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Interesting, in my school I would say IB was definitely more rigorous than any of the AP classes, because IB had all those other assignments throughout the year as well. Both AP and IB had lots of reading, but depending on the class it was a different style. I had AP European History and IB World History with the same teacher. In AP Euro, we had a huge text book to read through, so lots of reading for that. In IB World History we had a text book to read, but the bulk of the reading came from other books. I remember we read Henry Kissinger's "Diplomacy" (aka. 800+ pages of Henry Kissinger's thoughts on world history), which was definitely a lot more complicated than reading a textbook, though both classes required lots of reading.
It's interesting for me to read in this thread how AP and IB differ according to the school.
I think this is the most important thing to take away from this thread on here.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Why not just take college classes while in HS instead of IB or AP?
Many states have programs for 'free college' instead of High School, as long as you pass an entrance exam. If you are on a 'transfer contract' there won't be a question as to 'accepting credits'.
Worked for my kids and many more... done and paid for BA / BS before age 21. (Tho mine had ~$12k total loans for the last 2 yrs, since I don't subscribe to '$$$ parental care' after age 18).
My kids had ROTH IRA's since age 12 so they had plenty of $$ there to pay for college if they thought it was a good use of savings.
They consolidated loans at 2.8% and aren't' in a big hurry to pay those off.
The Students and Teachers I know in the IB program were most satisfied, but seriously lacking in transfer credits. If edu CONTENT was important, I would use a foriegn U rather than US (having just completed another master's program at post-age-50).
Why not just take college classes while in HS instead of IB or AP?
Many states have programs for 'free college' instead of High School, as long as you pass an entrance exam. If you are on a 'transfer contract' there won't be a question as to 'accepting credits'.
Worked for my kids and many more... done and paid for BA / BS before age 21. (Tho mine had ~$12k total loans for the last 2 yrs, since I don't subscribe to '$$$ parental care' after age 18).
My kids had ROTH IRA's since age 12 so they had plenty of $$ there to pay for college if they thought it was a good use of savings.
They consolidated loans at 2.8% and aren't' in a big hurry to pay those off.
The Students and Teachers I know in the IB program were most satisfied, but seriously lacking in transfer credits. If edu CONTENT was important, I would use a foriegn U rather than US (having just completed another master's program at post-age-50).
How did your kids have a ROTH at age 12--you have to have earned income to have a ROTH.
In our schools kids take a combination of AP/CIS (college in school) and college classes depending on their schedules. Some kids go to college full time junior and senior year and take all of their classes on a college campus but most kids want to have some "high school" life still-sports, prom, etc. so they do a mixture of both. Most college bound kids here graduate from high school with a year or two of college credit under their belt so that is helpful. Our state also covers the cost of books so these classes really are free for the kids. There is no entrance exam, you just have to be in the top half of your class or get teacher recommendations.
Why not just take college classes while in HS instead of IB or AP?
Many states have programs for 'free college' instead of High School, as long as you pass an entrance exam. If you are on a 'transfer contract' there won't be a question as to 'accepting credits'.
Worked for my kids and many more... done and paid for BA / BS before age 21. (Tho mine had ~$12k total loans for the last 2 yrs, since I don't subscribe to '$$$ parental care' after age 18).
My kids had ROTH IRA's since age 12 so they had plenty of $$ there to pay for college if they thought it was a good use of savings.
They consolidated loans at 2.8% and aren't' in a big hurry to pay those off.
The Students and Teachers I know in the IB program were most satisfied, but seriously lacking in transfer credits. If edu CONTENT was important, I would use a foriegn U rather than US (having just completed another master's program at post-age-50).
If only college classes in high school were actually taught AT the high school. That was an option in my high school- but you had to get yourself to the community college either for your last class of the day or your first. There was no busing to get you there and no public transportation.
It was cheaper for me to leverage my AP classes into scholarship money to a private college where I wouldn't need a car for 4 years than to buy a car to get to high school college classes that transferred to a state school that I would need a car at as well.
I agree that there are a lot of factors at play here. I chose not to do post-secondary classes, as my goal wasn't the college credits themselves. Like caraolastra00, I leveraged my school to get scholarship money. These days college tuition keeps going up and up and up, so I can understand why it could indeed be a smart financial move to take the college courses. College classes aren't necessarily any better or harder than the IB or AP courses, though.
I know this thread is a couple of years old but, wow, the paranoia of some of the posters here about the IB being a threat to American sovereignty... Oh good grief.
I'm already sold on the IB, kids are currently at a private international school in the states, but with the IB courses increasingly available at public schools around the country I'm curious what the actual Diploma attainment rate is at those schools. Does anyone know if that information is available, or does one have to ask each school directly for those statistics? Our current school requires every student to sit for Diploma exams (either IB or French Bac) and I want our kids to attain the Diploma as well, but friends keep pointing out to me all the public schools as options now and I admit the 'free' price is attractive. I worry though that if schools are offering IB courses but not requiring the full Diploma, then relatively few students will go for it. I assume that completing a Diploma is made 'easier' in a setting where everyone is working toward it together. Thoughts? I especially appreciate the input of those parents and students who have current or previous experience with IB public schools. Many thanks!
I teach middle school at a feeder school for an IB high school. They graduate approximately 400 students per year. There were 6 IB diploma earners last year.
It is going to vary drastically by school, though. The high school in question is mainly low income, high English language learners, many many many students without college educated parents, etc. If you went to an upper/middle class high school, I would imagine the diploma rate is much higher.
I teach middle school at a feeder school for an IB high school. They graduate approximately 400 students per year. There were 6 IB diploma earners last year.
It is going to vary drastically by school, though. The high school in question is mainly low income, high English language learners, many many many students without college educated parents, etc. If you went to an upper/middle class high school, I would imagine the diploma rate is much higher.
Thank you for your input. This is what I suspect happens more often even at higher SES schools, that relatively very few students complete the entire program (though I do think there is benefit to taking IB courses a la carte.) Then I wonder whether it will be harder to keep up the pace when you have so few other peers doing the same. Yes I realize extremely motivated students will still keep it up, but most people are not so driven.
We have two IB high schools in our district. I don't know how many complete the program. I do know that many start but for one reason or another, do not get the IB diploma. Some students like the flexibility of the AP courses better. What works for one doesn't work for another.
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