IB PROGRAM BASICS A Guide to the International Baccalaureate Program

							                               IB PROGRAM BASICS
                              A Guide to the International
                               Baccalaureate Program at
                               Winter Park High School

Benefits of IB
       Internationally recognized diploma and curriculum
       Up to 30 college credit hours possible
       Most rigorous level of courses available
       Stresses development of well-rounded, socially conscious and sensitive students
       Fosters the development of leadership skills, team-work principles, and time
       management
       Prepares students for a strong university education

Philosophy of the IB Programme
       The International Baccalaureate Organization was formed to meet the needs of
       highly motivated students world wide. IBO’s focus on the development of the
       whole student is emphasized through the structure of the six academic groups, the
       importance of community involvement, and an independent commitment to
       education outside the classroom.

Six Academic Areas
    Tangibles and Intangibles…
          Successful completion of the IB Curriculum include opportunities for:
                  College credit
                  Scholarships
                  Preferred status in the college admissions process.
                  Awarded a separate IB Diploma, recognized internationally


    College Acceptance Rates




University                         All                            IB
Brown                              17%                            22%
Cornell                            28%                            51%
Duke                               22%                            36%
Emory                              42%                            82%
Florida State                      49%                            99%
Harvard                            11%                            15%
Johns Hopkins                      35%                            69%
MIT                                17%                            26%
NYU                                26%                            52%
US Air Force                       12%                            68%
University of Florida              51%                            98%
University Recognition Policy
      Each university sets its own policy for awarding credit for IB scores. These
      policies are listed on www.ibo.org.
      Most of the State Universities in Florida award a student earning the IB
      Diploma 30 college credits, allowing our students to enter with sophomore
      standing.
      This is an internationally recognized program qualifying students to apply to
      universities in over 100 countries.

Tangibles and Intangibles…
      All Pre-IB and IB courses carry honors weight, increasing the possible grade
      point average.
      All State of Florida Universities award one additional quality point for
      grades of C or better earned in IB and AP courses.
      Honors and Dual Enrollment courses are awarded one half a quality point.

Universities to which our IB Graduates have been accepted:
      Harvard
      West Point
      Yale
      Brown
      Duke
      Cornell
      University of Chicago
      UNC Chapel Hill
      Smith
      NYU
      Rollins
      Stetson
      Flagler
      UF
      FSU
      UCF
      USF
      UNF
      FAU
      FIT

Tangibles and Intangibles…
      Intangible benefits are numerous. Returning graduates report that the IB
      Curriculum prepared them for college better than their peers. They are well
      prepared to write papers, do independent study, and succeed in sophomore
      level classes.
      Universities report that students who have completed the IB Program
      outperform students in other college prep programs.
IB or AP?
International Baccalaureate
       Requires studies in 6 subject areas
       Multiple Assessments over 2 years
       Fosters well-rounded education with CAS, Extended Essay, TOK
       One-to-one, teacher-student mentoring
       Bright Futures Scholarship guaranteed with Diploma

Advanced Placement
     Allows variable course selection
     1 time Assessment exam
     No Community Service required
     No mentoring sessions provided
     Bright Futures Scholarship given based on GPA, test scores, community
     service

Why IB?
     A student in the Pre-IB/IB Program takes all six classes from the IB
     curriculum.
     The IB Program has a comprehensive guidance support program designed to
     help anticipate and meet the needs of its’ students.
     Each IB student is assigned an IB faculty member as an extended essay
     advisor.
     The IB Program has a strict Academic Standards policy which helps
     maintain a high quality of education.

Admissions criteria for the Pre-IB Program
      Good grades in middle school
      Good standardized test scores (FCAT)
      Preferred if Algebra I taken in middle school (if not, Geometry must be
      taken in the summer before tenth grade)
      Magnet Application submitted to Orange County Public Schools by Feb 15,
      2008 (downloaded at www.ocps.net Departments—School Choice)

Ninth grade courses
       English I Honors Pre-IB
       Algebra I or Geometry Honors
       World History Honors Pre-IB
       Biology I Honors Pre-IB
       Language foreign to student – French or Spanish – level I Pre-IB
       Elective chosen from a list of pre-approved courses

Tenth grade courses
      English II Honors Pre-IB
      Algebra II Honors Pre-IB
      AP European History (Pre-IB)
      Chemistry/Physics Pre-IB (1 sem each)
      Continuation of foreign language choice,
      level II Pre-IB
      Elective chosen from a list of pre-approved courses

Academic Standards
     Students are expected to conduct themselves in an honorable manner while
     on campus or at school-sponsored events.
     Students and parents will sign an honor code to which students are held.
     Grades must remain at the C level or above, with a cumulative grade point
     average of 3.0 or better.
     Students with Ds or Fs during the semester are helped with tutoring and
     counseling. If Ds or Fs are earned at the semester, students will be placed on
     probation or dismissed from the program.

Admissions criteria for IB Program (11th Grade)
      No final semester grade lower than a C
      75 hours of community service

Eleventh grade courses
      English III IB
      Pre-Calculus, Math Analysis, or AP Calc AB
      History of Americas IB
      Biology II IB or Chemistry IB or Physics IB
      Continuation of foreign language level IV
      Sixth subject:
             Psychology
             Visual Arts
             Second Science

Twelfth grade courses
      English IV IB
      AP Calc AB, Math Studies IB, Math HL IB
      Contemporary History IB
      Biology III or Chemistry IB or Physics IB
      Continuation of foreign language – level V
      Theory of Knowledge
      Continuation of Visual Arts or Psychology

CAS and Extended Essay
     CAS and Extended Essay are integral parts of the IB Program and are
     therefore considered to be as important as completion of assigned
     coursework.
     CAS involves 150 hours of pre-approved and documented Creativity, Action,
     and Service.
      The Extended Essay is a 4000 word independent work produced by the
      student with the general assistance of a mentor.

IB Exams and Assessments
      Each course has different types of assessments, some of which are moderated
      by trained educators located around the world.
      Students are required to take exams in their five academic courses and in
      some of the sixth subject area choices.
      Students take two IB exams at the end of the Junior year.
      Exams are sent to each IB school from Cardiff and are uniformly moderated
      by trained educators.
      Students are encouraged to form study groups to help review for the exams.
      Mock exams are given when appropriate.

IB Diploma
      The IB Diploma may be awarded if a student accrues 24 or more points, with
      at least 12 points in the Higher Level courses (English, History of Americas,
      and science) and 9 in the Standard Level.
      Notification of the Diploma status comes on July 6 when the IB scores are
      released on the Internet.
      Students receive their Florida Diploma upon the successful completion of the
      IB Curriculum (completion of all IB coursework, CAS, Extended Essay, and
      specified IB Exams) in May.