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CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL IB-DP FOCUS GROUP FEEDBACK

CAROUSEL RESPONSES BY PROMPT AND GROUPStudents Teachers Parents Analysis

OUR SCHOOL… OUR SCHOOL… OUR SCHOOL… OUR SCHOOL…Has a lot of AP classes Rocks! Provides enough for each

student There is a clear

appreciation for CHS The school is moving in

the right direction to meet the needs of students

Adults want to ensure that decisions benefit all students, not just a particular group

Has a wide variety of classes

Offers a variety of opportunities of which IB-DP would be one thread in the fabric

Has a very diverse population with a variety of learning styles and abilities

Has an excellent AP program

Is moving in the right direction with great changes under good leadership

Already has dual enrollment

Could be better with our learning skills and capabilities

Is made up of such and amazingly diverse spectrum of students, which I see as a huge advantage

Has Honor Societies, Governor’s Honors, etc

Is a relatively good school

Is real world Has enough programs for accelerated students

Has good ideas for the future

Has a culture of acceptance

Will benefit from IB-DP if it is not just for the top achieving students

Has a lot of clubs and activities

Seems very focused on career tracking and prep vs college tracking and prep now. IB could potentially change this for the better?

Needs more opportunities for advanced students

Has a wide range of cultures and international backgrounds

Isn’t easy and it isn’t challenging


I DON’T KNOW… (S) I DON’T KNOW… (T) I DON’T KNOW… (P) I DON’T KNOW…How IB is different from AP

How many students will benefit from this

How the bell schedule will work

Students didn’t know much at all about IB-DP, which is not a surprise

Some adults spent time on the IB website and were more informed about the program

Adults concerned mainly with scheduling, access (to CHS students and students from other NELC schools), entry, competition with AP, benefits to students

Teachers concerned about “dividing” the school

How I got asked to join this program (focus group)

How will it impact the less popular course offerings?

How it will fit with what’s currently at CHS

What IB-DP is How do teachers who are not part of the IB feel about working at CHS?

How many students and how are they selected

What we will be doing in this program

How will this make lower level students feel?

What curriculum is composed of

What the program exactly is and how it helps students

Ongoing costs of the program

Why we are looking at IB at CHS. Our community has not asked for it. Fewer students will use it than at Northview, Milton, etc

I only know what is written on the IB website

How this will work with scheduling

How many students do this program in general

The difference between IB-DP and AP criteria

If we will create inequality by offering a program for such a small number of students

How is this viewed in the college application process compared to AP classes

How this will affect the students at school

How potential increased enrollment will be handled with our building

What I don’t know

What IB-DP is or how it will help

If IB will hurt our strong AP program

How colleges look at IB vs AP upon admission considerations

How we will find the time Do private schools offer


to do this IB programs?How many students will actually participate

How our community will respond

The entry requirements for students to be in IB

If there will be some push back regarding the perception of IB in the community

If it’s good for CHS as a whole

How IB will be implementedWhat the negatives/downsides are OR why we wouldn’t want this

I THINK THE IB-DP IS… (S)

I THINK THE IB-DP IS… (T)

I THINK THE IB-DP IS… (P)

I THINK THE IB-DP IS…

A class similar to AP A course of study with different outcomes from AP

Challenging All saw the potential benefit to CHS and to students, with few exceptions

A program helping us succeed at everything we have done

Challenging Focuses on writing skills

A new helpful program Interesting and challenging

IB-DP and AP are overlapping

A program that challenges you

A great tool to help students achieve higher goals

A great “addition” to increase Centennial HS value (to make it unique)

I don’t know what it is Great opportunity for CHS to recruit high achieving students

A great idea to explore. Mostly unknown for many people

A program of advanced classes like AP

Another way to add options and grow

Opportunity for students to pursue another way to


positive diversity study a variety of topicsAnother way that our school can blossom

A good way to create independent learners

A rigorous curriculum that teaches to the whole

An interesting concept/class to have at our school

Many disciplines covered together

Potentially good to be in as a student

An extremely challenging curriculum that is good for a limited number of students but would be great exposure for manyAn opportunity for our students to complete a rigorous program that is internationally recognizedSomething that could potentially have a very positive impact on CHS students and reputationA very intense program that is challenging for students but very good for colleges and CHSA positive program for our school and middle schoolsA choice our students need to have


IB-DP AND AP ARE… (S)

IB-DP AND AP ARE… (T)

IB-DP AND AP ARE… (P)

IB-DP AND AP ARE…

AP is advanced placement and gets us college credit

Complimentary Rigorous Students recognize a similar benefit, with college access increased from both

Adults recognize benefit for students and some concerns about competition for resources (time, schedule)

IB-DP is a program that helps us get a diploma that will go out of the country

Great, but can they work together?

