Anonymous
03/16/2026 06:47
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Based on several staffing changing and curriculum purchases that do not align with IB, it appears that DCI leadership is planning to step away from IB as the school’s core mission. Anybody else seeing this? Will this impact DCI’s charter approval?
What curriculum purchases? Staffing changes? Where do you find this information?
Anonymous
03/15/2026 22:50
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Im the PP- you also don’t seem to understand that IB courses are only junior or senior year courses for the most part. In other words if it can easily take AP as a freshman or sophomore if you’re a high achiever. If you choose the career track you don’t have to worry about taking IB exams your senior year so you can take AP ones at that time.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 22:48
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
You could start by studying the RMIB course bulletin.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/contentassets/791d9e3ecf514dffa7e5f8b8cffd2a27/26-27-ib-course-handbook.pdf?usp=sharing
Descriptions of the ways AP courses and exams are woven into the IB program appear throughout the handbook. There’s an overview on page 5 showing which AP courses are standard for IB-track students during 9th and 10th grade. The graphic on page 18 shows how AP math courses are integrated into the IB math sequence. Also, many course descriptions note that students in IB courses are prepared for AP exams. Notably, juniors taking IB Lang & Lit take the AP Lang exam (see course description p. 11).
Actually I took a quick look at the site and the Richard Montgomery School's IB Programme, and just as I predicted, IB is a PROGRAM at Richard Montgomery. The entire school is not IB. It's a program that some students are in, which is entirely different from DCI's model, which is 100% of students are IB. Some pursue an IB Diploma, the rest an IB Certificate (which is also a high school diploma but has less strict/hard IB requirements).
So again, I'm asking which specific DMV high schools are 100% IB and also have some IB students doing AP classes? If there are any such schools?
First of all, relax.
Second dci has a track for career students. It means they take regular high school classes and 2 “career track” classes. It’s a great way to ensure kids get a good education while some are tracked into the diploma program and others can do career.
It solves the problem of ensuring high achievers are appropriately challenged (based on things like test scores and school performance, not like walls or Banneker which don’t even use the CAPE) while allowing all students to attend DCI.
There are more nuances to the. IB career track and Google is your friend.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 17:24
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
You could start by studying the RMIB course bulletin.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/contentassets/791d9e3ecf514dffa7e5f8b8cffd2a27/26-27-ib-course-handbook.pdf?usp=sharing
Descriptions of the ways AP courses and exams are woven into the IB program appear throughout the handbook. There’s an overview on page 5 showing which AP courses are standard for IB-track students during 9th and 10th grade. The graphic on page 18 shows how AP math courses are integrated into the IB math sequence. Also, many course descriptions note that students in IB courses are prepared for AP exams. Notably, juniors taking IB Lang & Lit take the AP Lang exam (see course description p. 11).
Actually I took a quick look at the site and the Richard Montgomery School's IB Programme, and just as I predicted, IB is a PROGRAM at Richard Montgomery. The entire school is not IB. It's a program that some students are in, which is entirely different from DCI's model, which is 100% of students are IB. Some pursue an IB Diploma, the rest an IB Certificate (which is also a high school diploma but has less strict/hard IB requirements).
So again, I'm asking which specific DMV high schools are 100% IB and also have some IB students doing AP classes? If there are any such schools?
Look, if you want to be a Puritan about IB schools, be my guest. Protest on the lawn in front of the IBO on Wisconsin telling them to shut down heretical programs that sully themselves through contact with AP courses and exams. I look forward to the spectacle. But as a parent, it’s obvious to me that mixed systems like RMIB are tremendously successful at educating
students and helping them gain admission to excellent American colleges. I see no reason to sign up for your crusade.
+1. Kids in the IB program off course have to take certain IB courses. But it does not mean they can’t take AP courses also esp in 9th and 10th grade.
Lots of kids don’t want to do IB. It’s no joke with all the course requirements, the writing, and the mini-thesis. So they take AP courses but can take IB courses too if they want.
I don’t get what PP above is fixated on. The high performing kids who want to do IB can go that route. The kids who don’t want to do IB diploma at DCI doesn’t have to take a set curriculum of courses and can take what classes they want as long as they meet DCI high school requirements.
To add, these kids can still get the IB certificate who don’t want to do the IB diploma. It doesn’t matter if they want to take AP courses, IB courses, or combo of both. As long as they fulfill the general high school graduation requirements.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 17:20
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
You could start by studying the RMIB course bulletin.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/contentassets/791d9e3ecf514dffa7e5f8b8cffd2a27/26-27-ib-course-handbook.pdf?usp=sharing
Descriptions of the ways AP courses and exams are woven into the IB program appear throughout the handbook. There’s an overview on page 5 showing which AP courses are standard for IB-track students during 9th and 10th grade. The graphic on page 18 shows how AP math courses are integrated into the IB math sequence. Also, many course descriptions note that students in IB courses are prepared for AP exams. Notably, juniors taking IB Lang & Lit take the AP Lang exam (see course description p. 11).
