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IBM opening new Computer Science focused High School in NYC

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Re: IBM opening new Computer Science focused High School in NYC

#4

Post by _delirium »

The fast-tracking angle is interesting: this is essentially high school plus community college rolled into one, but with an apparent hope that it'll be closer to a 4-year-college degree in quality due to greater preparation in the high-school years and coordination between the high-school and college curricula (it's one six-year curriculum, not a 4-year HS followed by 2-year college). Plus some employability boost from IBM's preferential hiring.

I do worry a bit about lock-in at an early age, though. A 14-year-old is young enough that a decent proportion may turn out not to really want a career in computer science after all, especially because I suspect decisions on whether to go here or not will in many cases be either made by or strongly pressured by parents. Will the curriculum be broad enough that a 20-year-old who's successfully completed it could plausibly get a job doing something other than working for IBM or a similar company? Or could they even leave at 18 with a normal HS degree and go to a 4-year college in a different major? The article is unclear about whether the 6-year-to-associates-degree part is mandatory, or if there's a possibility of opting to earn a normal high-school diploma after 4.

Re: IBM opening new Computer Science focused High School in NYC

#5

Post by drfugly »

_delirium wrote: post #4

The fast-tracking angle is interesting: this is essentially high school plus community college rolled into one, but with an apparent hope that it'll be closer to a 4-year-college degree in quality due to greater preparation in the high-school years and coordination between the high-school and college curricula (it's one six-year curriculum, not a 4-year HS followed by 2-year college). Plus some employability boost fr…

At that early age I wonder how much CS specific training is going to be given. Also with IBM's current focus on not just being a tech company anymore I would dream that the education is a bit diversified.

Maybe having a specific goal to drive for will make it easier students and teachers to focus on a certain goal but I don't think that it'll make the students less able to switch tracks if needed.

Re: IBM opening new Computer Science focused High School in NYC

#6

Post by bd_at_rivenhill »

Students will be chosen to attend using the standard New York City lottery system--one third of selected students will be below grade level, one third will be at grade level, and one third will be above.

I want to thank flipp, Fast Company, and IBM for saving me $10: I don't need to go see "Waiting For Superman" now because it's all in this sentence. Why wouldn't they just start with the most qualified applicants and fill slots until there are none left?

Re: IBM opening new Computer Science focused High School in NYC

#8

Post by jj_aa »

bd_at_rivenhill wrote: post #6

Students will be chosen to attend using the standard New York City lottery system--one third of selected students will be below grade level, one third will be at grade level, and one third will be above. I want to thank flipp, Fast Company, and IBM for saving me $10: I don't need to go see "Waiting For Superman" now because it's all in this sentence. Why wouldn't they just start with the most qualified applicants and…

I've never gone through the system, but my first guess would be it's probably so that all the slots aren't given to kids from ideal, wealthy homes, raised with tutors and computer camp, but that there's some room in there for kids who might be really bright, but also dealing with effed up home situations that knock a couple points off their standardized testing. Or who are bored as fuck in their current school but would really come alive at a CS-focused school where they can learn alongside the most qualified applicants. Because school isn't a consulting firm or a hedge fund.
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