Diploma program (DP)

WHY THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM?

• Universities in the United States accept IB results for college credit.

• The acceptance rate for IB students to highly selective universities is generally twice that of non-IB program students.

• IB students are preferred students for universities and are granted early admission notification.

• IB students have a higher success rate at the university level, including higher graduation rates, than non-IB students.

WHO SHOULD ENROLL IN THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM?

• Highly motivated students

• Students with proven academic success

• Students who are intellectually curious

• Students who are ready to be pushed to their academic limit

SUBJECT GROUPS

• Language Arts: Language and Literature (HL and SL)

• Second Language: Spanish (SL only)

• Individuals and Societies: History (SL only)

• Experimental Sciences: Biology (HL and SL)

• Mathematics: Applications & Interpretations (HL and SL)

• The Arts*: Music (HL and SL) or Visual Arts (HL and SL)

The IB Diploma requires 3 HL + 3 SL Courses (or 4 HL + 2 SL Courses). Courses are 2-year classes.

*The Arts SL courses will be taught 2 trimesters/year and HL courses will be 3 trimesters/year.

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (tok)

• Theory of Knowledge provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know.

• Designed to unify the six subject areas and develop inquiry and critical thinking. Students learn the development of cognition and identify how and why cultural norms exist.

• Theory of knowledge (TOK) is assessed through an exhibition and a 1,600-word essay.

• TOK will take the place of PBL for 11th and 12th grade.

• Students will also work on the Extended Essay and CAS requirements during this class period.

EXTENDED ESSAY (ee)

• The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.

• Offers an opportunity to investigate a topic of special interest at length and to become familiar with the research and writing skills expected at the university level.

• A mentor (TOK teacher) assists students in developing this mini-thesis.

CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE (CAS)

• The goal of CAS is to provide a balance between academic and social life.

  • Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.

  • Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle

  • Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student.

• In order to demonstrate these concepts, students are required to undertake a CAS project. The project challenges students to:

  • show initiative

  • demonstrate perseverance

  • develop skills such as collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making

• Sample projects

  • Creativity: A student group plans, designs, and creates a mural.

  • Activity: Students organize and participate in a sports team including training sessions and matches against other teams.

  • Service: Students set up and conduct tutoring for people in need.

  • Service and activity: Students plan and participate in the planting and maintenance of a garden with members of the local community.

  • Creativity, activity, and service: Students rehearse and perform a dance production for a community retirement home.

DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

• Pass 3 Higher Level (HL) assessments and 3 Standard Level (SL) assessments.

• Assessments are scored on a scale of 1-7.

• The theory of knowledge (TOK) and extended essay (EE) components are awarded individual grades and, collectively, can contribute up to 3 additional points towards the overall diploma score.

• The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 POINTS subject to certain minimum levels of performance including successful completion of the three essential elements of the DP core.

ASSESSMENTS

• Assessments are taken around 1st week of May of senior year.

• Advanced Opportunities funding will pay for the assessments.

• 3rd Trimester of senior year will include time to review and study for exams.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM AND AP CLASSES?

• IB is a balanced program of study. Coursework is completed over two years, and students are assessed multiple times over the two years.

• Advanced Placement (AP) classes are taken independently of each other. Coursework is completed in one year, and there is one assessment per class at the end of the academic year.