I've never heard of the International Baccalaureate before. Is it an organization?
The International Baccalaureate Program is governed by the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva, Switzerland and administered by the International Baccalaureate Curriculum and Assessment Center in Cardiff, Wales. The organization originated over thirty years ago in Europe as an effort by international schools to assure quality educational standards for students, regardless of where they lived. Today, the organization uses the talents of educators around the world to continuously update curriculum, train teachers, assess student work, and evaluate the program.

The IB sounds like a great deal of work. What are the advantages of taking an IB curriculum?
There are a number of advantages to taking the IB curriculum. First, the IB curriculum was designed to insure a cohesive, comprehensive education for students, no matter where they lived in the world. Today, that goal is still at the forefront of the IB mission. Students who complete this program are preparing, not only for success in college, but for success in life. Students gain a broader world view; follow in-depth approaches to the academic disciplines; and develop time management, problem-solving, research, and organizational skills that will remain with them long after the IB experience is over. CAS activities provide opportunities for student involvement in the larger community beyond classroom walls. Student achievement is assessed in a variety of ways: on examinations that are developed and scored by international examiners; on oral language demonstrations in both the student's native language and a modern second language; and on science laboratory notebooks, art portfolios, essays, and other projects. These activities all count for a percentage of the student's final score in each subject and allow the classroom teacher to have input to the student's scores. The IB Program also allows for student and school flexibility in choosing areas of academic interest for student research. Another advantage to taking IB classes is that students who score high enough on the external assessment at the end of an IB class can qualify for college credit.
Can a student who takes IB classes also take AP or dual-credit classes?Diploma candidates will be able to take AP World History during their sophomore year, but their schedules will be filled with IB classes during their junior and senior years, so it is unlikely that they will be able to take an AP or dual-credit class. Course candidates, however, can and often do take AP and dual-credit classes along with their IB classes. 

Will I be required to take an entrance examination to qualify for the IB program?
No - students will be accepted into the program if they meet the schools guidelines. This primarily means taking pre-requisite classes in 7th- 10th grades to prepare for the challenges of IB classes in the 11th and 12 grades.
I have heard that most IB courses are "weighted." What does this mean?
In recognition of the added difficulty and work involved in IB and AP courses, Raymore-Peculiar awards makes an addition to a student’s grade point upon successful completion of a "weighted" course.

What are the differences between AP and IB courses/exams?
The difficulty level of AP and IB courses does not differ significantly. Both are academically demanding and require motivation and commitment on the part of the student. Many teachers who have taught both AP and IB feel that the AP examination requires students to memorize and recall a large number of facts, while the IB exam requires students to understand broad concepts, analyze information, answer a question or solve a given problem by applying necessary or appropriate information, address an issue or problem never before encountered. Some notable differences between IB and AP include the following:

• There is much interconnection between IB subjects, and teachers are asked frequently to work and plan collaboratively. AP courses usually stand alone, and do not rely on input from other subject areas.

• Most IB courses are two-year classes, with the exam taken at the end of the second year. AP courses are single-year classes.

• There are two levels of mastery available in IB courses and tests; there is a single AP test available for most subjects. (Two levels of difficulty are available in AP Calculus - the 'AB' test and the 'BC' test.)

• The content of some courses differs, reflecting the international nature of the IB and the US-based approach of the AP.

• IB teachers have some input into each student's test score by means of the Internal Assessment portion of the course, usually about 20% of the final mark. This teacher input is moderated, to ensure that the same standards apply worldwide. AP students' scores are determined by the AP exam alone.

What is the difference between high level and standard level tests?
A minimum of 150 classroom hours is necessary to take a Standard Level (SL) exam and a minimum of 240 hours to take a Higher Level (HL) exam. Therefore, high level exams can only be taken senior year, and the student must have studied the subject consecutively during junior and senior year.

Do American colleges "favor" either the IB or the AP?
No - colleges realize that students normally attend a high school offering one program or the other and that a good score on either exam is a likely indicator of success in college. However, prior to the 1990's the IB was relatively rare in US public schools, so some smaller US colleges may not be as familiar with it as they are with the AP. This issue has largely disappeared among competitive universities and is diminishing rapidly nationwide now that more and more high schools offer the IB. Most universities publish their recognition policies on their websites.

Do I get college credit for taking an IB subject?
Not automatically - any credit or advanced standing awarded by a college or university is dependent upon a number of factors. The obvious first considerations are the policies of the specific college/university the student has decided to attend and the score the student has received on the IB exam(s). Other determinations include the IB subjects/examinations that were taken, the level of the examinations, the student's college major, etc. The best way to find out which colleges/universities give college credit is to go to that places' website.

Is there any advantage to taking IB courses if I plan to attend college or university within the US? On the other hand, can I begin college abroad without the IB Diploma?
American colleges and universities certainly look for students who have taken academically rigorous courses in high school in preparation for doing college work. Both IB and AP courses provide more challenging experiences and are necessary for consideration by top universities. To answer the second part of your question, if a student has not completed the IB diploma, foreign universities in general do not recognize a US high school diploma alone as adequate for admission. They often require an additional year or two of academic preparation before accepting an American student.
What is CAS?
CAS is the acronym for Creativity / Activity / Service - the extra-curricular component of the IB diploma. At the outset of the junior year, each diploma candidate will design an individual plan that includes opportunities for personal enrichment (Creativity), physical activity (Activity) and reaching out to others less fortunate in the community and/or around the world (Service.) As part of its commitment to life-long learning, the IB feels these activities are important in the development of the whole person, and has included CAS as part of the diploma to ensure that you challenge yourself in ways other than your academic endeavors.
Once I begin the IB Diploma, can I record the sports, clubs and service activities I already do as my CAS activities, or do I have to do additional things?Many extra-curricular activities you are already involved in can count toward your CAS program. Remember, too, that many activities outside of school - such as those in scouting or with church youth groups - are ideal as well. Please check with the school’s IB coordinator for more details.
How do IB courses compare to other high school courses?IB courses are more challenging. They are aimed at highly motivated students who seek extra challenge and involvement in their education beyond the classroom.
What is Theory of Knowledge?
IB diploma students take Theory of Knowledge, a course that encourages students to make connections among the academic disciplines and to examine knowledge, perception, and language as they relate to those disciplines.
How and when do IB students test in their subjects?IB diploma candidates test in three or four of their subjects at the higher level and two to three of their subjects at the subsidiary level (standard level). Up to two subsidiary level tests may be taken in May of the junior year. All other tests are taken in May of the senior year. Higher level tests are longer and more challenging than subsidiary level tests; these are the tests which may qualify for college credit. All examinations are administered by the high school, which is responsible for ensuring that IB standards for testing conditions are met.
What scores must a student earn in order to gain the diploma?
Diploma candidates must earn a total of 24 points on their six IB examinations. Bonus points may be awarded for excellent extended essays, and for excellent Theory of Knowledge work. A score of 4 is considered to be a passing score on an IB examination. Though every university has its own criteria, most universities which award credit for IB courses require a score of 5 or better on higher level exams. The highest score possible on an IB exam is a 7.
Does my child have to take an IB course in order to take an IB exam?
Yes! The IB is a curriculum that provides for ongoing assessment throughout the two-year program. Because a percentage of the exam score is based on those assessments, the student cannot just sit for an exam without having taken the course.
When can students start taking IB classes?
The IB classes begin in the 11th grade for students.

Since IB is a fairly small program, will my child be segregated from the rest of the school? 
No. IB students will be in exclusive classes during part of the day. The rest of the day, they will share classes with the other students of the school. Some IB classes will actually be mixed with AP students and dual-credit.