I can't think of a single thing Karen Garza could do to suggest she's a responsible steward of resources than to acknowledge that having costly IB in so many of the low-ranked schools in one part of the county is a waste of money that doesn't serve the kids in those schools. I mean, the IB diploma statistics at schools like Mount Vernon and Lee are just horrible.

It would counter the notion that all she wants to do is spend more, more, more (full-day K, more buses for later HS start times). But there seems to be an attitude at Gatehouse that acknowledging a past mistake is forbidden. That's not what we should teach our kids, or what we should expect from our schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IB is the more rigorous program. My daughter is an IB student and she is very happy with the program. Our friends' daughter is also IB and happy with it too. I guess, to each his own.

Don't be silly. It's not more rigorous. It's just more prescriptive and popular with those who want a pre-packaged program.

+1

IB is the right option for some students. AP is the right option for other students.

Anonymous wrote:IB is the more rigorous program. My daughter is an IB student and she is very happy with the program. Our friends' daughter is also IB and happy with it too. I guess, to each his own.

Don't be silly. It's not more rigorous. It's just more prescriptive and popular with those who want a pre-packaged program.

IB is the more rigorous program. My daughter is an IB student and she is very happy with the program. Our friends' daughter is also IB and happy with it too. I guess, to each his own.

It's another way to screw poor schools. IB is expensive boondoggle and not really helpful to these students (I say this as a formerly poor student who used AP credits to knock a year off of school. Knowing me, I clearly wouldn't have been able to pursue an IB diploma because they are massive time sucks and go beyond showing competency on a test).

I am convinced there is something in place to keep the poor poor and the middle class satisfied enough they won't ask enough questions.

I know FCPS periodically states that schools are closed to transfers, but does anyone have actual experience not being allowed to pupil place to an AP or IB high school that was closest to their house because transferred were no longer allowed?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When one wants to transfer from an IB school to an AP school, are you allowed to do that in 9th grade even if you aren't taking AP classes in 9th grade? Do you have to take an AP class every semester to remain at the AP school?

Yes.

http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/student-transfer/hs.shtml

A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades
9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and
tenth grade years.
b. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the
end of the junior year.

Wrong - the "prerequisite courses" do not have to be AP courses. In 9th grade, Honors English, for example, might be considered a prerequisite for taking AP English in 11th or 12th grade.

There are a lot of students who pupil place out of IB schools and take AP World History, AP US History and AP Psychology by the end of their junior year to satisfy the transfer requirement, in whole or in part.

Have no idea why you said "wrong" as it is not "wrong" -- points a and b are copy/pasted straight from the FCPS form SE243.

http://www.fcps.edu/it/forms/se243.pdf

1. A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the end of the junior year.
b. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and tenth grade years.

Please re-read the PP's specific question, to which you responded "Yes." Your response indicates that a student who pupil places for AP has to take at least one AP course in ninth grade. That is not what FCPS requires. A "prerequisite course" need not itself be an AP course.

There are a lot of kids who might not want to tackle an AP course in 9th grade, but who can still pupil place under the FCPS requirements. They can start taking AP courses in 10th or 11th grade and still satisfy the rules.

Please re-read the PP's specific question, to which you responded "Yes."

You betcha -- re-reading the question where I highlighted in boldface.

are you allowed to do that in 9th grade even if you aren't taking AP classes in 9th grade

and I responded:

Yes

Scheduling eye-doctor's appointment tomorrow. Sorry.

I asked the question that is in question and I understood the reply as a "yes" just to the part about being allowed to start at the AP HS in 9th grade even though you wouldn't be taking an AP class in 9th grade.

Simmer down. It's all good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When one wants to transfer from an IB school to an AP school, are you allowed to do that in 9th grade even if you aren't taking AP classes in 9th grade? Do you have to take an AP class every semester to remain at the AP school?

Yes.

http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/student-transfer/hs.shtml

A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades
9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and
tenth grade years.
b. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the
end of the junior year.

Wrong - the "prerequisite courses" do not have to be AP courses. In 9th grade, Honors English, for example, might be considered a prerequisite for taking AP English in 11th or 12th grade.

There are a lot of students who pupil place out of IB schools and take AP World History, AP US History and AP Psychology by the end of their junior year to satisfy the transfer requirement, in whole or in part.