Actually I took a quick look at the site and the Richard Montgomery School's IB Programme, and just as I predicted, IB is a PROGRAM at Richard Montgomery. The entire school is not IB. It's a program that some students are in, which is entirely different from DCI's model, which is 100% of students are IB. Some pursue an IB Diploma, the rest an IB Certificate (which is also a high school diploma but has less strict/hard IB requirements).
So again, I'm asking which specific DMV high schools are 100% IB and also have some IB students doing AP classes? If there are any such schools?
Look, if you want to be a Puritan about IB schools, be my guest. Protest on the lawn in front of the IBO on Wisconsin telling them to shut down heretical programs that sully themselves through contact with AP courses and exams. I look forward to the spectacle. But as a parent, it’s obvious to me that mixed systems like RMIB are tremendously successful at educating
students and helping them gain admission to excellent American colleges. I see no reason to sign up for your crusade.
+1. Kids in the IB program off course have to take certain IB courses. But it does not mean they can’t take AP courses also esp in 9th and 10th grade.
Lots of kids don’t want to do IB. It’s no joke with all the course requirements, the writing, and the mini-thesis. So they take AP courses but can take IB courses too if they want.
I don’t get what PP above is fixated on. The high performing kids who want to do IB can go that route. The kids who don’t want to do IB diploma at DCI doesn’t have to take a set curriculum of courses and can take what classes they want as long as they meet DCI high school requirements.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 15:58
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
You could start by studying the RMIB course bulletin.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/contentassets/791d9e3ecf514dffa7e5f8b8cffd2a27/26-27-ib-course-handbook.pdf?usp=sharing
Descriptions of the ways AP courses and exams are woven into the IB program appear throughout the handbook. There’s an overview on page 5 showing which AP courses are standard for IB-track students during 9th and 10th grade. The graphic on page 18 shows how AP math courses are integrated into the IB math sequence. Also, many course descriptions note that students in IB courses are prepared for AP exams. Notably, juniors taking IB Lang & Lit take the AP Lang exam (see course description p. 11).
Actually I took a quick look at the site and the Richard Montgomery School's IB Programme, and just as I predicted, IB is a PROGRAM at Richard Montgomery. The entire school is not IB. It's a program that some students are in, which is entirely different from DCI's model, which is 100% of students are IB. Some pursue an IB Diploma, the rest an IB Certificate (which is also a high school diploma but has less strict/hard IB requirements).
So again, I'm asking which specific DMV high schools are 100% IB and also have some IB students doing AP classes? If there are any such schools?
Look, if you want to be a Puritan about IB schools, be my guest. Protest on the lawn in front of the IBO on Wisconsin telling them to shut down heretical programs that sully themselves through contact with AP courses and exams. I look forward to the spectacle. But as a parent, it’s obvious to me that mixed systems like RMIB are tremendously successful at educating students and helping them gain admission to excellent American colleges. I see no reason to sign up for your crusade.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 15:43
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
You could start by studying the RMIB course bulletin.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/contentassets/791d9e3ecf514dffa7e5f8b8cffd2a27/26-27-ib-course-handbook.pdf?usp=sharing
Descriptions of the ways AP courses and exams are woven into the IB program appear throughout the handbook. There’s an overview on page 5 showing which AP courses are standard for IB-track students during 9th and 10th grade. The graphic on page 18 shows how AP math courses are integrated into the IB math sequence. Also, many course descriptions note that students in IB courses are prepared for AP exams. Notably, juniors taking IB Lang & Lit take the AP Lang exam (see course description p. 11).
Actually I took a quick look at the site and the Richard Montgomery School's IB Programme, and just as I predicted, IB is a PROGRAM at Richard Montgomery. The entire school is not IB. It's a program that some students are in, which is entirely different from DCI's model, which is 100% of students are IB. Some pursue an IB Diploma, the rest an IB Certificate (which is also a high school diploma but has less strict/hard IB requirements).
So again, I'm asking which specific DMV high schools are 100% IB and also have some IB students doing AP classes? If there are any such schools?
Anonymous
03/15/2026 15:40
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
You could start by studying the RMIB course bulletin.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/contentassets/791d9e3ecf514dffa7e5f8b8cffd2a27/26-27-ib-course-handbook.pdf?usp=sharing
Descriptions of the ways AP courses and exams are woven into the IB program appear throughout the handbook. There’s an overview on page 5 showing which AP courses are standard for IB-track students during 9th and 10th grade. The graphic on page 18 shows how AP math courses are integrated into the IB math sequence. Also, many course descriptions note that students in IB courses are prepared for AP exams. Notably, juniors taking IB Lang & Lit take the AP Lang exam (see course description p. 11).
