Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 10:22     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Consider moving to Rockville if you’re in Aspen Hill. It’s a better IB school.


Rockville may lose it though under the new system. Right now 3 schools in cluster 4 have IB. I doubt that will continue.


The presentation said every school would have AP or IB, and there's been no indication they would reduce the number of IB schools.


Of course they want to consolidate the number of IB schools in a region - that way every region can have at least one. AP or IB means they can take away IB and just offer AP at a school. -DP
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 10:20     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit

That person is confused or did not articulate clearly.

RM has RMS designated classes for 9th/10th magnet students - RMS English, for example. Those classes are ONLY available to IB magnet students. The in cluster non magnet students cannot take those classes.


The person in central office who oversees IB/AP is not an expert on either of these programs. It does not surprise me that that person gave out misinformation, presuming that's who PP spoke with.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 10:02     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit


Ding ding ding you win the prize. Wake up parents!

Ding, ding, ding, we have found the idiot.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 09:23     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit


Well, B-CC has MYP and still doesn’t offer the courses. That is just an excuse.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 08:53     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Consider moving to Rockville if you’re in Aspen Hill. It’s a better IB school.


Rockville may lose it though under the new system. Right now 3 schools in cluster 4 have IB. I doubt that will continue.


The presentation said every school would have AP or IB, and there's been no indication they would reduce the number of IB schools.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 08:32     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:Consider moving to Rockville if you’re in Aspen Hill. It’s a better IB school.


Rockville may lose it though under the new system. Right now 3 schools in cluster 4 have IB. I doubt that will continue.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 08:31     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit


What do you meaN by "legit"? RMIB happens to be a very popular and selective program which means that kids who are in it tend to have higher test scores than at other IB programs. But it doesn't make the IB classes themselves any different than those at other schools (except I think there are a couple low-demand IB classes at RMIB and not elsewhere, like the very highest-level math class.)

IBHL math had a full class when my DC was in it 3 years ago. But, yea, this is why if they regionalize the IB program, some of these harder classes like HL AA math will no longer be offered due less demand since the highest achievers will be spread out.

And that would be a shame. My DC is a dual math/CS major, and they said that IB HL math (AA) helped them in some of their higher level math/CS classes. I can't remember the topic, but DC said that when they were learning this topic in class, they remember it from RMIB, so that unit was easier for DC. They have a 4.0 in college (and in HS). DC thinks that class, and MVC, helped.


What is AA math?
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 08:28     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit


What do you meaN by "legit"? RMIB happens to be a very popular and selective program which means that kids who are in it tend to have higher test scores than at other IB programs. But it doesn't make the IB classes themselves any different than those at other schools (except I think there are a couple low-demand IB classes at RMIB and not elsewhere, like the very highest-level math class.)

IBHL math had a full class when my DC was in it 3 years ago. But, yea, this is why if they regionalize the IB program, some of these harder classes like HL AA math will no longer be offered due less demand since the highest achievers will be spread out.

And that would be a shame. My DC is a dual math/CS major, and they said that IB HL math (AA) helped them in some of their higher level math/CS classes. I can't remember the topic, but DC said that when they were learning this topic in class, they remember it from RMIB, so that unit was easier for DC. They have a 4.0 in college (and in HS). DC thinks that class, and MVC, helped.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 08:24     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit

That person is confused or did not articulate clearly.

RM has RMS designated classes for 9th/10th magnet students - RMS English, for example. Those classes are ONLY available to IB magnet students. The in cluster non magnet students cannot take those classes.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 08:08     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit


Ding ding ding you win the prize. Wake up parents!
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 07:53     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit


What do you meaN by "legit"? RMIB happens to be a very popular and selective program which means that kids who are in it tend to have higher test scores than at other IB programs. But it doesn't make the IB classes themselves any different than those at other schools (except I think there are a couple low-demand IB classes at RMIB and not elsewhere, like the very highest-level math class.)
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2025 02:35     Subject: IB at Kennedy HS

My child is a rising freshman at Einstein and there doesn’t seem to be any pre-IB classes. However, the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade seem similar to the IB classes at other schools (from the written course descriptions and course codes).

I asked someone who worked in CO with a child at RM about the differences between the 2 schools IB programs, specifically in 9th and 10th grade. She kept saying that RM’s 9/10 courses are a different program (MYP) and made it seem like the 11/12 options are similar. I am still confused why one school has an application for IB and the other doesn’t. This makes me think non-application based IB programs are not legit
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2025 23:30     Subject: Re:IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brand-new principal after the last brand-new principal got pushed out.

IB program needs lots of help. Don’t send your kid.


