Anonymous wrote:What actually is the attraction to the IB programs? Aren't these just a different set of humanities requirements?

RMIB's program is attractive to people because it draws high performers from all over the county and includes more intensive writing classes. Other than this I can't see what is so compelling about it.

The IB programs at other schools don't seem to be attractive to others in any way. What am I missing?

The IB diploma program requires the student to pass several IB exams. I think a student can get an IB diploma from the local HSs too like the ones in Eintstein BCC. It's just that the RMIB is a county wide magnet program, so yes, it does draw the "smartest", and so your peer cohort will be very high performing.

I actually asked this question on the forum earlier -- what's the difference between RMIB and local IB like the ones in BCC.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/high/ib.aspx

I'm not sure if the program in Rockville HS has IB diploma, though. The website seems to indicate that it doesn't.

What actually is the attraction to the IB programs? Aren't these just a different set of humanities requirements?

RMIB's program is attractive to people because it draws high performers from all over the county and includes more intensive writing classes. Other than this I can't see what is so compelling about it.

The IB programs at other schools don't seem to be attractive to others in any way. What am I missing?

Anonymous wrote:Got information from friend in RM IB magnet that MCPS plans to have 4 regional magnet IB schools (NE consortium - Springbrook, Downcounty - Kennedey or Einstein, Central - RM and Upcounty (Seneca or Watkins) by 2021 school year.

BOE to make decision will be made by May 2019 and disclose to the community by this fall!

I think we need a another STEM magnet like Blair on the western side, not four more IB magnets.

Anonymous wrote:Got information from friend in RM IB magnet that MCPS plans to have 4 regional magnet IB schools (NE consortium - Springbrook, Downcounty - Kennedey or Einstein, Central - RM and Upcounty (Seneca or Watkins) by 2021 school year.

BOE to make decision will be made by May 2019 and disclose to the community by this fall!

Will schools like BCC and Rockville HS still have their own in house IB programs?

Got information from friend in RM IB magnet that MCPS plans to have 4 regional magnet IB schools (NE consortium - Springbrook, Downcounty - Kennedey or Einstein, Central - RM and Upcounty (Seneca or Watkins) by 2021 school year.

BOE to make decision will be made by May 2019 and disclose to the community by this fall!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career readiness.

This is BS. Any student (FARMS or non-FARMS) from a low-FARMS rate school should be allowed to COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want, as long as the FARMS rate of the new school is lower than their home school. No transportation should be provided to such students.

This will automatically make the class sizes smaller for the school with the higher FARMS rates.

Non-FARMs students need to stay in school with higher FARMs and not leave.

FARMs students leaving a high FARMs school and attending a low FARMs school will help with SES diversity.

I know DCC MCCPTA group may not want this outcome, but this is the most logical outcome if MCPS wants to increase SES diversity voluntarily. MCPS should allow FARMs kids to take COSA in any school as long as capacity exists.

Unless MCPS is supplying all the transportation this is not really an option for many lower income families. Parents are working. There is no extra car. No extra $$ for uber or metro.

Understood, not all FAMRs families can make use of it, but some families can make use of this.

Giving this option to non-FARMs families doesn't help the cause of SES diversity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career readiness.

This is BS. Any student (FARMS or non-FARMS) from a low-FARMS rate school should be allowed to COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want, as long as the FARMS rate of the new school is lower than their home school. No transportation should be provided to such students.

This will automatically make the class sizes smaller for the school with the higher FARMS rates.

Non-FARMs students need to stay in school with higher FARMs and not leave.

FARMs students leaving a high FARMs school and attending a low FARMs school will help with SES diversity.

I know DCC MCCPTA group may not want this outcome, but this is the most logical outcome if MCPS wants to increase SES diversity voluntarily. MCPS should allow FARMs kids to take COSA in any school as long as capacity exists.

Unless MCPS is supplying all the transportation this is not really an option for many lower income families. Parents are working. There is no extra car. No extra $$ for uber or metro.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career readiness.

This is BS. Any student (FARMS or non-FARMS) from a low-FARMS rate school should be allowed to COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want, as long as the FARMS rate of the new school is lower than their home school. No transportation should be provided to such students.

This will automatically make the class sizes smaller for the school with the higher FARMS rates.

Non-FARMs students need to stay in school with higher FARMs and not leave.

FARMs students leaving a high FARMs school and attending a low FARMs school will help with SES diversity.

I know DCC MCCPTA group may not want this outcome, but this is the most logical outcome if MCPS wants to increase SES diversity voluntarily. MCPS should allow FARMs kids to take COSA in any school as long as capacity exists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career readiness.

This is BS. Any student (FARMS or non-FARMS) from a low-FARMS rate school should be allowed to COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want, as long as the FARMS rate of the new school is lower than their home school. No transportation should be provided to such students.

This will automatically make the class sizes smaller for the school with the higher FARMS rates.

Class size is not directly dependent on number of students in a school.

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career readiness.

This is BS. Any student (FARMS or non-FARMS) from a low-FARMS rate school should be allowed to COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want, as long as the FARMS rate of the new school is lower than their home school. No transportation should be provided to such students.

This will automatically make the class sizes smaller for the school with the higher FARMS rates.

Even if county decides, there is a stringent certification process that takes 4-5 to get certified as IB school. So we are taking about 2024 if the county decides on the program to start this year. This means class of 2028 will come out with IB certification.

https://www.ibo.org/become-an-ib-school/how-to-become-an-ib-school/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career

How are IB programs too expensive?

There's modest busing costs.

Not when IB is a home high school's signature program (or one of them).

For a signature program, there's no additional overhead. It's just the cost of educating students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career

How are IB programs too expensive?

There's modest busing costs.

Not when IB is a home high school's signature program (or one of them).

Anonymous wrote:

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career

How are IB programs too expensive?

There's modest busing costs.

I agree. And, forget throwing good money after bad on more IB programs. They are too expensive. We need very small class sizes and strong academic supports in ESs with FARMS rates that are higher than 30%. Let FARMS students COSA into any low FARMS rate school they want. Few will take advantage of this, but some families will. For MS and HS students who are significantly below grade level focus on graduating from HS (either diploma or GED) and career

How are IB programs too expensive?