demanding it. They aren’t, and in fact would vigorously resist any effort by FCPS to supplant AP with IB.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 12:44     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
I really feel like everyone who hates IB here has no experience of it. DC is a science focused learner and has loved the IB program. My child was writing averse, but IB has taught them how to think critically and write at a much higher and deeper level. It’s an excellent program. I have three friends who are deans at various colleges and many friends who are professors and all have said that they prefer IB students over AP. They say IB students are better prepared for college, write and think critically, and are generally more successful at their universities.

I don’t understand the IB hate. AP is riddled with flaws too. From being too prescriptive and not allowing any Socratic discourse, teachers teaching exclusively to the test and not utilizing any extensions, the breath of the material tested so wide that students are taught to memorize instead of critically think, and perhaps the most important, universities aren’t offering college credit for successful completion of these classes anymore. Not to mention the ridiculousness of the College Board money grab by making HSs offer HS level classes as AP (AP Pre-calculus, AP Computer Science Fundamentals, among others.).
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 11:46     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
If they want to leave IB at the current IB schools and the parents are ok with that, fine. Just don’t ask any of the rest of us to get redistricted into your schools to improve your scores or increase your enrollments. We don’t want IB and we won’t send our kids to these schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 11:28     Subject: Re:Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think current school board if had way would do IB in all schools or skills based grading in all schools. I do think begrudging continue AP in certain schools because they know parents there would push back (like Woodson did).


They converted 8 high schools to IB in the late 90s or early 00s but after Woodson pushed back the two new high schools opened thereafter (Westfield and South County) were both AP. But they are too lazy and stubborn to admit IB has largely been a failure in FCPS, so the charade continues.


Agreed a failed experiment but one they love the buzzwords too much to stop it and if can get every kid in HS to take 1 IB class, can call entire school IB learners where if have AP school, not all kids could take 1 AP and pass.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 11:23     Subject: Re:Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:I think current school board if had way would do IB in all schools or skills based grading in all schools. I do think begrudging continue AP in certain schools because they know parents there would push back (like Woodson did).


They converted 8 high schools to IB in the late 90s or early 00s but after Woodson pushed back the two new high schools opened thereafter (Westfield and South County) were both AP. But they are too lazy and stubborn to admit IB has largely been a failure in FCPS, so the charade continues.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 11:07     Subject: Re:Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
I think current school board if had way would do IB in all schools or skills based grading in all schools. I do think begrudging continue AP in certain schools because they know parents there would push back (like Woodson did).
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 10:53     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Again, if kids are going to just pick random IB courses, and the number of kids getting IB diplomas is low, there is no reason not to replace IB with AP, which is more flexible and less expensive to administer.

We shouldn’t keep IB simply because a small number of kids get IB diplomas or it gives families an option to pupil place to AP schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 08:49     Subject: Re:Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Didn’t FCPS just renew IB last year so not going anywhere anytime soon.

Think was in those reports from school board last year that saw the figures of maybe 4 kids at Lewis did full diploma- some years more, but most just pick and choose classes v doing full.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 08:24     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love IB for our senior. We pupil placed for it.


Heard it all before. Doesn’t change the fact that we are currently wasting money on eight under-subscribed IB programs that will complicate any effort to adjust boundaries.


+1 we don’t NEED 8 IB programs. Especially not at the schools that currently have them. Give it to 1-2 schools, maybe one on each end of the county, let anyone go there as long as they commit to a full IB diploma.

Btw that change was on the table for Lewis (then Lee) maybe 12+ years ago when it was looking like it would lose full accreditation. But the state changed the rules and FCPS breathed a sigh of relief that they didn’t have to deal with an “accredited with conditions” HS.


Great idea with the consolidated schools on either side if FCPS absolutely must have their IB programs
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2025 23:54     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:My kids are younger, but I would pupil place for IB, and not to escape the zoned school. I’m not from Europe.


Wait until your kids are older, then revisit this thread.

If FCPS still has IB, you will probably be singing a different tune.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2025 23:21     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Lewis attempted to get rid of it last year but they got a bunch of push back.


They got a bunch of push back because 200-300 Lewis zoned kids are using IB to transfer to AP schools.


I think they would get push back from Annandale parents who have their kids at Lake Braddock too


THIS is how they bring “equity” to programs and build these struggling schools back up. These two examples, Lewis and Annandale, could entice family’s to not transfer out if they had AP
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2025 23:09     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kids are zoned for an IB school. Although we now understand IB more than before we still wish we looked at houses within a non-IB high school instead. I have a child who is not well rounded but super talented in math and science but weak in writing. IB diploma is not fair for kids like my daughter and others like her. They will do so much better at an AP school where they can focus on subjects they are enthusiastic. IB is the same BS as the holistic review in AAP or TJ essay writing or whatever FCPS calls it.
I think a common misconception is that you cannot take IB courses in areas of strength only. My middle child just graduated last year and had an IEP for autism and ADHD. She took IB in Japanese and Literature, but took team-taught or General Ed in subjects she was weaker in. My youngest is graduating this year, and is taking a mix of IB and dual enrollment because she wanted to have more flexibility than doing full IB allowed due to her college aspirations.


No one is confused here. Sure, you can do this, but it’s a waste of taxpayer money to be propping up IB programs where kids aren’t doing the full diploma program. Your kids would have had even more flexibility with AP courses and it would cost FCPS less.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2025 22:01     Subject: Serious effort to remove IB from FCPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love IB for our senior. We pupil placed for it.


Heard it all before. Doesn’t change the fact that we are currently wasting money on eight under-subscribed IB programs that will complicate any effort to adjust boundaries.


+1 we don’t NEED 8 IB programs. Especially not at the schools that currently have them. Give it to 1-2 schools, maybe one on each end of the county, let anyone go there as long as they commit to a full IB diploma.

Btw that change was on the table for Lewis (then Lee) maybe 12+ years ago when it was looking like it would lose full accreditation. But the state changed the rules and FCPS breathed a sigh of relief that they didn’t have to deal with an “accredited with conditions” HS.