Prep students well for college

I don’t know what IB-DP is, but AP is a class for college credit

Possible competitors with each other

Prestigious

Are challenging classes IB is a program and AP is a class

Good for students’ resume

AP is really hard Both challenging curriculums that challenge students in different ways

Redundant

College level classes Earn college credit Both rigorous but not the same

Helpful for students’ futures when getting into good colleges or programs

Only for the smart, high achieving students

AP – single subjectIB – multiple ways to learn

Challenging classes that need dedication

They are different in how they assess achievement; written journal is big part if IB courses

They are not the same, completely different

Classes for students who enjoy learning

Different ways for students to learn

IB-DP stretches the breadth of education; AP focuses on just one


academic areaFor high achieving students

Confusing – why do one vs the other or do they do both?Choices our students should haveDifferent paths; I believe IB is possibly more geared toward the arts?Perhaps mutually exclusive? If not technically, maybe in terms of workloadTwo options for high achieving studentsAre really impressive designations/class offerings for prospective parents/students comparing schools (even private)

HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS NEED… (S)

HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS NEED… (T)

HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS NEED… (P)

HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS NEED…

An in-depth understanding and perspective of the world, before us and after us

Personalized goal-oriented learning options

Global perspective Challenge that comes in a variety of ways

Access to great teachers

A challenging curriculum that provides relevance to

Self-confidence and ability to push themselves without help

To choose IB or AP, not both

Open their mind and be exposed to everything we can afford them


students and a view into the world around them

Students want support from other students and adults while also recognizing need for self-motivation and self-confidence

Motivation To focus on their areas of expertise

Challenging curriculum that promotes analytic thinking and writing skills

Good study habits To be pushed A variety of different opportunities and options to learn

To do all their work and study at least 10 minutes each day

To be stimulated and challenged

Opportunities, but so do those who are in the average and slightly above average range

Support and goals Options depending on interests and goals

High achievers are our future leaders…We need to expose them to the world

Teachers that know how to teach the material

Ways to push themselves

Good teachers

Better classmates, students that can help them learn better

Challenging curricula that require them to think and problem solve

AP classes

Places to study and good teachers

Extracurricular opportunities

To study Well balanced lifeEnjoy or be actually interested in the class

Choices

To be hard working To be challenged and to have classes offered to them that make them learn and grow

Grit To be challengesTo be dedicated A positive hands-on

environment


Options but also guidance to navigate options and select the best for themMore in depth and complex work, not just more information


FOCUS GROUP QUESTIONS BY QUESTION AND GROUP

STUDENTS1. In your words, tell us about the IB-DP.

a. Like college classesb. Helps make college easierc. No clue

2. Your school is also moving toward personalized learning. Talk to us about doing both at the same time.

a. Positiveb. Flipped classroom is not working as it shouldc. Will enhance learningd. School is taking a step into the futuree. Hacking could occurf. Don’t think it’s going to workg. Teachers won’t know how to do ith. OK as long as student knows WHAT they are supposed to be learning (no surprise at the end of

the course test)i. WiFi issuesj. I like it! We have $$.k. It’s going to help the school

3. What have you heard about DP at CHS? What’s the “street” or teacher lounge saying about the program at your school?

a. Nothingb. It’s higher than AP

4. Tell us what you want to know about AP.a. What is it?

5. The DP requires a service component. How will this work for students in the program at Centennial? What are the pros and cons of a service requirement?

a. Fine, not badb. Iffy, OK if it is something you like to do


6. DP courses require assessments, much like AP courses. How do you feel about this kind of rigorous assessment of learning at the end of a course?

a. Same as for APb. Just another final examc. A whole year of learning shouldn’t be tested on 1 dayd. Assessments should be given throughout the yeare. Not good at writingf. 4,000 words – Argh!g. Does this test play into the final grade?