I will look at it when I have time (tomorrow), but one basic question: the schools with "the IB program", is the entire curriculum for all students in the school IB? Or is IB a track and some IB students as you say are taking AP classes in 9th & 10th grade, but are the entire schools IB or it's a track and some of each school is also not IB?
Anonymous
03/15/2026 15:30
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
You could start by studying the RMIB course bulletin.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/contentassets/791d9e3ecf514dffa7e5f8b8cffd2a27/26-27-ib-course-handbook.pdf?usp=sharing
Descriptions of the ways AP courses and exams are woven into the IB program appear throughout the handbook. There’s an overview on page 5 showing which AP courses are standard for IB-track students during 9th and 10th grade. The graphic on page 18 shows how AP math courses are integrated into the IB math sequence. Also, many course descriptions note that students in IB courses are prepared for AP exams. Notably, juniors taking IB Lang & Lit take the AP Lang exam (see course description p. 11).
Anonymous
03/15/2026 15:10
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
lol. This just goes to show the very low standards we have in DC. Yes the strong suburban schools with IB also have AP.
Please name the strong suburban DMV high schools that are 100% IB, like the entire curriculum is IB, and that also offers AP classes. As opposed to schools with IB tracks and non-IB tracks.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 15:08
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
BTW I just asked AI and 8 schools out of 25 in MCPS offers both IB and AP of which RM is one of them. Another one is Bethesda/Chevy Chase
But DCI is a 100% IB school. IB isn't a track that you can choose or opt into/out of.
So of the 8 schools in MCPS that offer both, does that mean students in the IB program are taking AP classes too? Or is it about whether you're in the IB track or not, and only students not in the IB track take AP classes? And if any have IB students doing AP classes, please name the schools. I'd love to do more research into how and why they do it that way, which from my understanding is not aligned with the actual IB standards or model.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 09:56
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
DCI is a fine option for students who can self manage their learning.
Current leadership doesn't have previous IB experience. I guess we'll see if they prioritize it for future leadership hires.
Current leadership doesn't have previous IB experience. I guess we'll see if they prioritize it for future leadership hires.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 09:06
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCI boosters need to calm down. We are all truly glad for you that your gamble on an immersion feeder paid off and you have a good option. That's great for the whole city. However that doesn't mean that DCI is the greatest school in the city and the world.
There is not a single post on this entire thread where anyone from DCI even remotely suggests that. There's one poster whose biggest beef appears to be the alleged decline with Walls' SAT scores, but who gives a shit about that.
Our kid is at DCI and applied to Walls. We're not idiots and we recognize that by any objective measure Walls is the best public school in the city. Our kid didn't even get an interview despite having strong numbers and (we think) references. We were disappointed but not surprised, and we've moved on. We're grateful we have DCI. We consider it to be on par with JR and would have happily sent our kid there if we were in zone. Most kids don't need "the best." Good is good enough.
By any objective measure walls is definitely not the best public school in the city. It used to be. But now they don’t even use objective criteria like the CAPE for admission. You’re better off gaming the system at a mediocre dcps, taking the easiest courses to get an interview. And the courses offered are mediocre. Just a few AP classes, nothing exceptional at all. You’re better off trying for a good charter like basis or dci or even Latin to stand out. Honestly we should all move to Maryland.
I mean... by any objective measure Walls is the best public school in the city. Here is the post that people are claiming doesn't exist. The one saying you should send your kid to DCI over Walls. It exists. It's silly.
I wouldn’t send my kid to walls because they just don’t have the sports and courses my kid wants. There is nothing silly about it. If you want to go to the best school- Maryland? Private?
Mediocre course offerings, extra curricular activities, and too many weak students coming unprepared from bad middle schools. I don’t know why you insist it’s the best. Maybe for your kid?
Yea, well, they're kicking every other school's a$$ on college admissions, including DCI, so they must be doing something right.
What Walls “does right” is aggregate kids who would do well anywhere, and exclude kids who would struggle anywhere. It’s not clear that Walls itself adds any value over a school like DCI or JR (though obviously some kids like it, which is nice for them).
When Walls passes over a high performing kid, which they do fairly often these days, it’s Walls’s loss. The kid’s test scores and potential remain sky-high.
You can say this about every single selective school, public or private, in the country.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 08:55
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
lol. This just goes to show the very low standards we have in DC. Yes the strong suburban schools with IB also have AP.
Anonymous
03/15/2026 08:52
Subject: IS DCI dropping IB
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many IB schools offer AP courses for the strongest students to take as freshmen/sophomores or those who don’t want to pursue an IB diploma.
What a load of BS - what reputable officially IB high schools offer AP classes? Name some or you're just making this up.
Yes some schools offer both of which one is right in our backyard with Richard Montgomery which is a very good school.
Also Washington liberty in Arlington.