IB predict grade

Marian
Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:21:58 +0000

I do not think that IB is especially wonderful – even though one of my two kids chose to do it.

But in many school systems, IB serves an important purpose. It offers serious students a welcome alternative to a not-very-rigorous regular curriculum, as well as the opportunity to take most of their classes in the company of others who also take academics seriously. And unlike some elite magnet schools (such as Stuyvesant and TJ), it does not cater exclusively to the math- and science-minded.

Could the same things be accomplished with a home-grown program? Sure. And this is exactly what most private prep schools (and some public magnets) have done. They have created their own curriculum, which is comparable to IB in rigor, and they have attracted their own student body, which is comparable to an IB class in ability and attitude. Why would they want to switch to a program where outside authorities dictate their every move when they have the resources to create something of similar quality themselves and run it as they see fit?

But most public school systems cannot create a program comparable in quality to IB from scratch. Their priorities do not allow them to set aside the resources that would be needed for such an effort; they have other things to do.

In my opinion, IB is not special because it is IB. It’s special because of the people (both teachers and students) that it brings together and because it offers something that’s academically stronger than the standard U.S. high school education. The actual content of IB is secondary, at least to my way of thinking.