TEACHERS1. In your words, tell us about the DP.

a. Program for advanced studentsb. Students focus on their interestsc. Bring together students from different feeder patternsd. More international focuse. Independent learnersf. A lot more focus of knowledge (service, writing, reasoning, project) than deep contentg. Not a test exemption but a program of studyh. Evaluated around the worldi. AP=pick and choose content; IB=full program over 2 yearsj. T liked it as a students; was in the program in HSk. Originally started for students going abroadl. Requires a project at the end of the 2 yearsm. Fine arts are includedn. All encompassing program of study, not just a particular content

2. What have you heard about the DP at Centennial? What’s the “street” or teachers’ lounge saying about the program at your school?

a. Parents concerned about another program serving high achievers, not enough for middle childb. $$ could be spent differently to serve more kidsc. Will it hurt AP program?d. Will it create a “school within a school?”e. Can our school physically handle an increase in enrollment?


f. It’s an expensive programg. Will this take up even more of teachers’ time?h. Teachers are interested; would be a positive thing for CHSi. A draw for high achieving students to come to CHS

3. What about the DP concerns you the most?a. Will AP and IB classes be combined?b. What is the impact of combining these philosophies, if so?c. Are we doing this just to put CHS in a positive light?d. Will IB students be as prepared as AP students (example given about Governor’s Honors

applicants)e. Will all students’ needs be met? We don’t want to lose sight of those not in the top 10%f. What do we do about “pre-IB (also known as MYP)?g. Does IB do away with TAG?h. Will this lead to overcrowding?i. Can kids waive in, like they can AP?j. What size will the program be (how many students)?k. Students’ reactions to IB?

4. Tell us what you want to know about the DP.a. Do they offer online courses?b. How are other schools doing IB? schools outside our district?c. What professional development is required?d. How will it affect the schedule? e. Higher level courses require more seat time than standard level. How will we meet that?f. How do we identify successful IB students?g. Who gets in?h. How will IB teachers be selected?i. What if a student wants to drop out of IB?

5. The DP takes a lot of professional development for DP teachers. What’s the best way to offer DP to teachers at CHS?

a. Small groups at lunchb. Summer week long intensivec. Non-school days with stipendd. Observe an actual IB DP class


e. Small group Q&Af. Good for me as a teacher, help develop me into a better teacher


a. Overwhelmingb. Need to brand it positivelyc. Need to see how this will benefit studentsd. Need more questions answerede. Will IB suffer if teacher is trying to do IB and PLIP?f. Do they complement each other?g. How will technology work with IB?

7. Which students do you think will benefit most from the DP?a. Advanced, high achieversb. Highly motivatedc. Global views, open-minded

8. How do you think the DP will help Centennial students?a. Will provide opportunities for students to explore career paths/course of studyb. Gives students more course optionsc. Helps provide more personalized contentd. Provides rigor


a. Feel confident in AP tests, not so much EOL/SLOb. Federally produced, trained evaluatorsc. Don’t like the all scantron/multiple choiced. Like the writing part of DP assessmentse. Will they meet course goals? (alignment) f. What happens if students don’t pass assessment?g. IB tests are well vetted, internationallyh. IB foreign language is more applicable than APi. Bigger ideas assessed, not just recall/multiple choicej. How are they scored? College credit for IB?k. Concerned that this will cause an increase in class size


l. 10% of enrollment goes IB, but making decisions for allm. Take away from AP, Arts, upper level foreign language (4th year)n. Block scheduling?o. Looks good for CHSp. Will it create a sense of elitism for another group of kids?

10. The DP requires a service component. How will this work for students in the program at Centennial? What are the pros and cons of a student service requirement?

a. Good, if it’s real serviceb. What constitutes service?c. Wish we did this already, for all studentsd. Logistics around the requirement

11. What else do we need to know about adding the DP to Centennial HS?a. Timeline b. Incentive to participate, for students and teachersc. Process to get involved in the workd. What courses will be offered?e. Will program have specific funding? assessments? supplies? Or come out of our local school

funds?f. What do colleges want? Is IB better than AP?g. Is there a minimum class size?

PARENTS1. In your words, tell us about the DP.

a. Internationally recognizedb. Rigorousc. Elite reputationd. Comprehensive curriculume. Can focus on the artsf. Open only to qualified studentsg. Includes core academics, community service, research paperh. Harder than APi. Standardized requirements (colleges see what standards students have met)j. Some people don’t want it


k. 3 core elements: TOK, EE, CASl. 6 academic areas, 4,000 word essay!m. Overlaps with requirements for diploman. Opt-out for the artso. Research shows students more likely to attend college and perform better than averagep. Multi-disciplinary programq. Expensiver. Not all colleges accept IB credits. 2% of Riverwood students graduate with IB diplomat. Concerned about having well-rounded studentsu. There is a language fluency componentv. Stresses analytical skillsw. Service component required