Have no idea why you said "wrong" as it is not "wrong" -- points a and b are copy/pasted straight from the FCPS form SE243.

http://www.fcps.edu/it/forms/se243.pdf

1. A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the end of the junior year.
b. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and tenth grade years.

Please re-read the PP's specific question, to which you responded "Yes." Your response indicates that a student who pupil places for AP has to take at least one AP course in ninth grade. That is not what FCPS requires. A "prerequisite course" need not itself be an AP course.

There are a lot of kids who might not want to tackle an AP course in 9th grade, but who can still pupil place under the FCPS requirements. They can start taking AP courses in 10th or 11th grade and still satisfy the rules.

Please re-read the PP's specific question, to which you responded "Yes."

You betcha -- re-reading the question where I highlighted in boldface.

are you allowed to do that in 9th grade even if you aren't taking AP classes in 9th grade

and I responded:

Yes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When one wants to transfer from an IB school to an AP school, are you allowed to do that in 9th grade even if you aren't taking AP classes in 9th grade? Do you have to take an AP class every semester to remain at the AP school?

Yes.

http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/student-transfer/hs.shtml

A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades
9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and
tenth grade years.
b. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the
end of the junior year.

Wrong - the "prerequisite courses" do not have to be AP courses. In 9th grade, Honors English, for example, might be considered a prerequisite for taking AP English in 11th or 12th grade.

There are a lot of students who pupil place out of IB schools and take AP World History, AP US History and AP Psychology by the end of their junior year to satisfy the transfer requirement, in whole or in part.

Have no idea why you said "wrong" as it is not "wrong" -- points a and b are copy/pasted straight from the FCPS form SE243.

http://www.fcps.edu/it/forms/se243.pdf

1. A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the end of the junior year.
b. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and tenth grade years.

Please re-read the PP's specific question, to which you responded "Yes." Your response indicates that a student who pupil places for AP has to take at least one AP course in ninth grade. That is not what FCPS requires. A "prerequisite course" need not itself be an AP course.

There are a lot of kids who might not want to tackle an AP course in 9th grade, but who can still pupil place under the FCPS requirements. They can start taking AP courses in 10th or 11th grade and still satisfy the rules.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When one wants to transfer from an IB school to an AP school, are you allowed to do that in 9th grade even if you aren't taking AP classes in 9th grade? Do you have to take an AP class every semester to remain at the AP school?

Yes.

http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/student-transfer/hs.shtml

A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades
9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and
tenth grade years.
b. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the
end of the junior year.

Wrong - the "prerequisite courses" do not have to be AP courses. In 9th grade, Honors English, for example, might be considered a prerequisite for taking AP English in 11th or 12th grade.

There are a lot of students who pupil place out of IB schools and take AP World History, AP US History and AP Psychology by the end of their junior year to satisfy the transfer requirement, in whole or in part.

Have no idea why you said "wrong" as it is not "wrong" -- points a and b are copy/pasted straight from the FCPS form SE243.

http://www.fcps.edu/it/forms/se243.pdf

1. A student who requests a transfer for the AP or IB program must commit to the advanced academic program for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12:
a. Each student must take a minimum of four AP or IB classes over the four years, with at least three by the end of the junior year.
b. Each student is expected to pursue a schedule of prerequisite courses for each program in the ninth and tenth grade years.

Anonymous wrote:Are AP and IB classes typically taught for the whole school year or are they just for one semester (like a college course would be)?

Most are full one-year courses. There are some that are half-year courses like AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics.

Are AP and IB classes typically taught for the whole school year or are they just for one semester (like a college course would be)?

Anonymous wrote:How many AP classes does a good/motivated, but not obsessive, student take? Sounds like it would have to be at least 4 (based on the requirements for transferring to an AP HS).

What would be a good, solid number for a high schooler to shoot for without it being overkill?

I'd say 5-9 would be typical for a student fitting that profile. But it really depends on the kid, and how they are maturing academically. My sense is that there are a lot of boys, in particular, who can handle a lot more as juniors and seniors than you might think they could when they are in 8th or 9th grade.

How many AP classes does a good/motivated, but not obsessive, student take? Sounds like it would have to be at least 4 (based on the requirements for transferring to an AP HS).

What would be a good, solid number for a high schooler to shoot for without it being overkill?