The IB Program consists of six areas of study. A diploma candidate (a student pursuing the IB diploma) must select one subject from groups 1-5. The sixth subject can be selected from group 6 or a candidate may select an additional subject from groups 1-5.

Each diploma candidate must successfully complete six examinations, one from each of the following areas.

• Language A: English HL

• Language B: Spanish SL or French SL

• Sciences: Biology HL or Environmental Systems and Societies

• Individuals and Societies: History of the Americas HL

• Mathematics: Math Analysis and Approaches SL or Math Applications and Interpretations SL 

• The Arts/Electives:  Visual Art SL, Theatre HL, Psychology SL, Psychology HL, Anthropology SL, Business Management SL, or Film SL

As a diploma candidate, students must choose 3 higher level (HL) classes and 3 standard level (SL) classes. Most courses are two years in length, but all courses will require students to sit for IB exams that come at the end of the course. 
Diploma candidates also have to complete an extended essay and the Creativity Action and Service (CAS) component of the program.  

During enrollment their sophomore year, students interested in IB courses will need to decide if they are going to participate in the full Diploma Program or if they plan take IB classes for certificates. Here are the differences:

Full Diploma Program: To earn the IB Diploma, students will have to

• Take six IB courses during their junior and senior years

• Take IB's Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course during second semester junior year and first semester senior year

• Successfully complete the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) program. Students will have to participate in community service, physical activities, and creative projects.

• Write an Extended Essay (4,000 words) based on independent study that connects to work done in one of the six IB classes taken

IB Course Candidates:

• Students who do not want to do the full Diploma Program can still take IB classes. This means they can pick and choose the IB classes they want and sit for the IB examinations with the hope of scoring high enough to earn college credit (similar to they way our AP classes work). Students and parents should understand that score requirements sometimes differ between colleges and that some colleges do not yet offer credit for IB coursework. 

• Students who just do certificates do not have to take part in Theory of Knowledge, CAS, or write the Extended Essay.

Students receive a score between one and seven as a designation of their achievement in a course.  This score is comprised of in-class work (internal assessments) and the end of course tests in May of the year that the course is completed.  Internal assessments are conducted by the classroom teacher and constitute generally between one-quarter and one-third of the total score. 

What kind of classes will I have to take?

There are some classes that are required to graduate, of course, but you also get the opportunity to choose some electives. See the building an IB Schedule Page for how to do that.

International Mindedness

IB classes focus not just on the United States, but expose students to the thoughts, cultures, and knowledge of the rest of the world, especially in Language and Literature, History, Anthropology, and Language Acquisition (French and Spanish).