2. What have you heard about the DP at Centennial? What’s the “street” or teachers’ lounge saying about the program at your school?

a. There is group that is organized against itb. It will take over APc. Significant amount of resources for small number of studentsd. This is a concern for FCS resources, not just CHSe. How IB course offerings look as compared to AP courses isf. Positive feedback from current parentsg. Like the idea of CHS having something uniqueh. Confusion about how IB will work with APi. IB was considered at CHS in the past and discardedj. Another program for “smart kids”

3. What about the DP concerns you the most?a. How will IB course offerings affect AP course offerings?b. Will we have the number of kids to sustain both IB and AP?c. If there a way to offer another positive point of view about IB to the community?d. Will this help improve perception of CHS?e. Cost of implementation. Ongoing cost.f. Limited number of participantsg. Already have programs for advanced students


h. Our local teachers don’t grade the examsi. Creating a school within a schoolj. Impact on current course work? What might be eliminated?k. Would this help draw people to CHS?l. How many kids can participate? (remedial math, minority, poverty)m. Extremely intense – how will we help student manage the pressure?n. Would like to see more data from IB schoolso. Student prep for 4,000 word essay

4. Tell us what you want to know about the DP.a. How will it fit into our schedule?b. How successful are students that begin the IB program as juniors (no background with IB)?c. Are feeder schools in the plan? (PYP, MYP)d. What percentage of CHS students would be identified to participate?e. How will students be selected? Requirements? In-district selection vs out of district? (CHS

attendance zone vs others in NELC)f. How much will it actually cost in comparison to AP program?g. How do we prepare students for IB (freshmen/sophomores)?h. Is it a totally separate curriculum? Or is there overlap with AP and other classes?i. How would additional teachers/classes fit at CHS?j. Will we have to hire more teachers?k. Is there teacher buy-in?l. Are teachers paid more for IB certification? Paid for teaching IB classes? (financial incentives)m. Will part time teacher/part time coordinator work?n. How will district manage letting other students come to CHS for IB? o. Should they come in 9th grade instead of waiting until 11th grade?p. Will transportation be provided?q. Do students get college credit for IB?r. How many colleges give credit for standard level courses?s. Why are we considering IB?t. How will students decide which option is best (IB vs AP vs IB a la carte)?u. Connection with STEM?



a. Parents/students can handle it!b. Biggest challenge is for the teachersc. It will integrate well with IB-DP

6. Which students do you think will benefit most from the DP?a. Offering “a la carte” gives more students more optionsb. Students from other countries c. Would include kids that might otherwise shy away from APd. Kids that learn in a different way; ex – learn about science in a lit classe. Students interested in the social sciences


a. Higher stakesb. A bit scarierc. People will think about that before entering IBd. Concerned, mostly because it is unknowne. Will this mean they focus on the test and not be well rounded?f. Will students be prepared for the writing portion?g. How does written portion affect pass rates?

8. The DP requires a service component. How will this work for students in the program at Centennial? What are the pros and cons of a student service requirement?

a. Great!b. Need to learn to give backc. Beneficiald. Required service does not equal better student all the timee. Good to give them the opportunityf. Awesomeg. Aligns with CHS strategic planh. Can service component from other organization overlap/count?

9. What else do we need to know about adding the DP to Centennial HS?a. Make sure we balance the importance of college and careerb. There is a need as we have more international companies move to the Atlanta metro areac. Would like data from Riverwood from last 2 yearsd. Communication plan needed!


SIGNIFICANT “TAKE-AWAYS” FROM FOCUS GROUPS As expected because they were all underclassmen, students know very little about the International

Baccalaureate programs We need to converse with upper grade students to get their take on current offerings at CHS –

enhancements needed, opportunities for expansion Adults are generally positive about potential for IB-DP as a positive addition to CHS Clarifications needed:

o Timeline for implementationo Differences between AP and IB-DPo Potential impact on AP program, TAGo Scheduling and programming (courses, etc.) requirements for IB-DP; options; impacto Selection of studentso Selection of teachers; professional development requirementso Resources needed: fiscal, human, materials, time, assessments, scheduleo Benefits: student (college credits, readiness for college) and teachero Data from other schools in areao Choice opportunity in NELC – implementation and impacto Understanding how all initiatives fit and impact students and teacherso Communication plan; use multiple resources and opportunities to learn/hear more; link to

strategic plan; inclusive of all the above clarifications needed

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