Why was last new principal pushed out?
What were the main problems at the school last year?
Why is there an IB program at that school?


The last principal was pushed out due to a number of issues, including safety and security at the school, staff dissatisfaction and poor academic outcomes.

The Regional IB program was put in place at Kennedy to attract whiter, wealthier kids who aren’t directly zoned for Kennedy in the hopes that those kids and their families would uplift the scores and standards for the school.

and this is why in the new regions, they will have Kennedy as region 4 IB, not RMIB, which is the longest running IB magnet in the county with the most seasoned teachers.


Is it off the table that they would have 2 IB schools in a region? Because if that is the case, then I think they will keep RMIB and retire Kennedy


Einstein has IB


Starting in 9th or 11th grade?


Starting in 11th. They used to have pre-IB English in 9th and 10th, but central office put a stop to that a few years ago.


Principal said at an open house that the demographic distribution in those classes was inequitable, leaving some well prepared and others not, and with many, then, having benefitted from the early enrichment, deciding not to pursue the later program, as it had lost its earlier tendency to offer higher-level coursework as the overall demographic changed. Instead of working in the cluster to build competency across demographics to encourage (difficult as these were student/family choices coming from middle schools across the DCC rather than any requirement that could be imposed), they went with dropping the 9th/10th courses in favor of the honors-for-all MCPS standard.


The Pre-IB classes were discontinued because the IBO doesn't allow schools to offer them unless they are MYP schools. It's a whole process high schools have to go through with IBO in order to offer the 9th and 10th grade program(me).


B-CC is MYP and still isn't allowed to offer them.


So what do students who want to do IB get for the first two years? And if there's no IB for 9th and 10th, are those students prepared when they enter IB in 11th, if yes,how do they prepare students for IB in 11th?


There are pre-IB courses. Students are more than prepared to enter the diploma programme in grade 11 at B-CC.


There are no pre-IB courses at B-CC. They previously had them, but MCPS made them get rid of them. All B-CC now take "honors" English 9/10, which are honors in name only. Those who are prepared for the IB diploma programme are not prepared because of the B-CC's coursework.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2025 23:04     Subject: Re:IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is "Pre-IB" was an MCPS term that wasn't allowed by the official IB org.


Other school district use the term “Pre-IB” also. It is not made up. For example, W-L HS in Arlington offers an AP program (the same as the other two county high schools), a pre-IB program (for IB diploma bound students), and an IB Diploma Program for 10th and 11th grade. Students who enroll in the IB Diploma pathway are expected to pursue the diploma.

Arlington’s IB Diploma program is a limited admissions magnet program hosted at W-L with very strict course/grade prerequisites.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2025 22:56     Subject: Re:IB at Kennedy HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Brand-new principal after the last brand-new principal got pushed out.

IB program needs lots of help. Don’t send your kid.


Why was last new principal pushed out?
What were the main problems at the school last year?
Why is there an IB program at that school?


The last principal was pushed out due to a number of issues, including safety and security at the school, staff dissatisfaction and poor academic outcomes.

The Regional IB program was put in place at Kennedy to attract whiter, wealthier kids who aren’t directly zoned for Kennedy in the hopes that those kids and their families would uplift the scores and standards for the school.

and this is why in the new regions, they will have Kennedy as region 4 IB, not RMIB, which is the longest running IB magnet in the county with the most seasoned teachers.


Is it off the table that they would have 2 IB schools in a region? Because if that is the case, then I think they will keep RMIB and retire Kennedy


Einstein has IB


Starting in 9th or 11th grade?


Starting in 11th. They used to have pre-IB English in 9th and 10th, but central office put a stop to that a few years ago.


Principal said at an open house that the demographic distribution in those classes was inequitable, leaving some well prepared and others not, and with many, then, having benefitted from the early enrichment, deciding not to pursue the later program, as it had lost its earlier tendency to offer higher-level coursework as the overall demographic changed. Instead of working in the cluster to build competency across demographics to encourage (difficult as these were student/family choices coming from middle schools across the DCC rather than any requirement that could be imposed), they went with dropping the 9th/10th courses in favor of the honors-for-all MCPS standard.


The Pre-IB classes were discontinued because the IBO doesn't allow schools to offer them unless they are MYP schools. It's a whole process high schools have to go through with IBO in order to offer the 9th and 10th grade program(me).


B-CC is MYP and still isn't allowed to offer them.


So what do students who want to do IB get for the first two years? And if there's no IB for 9th and 10th, are those students prepared when they enter IB in 11th, if yes,how do they prepare students for IB in 11th?


There are pre-IB courses. Students are more than prepared to enter the diploma programme in grade 11 at B-CC.