I've heard quite a bit from other parents about the various magnet programs in the DC area and I'd agree that IB isn't the best fit for math/science types. Some of the local high schools have had very strong math/science AP programs for decades. I know that Wootton (Montgomery County, MD) regularly competed successfully against the top math/science magnets in the country in math and science competitions. I don't know if they still use the same structure, but all the AP sciences used to be second-level courses, preceded by the Honors course, and all were double-period. 80-85% of the kids typically had 4 or 5 on the AP tests. The IB programs had nothing comparable. The only calculus offered was BC.
le radical galoisien:
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It really depends on the school.
ACSI in Singapore has implemented the IB program since 2004.
IB, despite being 'international', really assimilates to each host country's culture.
As I recall, the highest level math exams in IB cover linear algebra and ordered differential equations -- presumably that's what they would have to cover in Singapore in order to be eligible to replace the British A-levels.
Then there is my niece's public high school in Michigan that has three levels for the IB program, and many of the IB classes use the regular honors or AP classes. It's all about scheduling and numbers.
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