iB from Allen High or Plano East vs AP in Plano West or Liberty Frisco (high schools, ranked)

[GerberG]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

Then you're looking for AP classes, not IB. Nothing about IB is "balanced" or allows a social life or time to participate in extracurriculars. IB is a full four year commitment with a series of rigorous exams your senior year to be awarded the IB diploma; the only reason people leave is when they can't keep up or choose to have a life. If you leave in 10th grade, you're not getting back in for 11th.

AP classes have rigorous college-level curriculum but because you pick & choose which ones to sign up for, it's not as overwhelming as the full IB course load.

If you're focused strictly on GPA/ rank, AP will be easier than IB since your kids can take AP classes in subjects that interest them and regular track classes for subjects they aren't as strong in- best of both worlds.

Good food for thought.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by GerberG

You are absolutely right about that but admission is not guaranteed and it is more like deciding a major. I'm not sure if both of them can get in magnet schools or would like to commit to STEM program.

I want high school to be about a balanced education with no worries about picking a major or a career path.

TAG magnet is a balanced college-prep curriculum. You're right about the others being like picking a major; I wouldn't recommend the more focused magnets except for arts kids or STEM. By middle school, you know if you have a budding engineer/programmer/doctor on your hands.

[GerberG]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

TAG magnet is a balanced college-prep curriculum. You're right about the others being like picking a major; I wouldn't recommend the more focused magnets except for arts kids or STEM. By middle school, you know if you have a budding engineer/programmer/doctor on your hands.

Mine are more like budding lawyers and reformers.

[Big G]

Re: IB & extra-curriculars:

For 9th and 10th, you could MAYBE pull off both debate and orchestra, by eSchooling or CBEing PE and health.

For 11th/12th, extremely difficult, since you have to work in the Theory of Knowledge class. You're one hour short without some non-standard scheduling.

Anyway, doing all that is extremely unrealistic, at least the way PISD rolls.

By the 11-12 level, orchestra is expecting AT LEAST an hour/day of practice outside of school, along with private lessons, and likely additional time commitments from DAAY), GDYO, etc.

Debate expects, well, pretty much ALL your free time, if you expect to be competitive at the state level and beyond.

IB itself is going to need about 30-60 minutes of effort PER CLASS after school.

Don't forget about the possibility of running into a schedule conflict.

Keeping it real, you're better off with the flexibility of AP if you intend to keep both ECs.

[MurphyPl1]

I have two young friends that were considering IB, both will attend East regardless. Both opted to keep their extracurriculars and go the AP route and have balance with classes and extracurriculars. Because they've both been told by older students that IB is an all in proposition.

[mom2DFW]

You guys do realize the job market for lawyers is not the best nor is it expected to improve

Healthcare, engineering, and computer science/IT are most promising future sectors

[GerberG]

Originally Posted by mom2DFW

You guys do realize the job market for lawyers is not the best nor is it expected to improve

Healthcare, engineering, and computer science/IT are most promising future sectors

You are absolutely right but I have no intention of pushing them towards some lucrative profession, they have no passion for.

[biafra4life]

Originally Posted by GerberG

Is it easier to get higher GPA and rank on AP track or IB track? If one enrolls in IB but drops out then what happens?

I work in Medical district and SO commutes to Frisco.

Well your commutes don't complement each other at all. Do either of you have flex schedules? If just 9-5 then one of you will hate life. Also, with those commutes in mind I wouldn't look east of 75 at all. You need to be along the tollway I would guess. City of Dallas with Plano schools (Plano west in this case) probably makes the most sense; reverse commute straight shot to Frisco while being much further south down the tollway to get downtown.

[GerberG]

Originally Posted by MurphyPl1

I have two young friends that were considering IB, both will attend East regardless. Both opted to keep their extracurriculars and go the AP route and have balance with classes and extracurriculars. Because they've both been told by older students that IB is an all in proposition.

I know that DD1 likes academic challenges but has little interest in her viola lessons so IB may work out for her. DD2 has a higher IQ but doesn't like to work hard. IB would make her go crazy. I should be discussing this with their middle school counselor but I have no faith in him.

[lhtoplano]

I've worked as an educator, math instructor/tutor in Dallas for 12 years.

I find parents posting here often ask which school or which ISDs they should choose.

Here's just my two cents,

There isn't a hard fast rule. It ALL depends on your child. Every student is different. You have to evaluate each child, depending on many factors and personalities and wants/needs, choose the school that is a good fit for him/her, no best school.

Originally Posted by GerberG

Moving to Collin county and trying to decide on a high school. I want to get out of Dallas ISD before my daughter begins high school. It is difficult to decide as Collin County has some of the best schools in the nation. Do you recommend AP or IB program and which school is THE BEST for each track. Which school has best debate program? Housing budget is $350-450K and swimming pool is a MUST have.