IB is not a thing in my area. But, our high school pushes kids to take AP classes. My daughter took a few and did fine, not top of the class, but she did well enough for them to count. However, once she got to college, she discovered that they didn't count for much. She stressed and stressed over those courses, having been told how wonderful it would be to carry them over into college. What a waste of energy! Sure, she has some extra electives, but what does AP history, etc do for a music major? She took a total of 7 AP classes. Only one mattered at all, and that is debatable. That class was AP music theory. Taking music theory as an AP class got her placed in a higher level music theory class in college...so basically, she had harder work there, while other freshmen took the easier music theory class.
Now, my son is in his junior year of high school. He has faced the same pressure from the school system to take AP classes (he is very smart, could be in the top 10%). However, he has zero interest in the AP courses that are available. I have been his advocate with the guidance counselor and refuse to let them enroll him in those courses. It would be a miserable existence for him...and for no advantage.
I don't believe all the hype that the high school throws at kids. Unless the child is targeting an elite institution or an elite program, a good GPA is enough. The AP stuff is mentally stressful and is not for everyone.
As for the Bright Futures program, I have no experience. But, my state has a program called 21st Century Scholars. Unfortunately, my kids don't qualify to take advantage of this program because it has income limits. We make too much. Shame.