International Baccalaureate World School

 

Life in the 21st century – in an interconnected, globalized world – requires critical-thinking skills and a sense of international-mindedness, something that International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme students come to know and understand.The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares high school students for success at university and life beyond. The programme is taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities. In Stafford County, the IB Diploma Programme is offered at Mountain View High School and Brooke Point High School.  Stafford County Public Schools will provide transportation for students who attend an IB school. IB School assignments are contingent upon where the student is zoned in the district.

Curriculum & Assessment

Curriculum

Students pursuing the full IB Diploma study six IB academic courses. Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5 (see diagram), thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6 or an elective subject from groups 1 to 5.   In addition, the programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding:

• The Extended Essay (EE) is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.

• Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (such as perception, emotion, language and reason) and different areas of knowledge (such as scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).
• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.

Assessment 

Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either internally marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners.

Students who successfully complete the IB Diploma Programme earn an IB Diploma in addition to the Stafford Schools diploma. 

Quality Assurance & Professional Learning

This is a challenging programme that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. Schools can access an extensive package of IB professional development for teachers and administrators and commit to ongoing professional development. Schools are required to participate in an ongoing process of review and development, using standards and practices that apply to all IB World Schools. (information adapted from https://ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/)

Choices

In Stafford Schools, students may elect to complete the full IB Diploma Programme or take individual IB courses in areas of particular strength and high interest (to earn IB Certificates). Students are not required to enroll in the full IB Diploma Programme to take advantage of IB courses.

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