My daughter is preparing for high school and looking at options. Our neighborhood school is not a good fit because of the low level of course offerings (she would be taking their highest offered levels of math and foreign language as a freshman, for example). We have a few charter schools nearby as well as IB programs. The charter schools do not seem like they would be academically challenging, but they do have a lot of clubs and some sports of interest.
She has also expressed interest in a local IB program, but I have some reservations. My concern is when I hear about 4 hours of homework per night for these programs. I attended a (non-IB) school where I had about 4 hours of homework per night, and I'd rather she not have that same experience. I did nothing but study in high school. She has many interests outside of the classroom, and I'd like for her to have time to continue these things if she wishes. I also make sure my kids eat with the family, get decent sleep, and stay relatively active because I want them to prioritize health and well-being over grades in school. So, I worry that (based on my recollections of intense high school years), adequate sleep and other healthful behaviors can quickly take a back seat to studying.
I'd love to hear about any experiences anyone has had with IB programs for high school. Thanks!
